PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Well known Plett birding photographer Mike Bridgeford jumped into action, along with CapeNature's Chanel Visser, to rescue a blue crane (Grus paradisea), also South Africa's national bird, on Saturday morning 31 August.
Bridgeford said he received a call from William and Astrid Ashurst, who live at the far end of the Uplands farming area, saying that they had an injured blue crane in their fields.
"They sent me a video showing the bird badly limping, and clearly in distress.
'Transported to vet'
"I immediately contacted Chanel Visser, who had done many bird rescues in and around Plett, and after communications with Robberg Vet and Tenikwa (wildlife centre), the bird was captured and transported to the vet for assessment and treatment.
"I must compliment Chanel for her expertise, willingness and dedication to make all the arrangements to rescue the bird on a Saturday morning.
"We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate person looking after our wild birds (among her many other responsibilities!)," said Bridgeford.
The bird had an ID ring on its leg, and Dr Mark Brown, conservation director of Conserve Eden, confirmed that it was a bird originally from the Bitou Wetland, ringed a few years ago.
'Chicken hatched crane eggs'
But the story goes that the mating pair of birds (still the same birds there today) were about to lose their eggs in a local flood.
The resident farmer rescued the eggs and raised them on his farm using a chicken as the brooder! according to Bridgeford.
With some giving them the nickname "Chick-Crane".
They were then taken to Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre and reared until they were adult, when they were released on the Plett Game Reserve.
The injured Blue Crane was making good progress and should be released after it had recovered (it has subsequently been successfully released).
"What an interesting morning!" said Bridgeford.
'Fantastic achievement'
Brown was present when the cranes were ringed.
"There were two raised at Tenikwa and ringed that day - Brittany Arendse ringed that one, and I ringed the other one.
"As with all birds, getting the crane chicks into rehab was a fantastic achievement from a range of stakeholders.
"It is sad to see this one come back into rehab twice now, but hopefully, it will pull through and be successfully released again.
"Every Blue Crane counts!" said Brown.
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