CURRENT AFFAIRS

For the past ten days Inka has been roosting overnight at the SW shore of Lake Daiet el Ferd, Algeria. On January 30th 2010 she was located foraging 31 km SE of the night roost. Renttimä in turn had returned to stay overnight at a Salt lake 61 km W of the previous location fixes, S of the Gulf of Sidra, Libya. Juka’s transmitter did not produce any locations, on January 30th 2010 the sensor data however indicated the crane is alive and in an area having the ambient temperature of +1.

On January 20th 2010 Renttimä roosted overnight in the 14 km wide salt lake 18 km south of the town of Brega, Libya. It now appears the four salt lakes adjacent to the southernmost shore of the Gulf of Sidra, Libya were
one of Renttimä’s main wintering targets in North Africa.

Whilst Renttimä is stopping over, Inka started to show some restlessness having stayed on cultivated fields of 36 square kilometers for one month.
On January 15th 2010 Inka roosted overnight amidst Lake Chott Ech Chergui 63 km SW of the previous location fixes. Two days later she had headed 140
km NW to the western hemisphere at Tlemcen Province in Algeria. She roosted overnight at the SW shore of Lake Daiet El Ferd and on January 20th 2010 she was foraging only 25 km apart the Morocco’s border. Inka has practically arrived to the same area where Aino the loop-migrator wintered 3.-13.1.2009!

On January 18th 2010 also Juka’s transmitter finally managed to transmit enough radio signals for a location fix. The crane is alive and wintering
W of the town of Csongrad in S-Hungary. He has thus not joined the recently observed crane flock of 3000 individuals observed adjacent to the town of Slavonski Brod in Croatia reported by Nenad Setina.

On January 5th 2010 received location fixes indicated Renttimä had headed 380 km SSE the southernmost shore of the Mediterranean to the salt lakes adjacent the Gulf of Sidra, and the village of Al Aquilah, Libya. On
January 8th 2010 he also roosted overnight there and appeared to have settled in the area as the day time location fixes on January 10th 2010 were on a salt lake south of the town of Al Brayqah, Libya. Inka is still
wintering at Chott Ech Chergui, Algeria. On January 7th 2010 no location fixes could be calculated by Argos for Juka. However, the sensor data indicated that the crane is somewhere having an ambient temperature of 3
ºC; probably Juka had returned to Croatia.

On January 3rd 2010 at 04:42 local time Renttimä roosted overnight in the desert 16 km N of the village of Al Qaddahiyah, Libya. The crane had thus headed 380 km EES of the previous location fixes that were on the coastal plain of al-Jifarah near the border between Libya and Tunisia. As a result, Renttimä has nearly reached the Gulf of Sidra, Libya and is on an area, where no Finnish cranes have been observed to date.

On December 27th 2009 and afterwards Croatian ornithologist Nenad Setina carried out several quests for cranes in the vicinity of Jelas Polje but in vain. On January 3rd 2010 the location fixes on Juka the crane confirmed the field observations: Juka had headed 250 km NE and settled on cultivated fields just to the SE of the town of Szegvar, Hungary. It thus seems that once the weather improved the cranes immediately departed Jelas Polje area and returned to S-Hungary.

Pics from Jelas Polje added to the pages.

On December 29th 2009 Renttimä had left Sidi El Hani, Tunisia and was located 300 km SSE on the Libyan side of the border at Jbebina Artesian well – bird sanctuary – Assa. It is “a flowing artesian well created a pond (approx. 6ha) now nearly covered with reeds, attracting migrating birds (Storks, duck, herons, prey birds and others) - pond is protected in a 70 ha fence (approx 4 km) - grazing and hunting ban will be enforced.” Thus, Renttimä has arrived to an area where Petteri the satellite crane spent the mid-winter in 2008-2009. These observations lend support the idea that cranes that arrive to Tunisia via the Adriatic flyway may spent the mid-winter in the border district between Tunisia and Libya and they do visit Libya as well. Inka has now thrived at Chott Ech Chergui, Algeria for 15 days.

According to a Croatian ornithologist Nenad Setina (Look at the new pics) approximately 3000 Eurasian cranes were observed migrating S and SW in the vicinity of the town of Slavonski Brod, Croatia 17.12.-21.12.2009. At that period of time the morning temperatures were around -18 ºC and those of day time -10 ºC. According to Pekka Mustakallio good numbers of Eurasian cranes were observed migrating east of Sicily on December 19th 2009. Further an exceptionally large numbers (greater than 1300 individuals) were seen south of Malta 20.-21.12.2009. Renttimä was most likely among those individuals! On December 24th 2009 he had headed for Sidi el Hani Salt Lake, Tunisia, where he was also located staying overnight on December 27th 2009.

