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Ozcranes Conservation
Welcome to Ozcranes Conservation, current pages focus on managing land for Brolgas and Sarus Cranes in Australia. Conservation is also featured in the FAQs for Brolga» and Sarus Crane» and in Ozcranes Downloads».
Crane Conservation Strategy
The international Crane Conservation Strategy was released in October, 2019, produced by the International Crane Foundation (ICF) on behalf of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Crane Specialist Group. All four Australian members of the Crane Specialist Group» contributed to the accounts for Brolga and Sarus Crane. The Strategy presents a comprehensive review of all the world's fifteen crane species, their numbers, ecology, threats and conservation plans for the future. This is a major achievment building on the original, first global plan for cranes in 1996.
Ozcranes Crane Conservation Strategy» page includes download links for the book, and special coverage of the reviews for Brolgas and Sarus Cranes.
Cranes on Farms
Cranes on Farms 1» introduces habitats on Australian production properties used by Brolgas and Sarus Cranes: wetlands, crops, pasture, water storages, and farmer-crane conflict.
Cranes on Farms 2» covers rare sightings and breeding of Brolgas in Australian irrigated rice, as well as extensive use of rice crops by Sarus Cranes overseas.
Crane conservation and land management are closely linked, in agricultural and pastoral regions of northern and eastern Australia. These Sarus Cranes have landed near a cattle trough, but to drink, bathe and roost they walk downhill to a grazed swamp below the paddock (courtesy L Fisher)
Burning for Brolgas
Burning for Brolgas» covers restoration of weed-invaded wetlands using cattle grazing and fire at the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park, an important Brolga wetland in north Queensland. A joint research project by CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and QPWS, with community group support funded by the NHT through the Burdekin-Dry Tropics NRM Board.
Crane-Friendly Fencing
Fencing is essential for stock management and may also be recommended for conservation purposes. But it creates problems which need to be solved to protect cranes and ensure breeding and roost sites remain active. Ozcranes Crane-friendly Fencing pages» discuss fencing issues affecting cranes and offer practical ideas for factoring cranes and other large waterbirds into fencing decisions.
TOPRisks and Hazards
Ozcranes hazard pages have images and comments on natural and introduced risks for cranes in Australia, and possible solutions. Part 1» covers harvesting including illegal collecting, and natural and feral predators. Part 2» covers collisions with powerlines, vehicles and fences; entanglement with debris (e.g. fishing line); and persecution due to agricultural conflict.
Key Biodiversity Areas
Brolgas in wetland near Normanton, Gulf Plains (K.S. Gopi Sundar)
Eight of the 300 Key Biodiversity Areas (formerly Important Bird Areas, IBAs) declared in Australia support significant populations of Brolgas and Sarus Crane, and Ozcranes looks at the program in Australia with summaries and links to downloads on each.
- Part 1»: Introduction to KBAs and the Atherton Tablelands KBA, trigger species Sarus Crane
- Gulf Plains KBA»: trigger species include Brolga and Sarus Crane
- WA & NT»: six Brolga KBAs in Western Australia and Northern Territory
Goodbye Sarus..
Goodbye Sarus..» is a hypothetical look at the factors that make the Atherton Tablelands so attractive to the only known concentration of non-breeding Australian Sarus Cranes, each winter. Could the cranes leave because people are doing their best for the local economy – and environment?
NRM Plans and Cranes
From the archive, Ozcranes NRM 1» reviews Natural Resource Management Plans and activities 2005-2010, for five regions where Brolgas and Sarus Cranes breed, stage on migration, or spend the Dry (non-breeding) season. NRM Plans have real impact on the ground, channelling available grant funds and underpinning environmental assessments for State pastoral leaseholders. Ozcranes Crane-friendly Fencing Guidelines were developed in consultation with NRM groups and others, during the 2005-2010 plan period.
