Two banded cranes are back in the Phobjikha valley. In the winter of 2010-2011, RSPN in collaboration with the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment, Bumthang, banded four adult cranes with GPS Accelerato-meter in Phobjikha valley.
7 November 2011 - The first group of black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) arrived today in Phobjikha. At around 10.AM BST, a group of 4 cranes with two juveniles are the first group of cranes in Phobjikha this winter. As of today afternoon, the total number of 33 cranes including 5 juveniles. The weather today in Phobjikha was bright and clear sunny day.
It is truly said that “Life imitates Art”. With a couple of weeks remaining for the 13th Black-necked Crane festival, the local community of Phobjikha eagerly awaits the day with preparations in full swing.
The day brings community together and rejoices the arrival of Black-necked Cranes in the valley besides marking the importance of crane conservation. Hundreds of international tourists also join the celebration.
With less than a month remaining for the Black-necked Cranes to fly into the valley, preparation of a proper roosting area has been carried out as usual. Observations in the past years showed that the roosts maintained in the previous years couldn’t accommodate all the cranes in one spot, therefore this year a new spot was chosen for the roost with an area of approximately 40m x 50m.