According to Nenad Setina, temperatures ascended rapidly reaching +19 ºC in Slavonski Brod area on December 23rd 2009. On the previous day Nenad found hundreds of cranes (however less than 500) adjacent to Slavonski Brod. On December 27th 2009 it was confirmed that Juka is probably among those cranes as a very inaccurate location arrived from the Bosnian side of the border 16 km S of Jelas Polje pools, Croatia. On the same day Inka foraged on the familiar area where she has now been for two weeks on the southern slopes of the Tellian Atlas Mountains, facing Chott Ech Chergui, Algeria.

On December 19th 2009 Central Europe including Balkan experienced an extremely chilly spell. Renttimä had left Slano Kopovo, N-Serbia and was located 180 km WWS on the Bosnian side of the border near the town of Slavonski Brod, where the night temperature decreased 15 degrees below freezing and day temperatures were around -8 °C. This is the area where Renttimä spent the severest part of the winter at Jelas Polje, Croatia in 2008-2009. According to the sensor data Renttimä just stood still and did not even try to forage during the day on December 19th 2009. Probably on the next day Renttimä decided to take advantage of the tail wind and headed for Tunisia, N-Africa, where he was located staying overnight at the beautiful lake Herguela on December 21st 2009. Renttimä had thus flown 1190 km SW in two days. This is an extremely interesting result: cranes do show significant fenotypic plasticity and individuals that winter over in Balkan may continue to the traditional overwinter
ing grounds in Tunisia should the weather conditions be too harsh in Balkan.

On December 22th 2009 Inka was still located amidst vast cultivated fields near the northern border of Chott Ech Chergui, Algeria, where the female crane has now been for 8 days. Juka’s transmitter got only 4 individual radio signals to the satellite of which Argos was not able to calculate any locations. The sensor data included in signal however verified that Juka is alive and in an area where the noon temperature reached +17 °C. It hence appears likely the crane has departed Balkan. Upetto’s transmitter is still silent.

On December 15th 2009 at 03:51 Inka was staying overnight on the eastern shore of the Salt Lake, Chott Ech Chergui on the high Oran plains, 1000 m above sea level in the Saharan Atlas Mountains of Algeria, 401 km WWS of the last night migration location on December 12th 2009. Thus, Inka arrived very near the area where Aino the loop-migrator dwelled in November-December 2008! On December 17th 2009 Inka had headed 60 km W of the previous locations. The evidence of the role of Chott Ech Chergui as an important wintering ground for the Finnish cranes is getting stronger.

On December 17th 2009 Renttimä was feeding around cultivated fields of Slano Kopovo lake, N-Serbia. Juka's unit got three individual radio signals through which did not allow to calculate locations. The crane has probably migrated to N-Serbia and joined Renttimä's flock.

On December 12th 2009 Inka’s migration could be followed in real time for 4 hours 32 minutes in the Algerian Atlas Mountains: Inka headed
193 kilometres west with an average speed of 43 km per hour. During the 51 hours when the transmitter was OFF Inka had flown 1280 km (shortest route) or even1600 km (a more probable route via SE Italy
and Sicily to Tunisia and Algeria). The most recent locations were received between 18:08 and 22:40 Algerian local time (+1 UMT). As the
sun sets around 17:15 in this area the flight observed took place in darkness. Although the duty cycle of the transmitter would have allowed three more transmission hours, only a single radio signal got
through and Argos was not able to count a location that would have indicated whether Inka continued migration also after the mid-night.

A cold spell launched the crane migration again: Inka left Lake-Feher, Hungary and was located at migratory flight over Bosnia Hertzegovina on December 10th 2009. The next locations on December 12th 2009 indicated that the crane had continued to Algeria, North Africa where she was located again at flight following the Atlas Mountain Range at 17:08. So far, Inka has travelled 4150 km at minimum.

Also Renttimä left Körös-Maros National Park in Hungary and was discovered in Slano Kopovo lake, N-Serbia on December 12th 2009. Juka on the other hand was still lingering in Hortobagy National Park, Hungary on December 11th 2009. Upetto’s transmitter has unfortunately remained silent.

