One thing I learned from the Walnut and Chris Crowe memes is that some cranes are tall.

Previously if you’d asked me to name all the tall-standing birds I’d have gone for the big ratites: ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea.

But right up there is the Sarus Crane. Males can stand up to 180 cm tall, and hence they are the tallest flying bird. They are however a slight and slender bird: typical weight for a male is 8 kg, compared to about 30 kg for an emu. Lives in south Asia and in my old stomping ground of North Queensland.

The wattled crane of Africa can also get up to 175 cm.
Compare this to a brolga (which is also a kind of crane) that tops out at 140 cm.

Walnut however is a white-naped crane, a species whose maximum height is about 130 cm. Although Walnut and Crowe are at a breeding facility in Virginia, the bird is native to north east Asia. It is one of the many critters that has found safe haven in Korea’s DMZ.

Sarus crane in flight.

dv said:

One thing I learned from the Walnut and Chris Crowe memes is that some cranes are tall.

Previously if you’d asked me to name all the tall-standing birds I’d have gone for the big ratites: ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea.

But right up there is the Sarus Crane. Males can stand up to 180 cm tall, and hence they are the tallest flying bird. They are however a slight and slender bird: typical weight for a male is 8 kg, compared to about 30 kg for an emu. Lives in south Asia and in my old stomping ground of North Queensland.

The wattled crane of Africa can also get up to 175 cm.
Compare this to a brolga (which is also a kind of crane) that tops out at 140 cm.

Walnut however is a white-naped crane, a species whose maximum height is about 130 cm. Although Walnut and Crowe are at a breeding facility in Virginia, the bird is native to north east Asia. It is one of the many critters that has found safe haven in Korea’s DMZ.

> Sarus Crane. Males can stand up to 180 cm tall, and hence they are the tallest flying bird.

I was not expecting that.

In other bird news, I’ve started the ABBC a bit early. Top bird seen today is Black-tailed Godwit, in a paddock next to Officeworks on Dandenong Rd. Which reminds me … Yes, I did see an Australasian Pipit today as well, it flew up to say hello.

Other nice birds seen today are Black-shouldered Kite and Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike. They’re common enough, but I can never predict where they’re going to turn up. I had hopes for Fork-tailed Swift and Swamp Harrier but they didn’t show up.

their natural habitat..

Arts said:

their natural habitat..

Giggle.

Arts said:

their natural habitat..

Sesame Street Gets A Face Lift