White cranes are flying to Yamal

After spending winter in Iranian Ferendunkenar, the white cranes fly to their native Yamal. One bird out of the three has been brought up under the International Ecological Project “The Flight of Hope” in the Oksk Biosphere State National Reserve.

The project’s aim is to breed the young white cranes in the Oksk State National Reserve and to deliver them to the nesting sites of their wild congeners, located in the Kunovatskiye Bolota (the Kunovatsk Swamps) in Yamal. After a short preparation period they will leave for the winter quarters.  Some birds spend winter in “Keoladeo”, a National Park in India, others – in Ferendunkenar, in the North of Iran.  When spring comes, they have to make a long trip back to Russia.

This is the route of white cranes’ usual migration.  But now the situation is different: white cranes are listed in the Red Book and are on the edge of extinction. Until young cranes do not possess genetic memory, they cannot make a route to winter quarters. And here people come to help birds, with motor-gliders leading the flocks. Since childhood, cranes are taught to get accustomed to artificial birds, engine noise and unusual size of mechanic leader.

Such a large-scale experiment is obvious to need considerable finances. ITERA Oil and Gas Company became the general sponsor of the project. Thanks to ITERA support, a specially designed motor-glider has been constructed. It was tested in the Moscow Region, in the Arctic; it landed on water and was highly estimated by specialists at international air show MAKS -2005.

“Two more motor-gliders are ready to take part in the expedition. – The work is being done in several directions, - Alexander Ermakov, Manager of “The White Crane” Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District Fund said. – In the Oksk State Biosphere Reserve the birds are vaccinated against bird flu and female birds are prepared. The new motor-gliders are tested in the specialized construction bureau of Civil Aviation Institute. The preparations of “Flight of Hope” enter their final stage.

Today, the white cranes have left Ferendunkenar for Yamal. So far there is only three birds. Not many. But there is one “own”. And the bird can hardly forget the way back, to the native land where it was born.

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