In the beginning of December 2009 the crane situation has not changed: on November 30th 2009 Juka roosted at the Kondas-fish pool (the very same pool where the loop migrator Aino used to roost nights), Inka was located at the lake Feher near Szeged town and Renttimä in Körös-Maros National Park. Upetto’s transmitter has fallen silent again.

On November 18th 2009 and 21st 2009 after 16 days of total radio silence, we got two very inaccurate locations of Upetto. This confirmed that Upetto’s transmitter is functioning and the unit still is on the N coast of the Black Sea. However, the sensor data received so far is inadequate to infer whether the crane is alive.

On November 11th 2009 Juka was located as presumed in Hortobagy, Hungary. According to the sensor data the crane was well and alive and still lingering in the same are on November 18th 2009.

Inka has been dwelling in the vicinity of lake Feher N of the town of Szeged in southern Hungary for three weeks. She was staying overnight there also on November 21st 2009. Renttimä was located in the Körös Maros National Park, Kardoskuti Feherto lake, where he has now been for three weeks.

On November 2nd 2009 Upetto was located foraging in the cultivated fields 30 km NE of the night roost at Syvash Bay lagoon, Ukraine. After that not even a single radio signal has been received. This may due to the fact that Upetto has continued migration to an area inflicted by very severe radio interference. A local contact of Bird Life Ukraine checked Upetto’s locations on November 6th 2009 and found no cranes lending support to the idea that Upetto has headed for Turkey. It is however also plausible that Upetto has perished for example having drowned in the Black Sea or hit electric wires, which both would result in the radio silence observed…

Also Juka’s transmitter did not get any locations through on November 3rd 2009, however 2 separate radio signals indicate the PTT unit is well and Juka has probably arrived to Hungary.

On October 30th 2009 both Inka and Renttimä left Hortobay National Park, Hungary. Inka headed 180 SW in tail wind and has been stopping over at the huge Feherto lake N of the town of Szeged, southern Hungary. Renttimä flew straight to Serbia but returned to Hungary on the next day and has now been 10 days in the Körös-Maros National Park, Kardoskuti-Feherto area, Hungary.

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On October 25th 2009 Upetto stayed overnight at a lagoon of Syvash Bay, Black Sea, Ukraine and headed 34 km NE to forage on cultivated fields.

On October 25th 2009 Juka was surprisingly located 123 km NW of the previous locations: intead of flying to Hungary the crane had headed for Cracow, Poland.

On October 25th 2009 Inka and Renttimä foraged in the vicinity of the Viztarolo water reservoir, Hortobagy, Hungary.

Upetto’s stop-over lasted for ten days in Belarus. On October 19th 2009 the crane took off and headed 478 km SSE. He stayed overnight in Central Ukraine, 41 km S of the town of Cherkasy and of a huge artificial lake of Kremenchuk. On October 22nd 2009 he continued 367 km SE ending up to the most important stop-over site used by the eastern Eurasian cranes in Ukraine, namely Syvash Bay, where according to the Bird Life Internatiol’s fact sheet 20 000 – 30 000 cranes stop over during the autumn migration. Given the adjacent gatherings the total number of Russian cranes there preparing for migration to Israel and NE-Africa exceed 100 000 individuals. So far, Upetto has revealed the migration route of Finnish eastern cranes in Europe and proved that a small fraction of cranes gathering adjacent to Crimean peninsula originate from the breeding population of SE-Finland.

Inka crossed the Carpathian Mountains and was located staying overnight together with Renttimä at the Viztarolo-water reservoir in Hortobagy National Park, Hungary. Until now Inka has migrated, a total of 2400 km of the home bog in Ivalo, Finland.

On October 17th 2009 an accurate location revealed the night roost of Upetto situating by a meander of Dnepr-river 14 km NE of the cultivated fields where the crane has been foraging during days for the last 8 days.

On October 13th 2009 developed a strong N wind extending from Fennoscandia to southern Poland. Inka utilized the tailwind and headed 445 km SW at 7:43-15:43 at an average speed of 52 km per hour. On October 15th 2009 the crane was surprisingly located at the northern edge of the Carpathian Mountains, West-Ukraine in the vicinity of the town of Sambir. Also Juka had headed for South Poland 420 km SW of Belarus. This Carpathian region was subjected to heavy snow storms on October 14th 2009 and it was a great relief that 4 days later both of the cranes were alive according to the sensor data transmitted by the units.

Renttimä has been sedentarily in the vicinity of Viztarolo-water reservoir in Hortobagy, Hungary 5. – 17.10.2009.

