Sarus cranes are among the largest native birds in India. They can fly and are distinctly unique, matching the height of an average Indian. Sarus cranes are the world's tallest flying birds and can appear intimidating.
Sarus cranes are also India's only resident breeding cranes. While a significant number of these birds can be found in Uttar Pradesh, they have been spotted in pairs at the Sultanpur National Park, the erstwhile Basai wetland, and of course at the Chandu Budhera canal abutting the Najafgarh wetland. While Sarus Cranes and human beings exist close to each other, in Uttar Pradesh, those found in Haryana, especially Gurgaon, are more wary of human presence.
The drying up of the Basai wetland and the near drought-like conditions at the Sultanpur National Park have forced the larger birds, native or migratory, to gather at the Chandu Budhera wetland. Larger birds like Sarus cranes and the Bar-headed geese need much food to survive. Dried up wetlands have little to offer in the form of Molluscs, snails, insects, and crustaceans, besides grains, and other vegetables.
Pairs of Sarus Cranes are perfectly synchronized to each other. They feed together, fly together and sing together. While they are preening themselves, one will always be on the watch while the other busies itself putting its feathers right, and looking for niggling fleas.
These rather majestic birds are known to be with each other for life. Adults can mostly be found in pairs, a male and a female. The male Sarus Crane is taller than the female bird. Both of them are regarded as metaphors of integrity and devotion. These majestic cranes are victims of human developmental activities, including the construction of roads through biodiversity hotspots, and the building of housing societies on drained-out wetlands.
Haryana, especially Gurgaon, is losing its wetlands, biodiversity hotspots like forests, green fields at an alarmingly fast rate. Soon the Sarus Crane will be as extinct as the Siberian Crane which has not visited its nesting grounds in Northern India for decades.
While I have mentioned the birds as belonging to Chandu Budhera, it wouldn't be unfair to suggest that these birds might inhabit a larger area and not be limited to one Biodiversity hotspot. Thus Sarus cranes might travel from the Sultanpur National Park to the Chandu Budhera zone, while in the process dropping in at various other convenient places.
These birds, metaphors of love, devotion and dedication might soon become extinct in the coming four or five years. It is important to take up steps to ensure the safe existence of the Majestic and Graceful Sarus Cranes in Haryana, especially Gurgaon.
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