Upetto the crane commenced migration on October 8th 2009: he was located in Russia 390 km SE of home. On the next morning the crane continued migration and was already at flight at 8:00 a.m. At 9:13 he was above the Ilmen-lake south of Novgorod. The site is famous of Swedish Vikings and belonged to their ancient trade route from Baltic Sea to Byzantium. On October 11th 2009 the crane was located by the river Dnepr in the vicinity of the town of Rogatsev in SE-Belarus. This is the first observation of Finnish crane in SE-Belarus. More importantly Upetto has now flown 1032 km S of the home bog and his route so far is 500 km more east than has ever been observed to be used by the Finnish cranes! It is increasingly likely that Upetto won’t head for Hungary but instead will use the eastern migration route, the details of which are still unknown.

Inka headed 80 km S in Lithuania between October 6th and 8th. She has been staying overnight at the Novaraistis – IBA bird conservation wetland, which is known to be an important crane staging area in Lithuania.

Until now Finnish cranes have not been seen in Belarus. On October 6th 2009 Juka was however located foraging in the fields of Hrodna-area, NW-Belarus 600 km SSE of the Matsalu-bay, Estonia, where the crane was located 5 days ago.

Renttimä was the first to arrive to Hungary as he was located staying overnight at a fish pond, 18,6 km ENE of the famous Kondas staging area in the Hortobagy National Park, during the night of October 5th 2009. Inka the crane has stopped to Lithuania may be due to the adverse weather conditions.

The juvenile male crane Upetto is still lingering in Eastern-Finland nearby the famous crane staging area Valkeasuo-bog together with ca. 400 conspecifics. According to Pekka Mustakallio from the Finnish crane working group dozens of Finnish cranes have been recovered from color bands in Estonia in late September 2009. One of the most interesting observation concerns Matti the crane that was followed by satellites from the spring of 2007 to the spring of 2009: on October 1st 2009 he was seen with a female and two colts!

New PTTs were deployed in the field season of 2009. Unfortunately two adults captured in eastern-most Finland hit electric wires and perished. An adult female captured at the outer skirt of the crane’s range in the north (Ivalo, Finland) is still alive and has so far migrated 1100 km S of her breeding grounds: since September 26th 2009 the locations have arrived from Matsalu -bay region in Estonia.

Two crane colts were also attached with leg-mountable units in Eastern-Finland during the summer. Juka the crane was located 520 km WSW of the home lake as the crane was found foraging in western Estonia on Semptember 25th 2009. A very large male colt “Upetto” has still been lingering with his family at the breeding area and a major assembly area, Valkeasuo-bog.

Renttimä was still located in Estonia on September 24th 2009. Also Olli that wintered over in Croatia and N-Serbia and the transmitter of which went OFF during the last spring was discovered from color bands in Estonia on September 28th 2009.

Pages from these new cranes will be made tomorrow or day after that. Be patient:).

Renttimä was located in Paavola-municipality on September 14th 2009. A year ago Renttimä had already arrived to Estonia, so it appears the crane has this time postponed migration, may be due to chicks.

The loop migratory crane Aino is dead

Aino the crane arrived to her breeding grounds on May 2nd 2009 and used to forage on a nearby turnip field during early May. She was discovered by Matti Tolvanen in the field in late May when she appeared to be well and paired with a male crane. In mid June she headed 5 km east to the border district between Finland and Russia and stayed there for six weeks. On August 4th 2009 the crane had returned to the nesting bog, but ten days later the satellite data strongly suggested that the crane had perished. This was verified when Matti Tolvanen found the carcass of Aino on August 24th 2009 FIGS 1&2. According to the remainders, a Golden Eagle had killed and eaten the crane, and only the skeleton and feathers were left. Aino had just completed a postnuptial molt and eaten bilberries for the last meal.

As a result of this tragic event we will not be able to monitor Aino’s migration any longer: it would have been so interesting to see whether she had carried out the migration loop flight again. On the other hand, Aino’s death in the claws of an eagle was natural and an honorable one compared to the deaths of many conspecifics that hit electric wires and with their legs and wings injured wait for the death even many days.

Renttimä the crane thrived two weeks longer at its home bog than during the last year. On August 25th 2009 the crane was located staying overnight at Revonsuo-bog 300 SW of the home bog. We will be receiving locations and also updating the progression of Renttimä’s journey, every tenth day in September 2009.