Reproduction
Male and female demoiselles mature sexually at about 2 years of age. Their clutch is normally two eggs, yellow-green in color with purplish lavender spots. Although males assist with the incubation of eggs over a 27-29 day period, females perform the major part of this task. Despite their small size, demoiselle cranes fiercely protect their nest from predators and will chase dogs, foxes, bustards and eagles without hesitation. Several birds may cooperatively drive invaders away from the nest area. Chicks hatch in May and June.

Life Cycle
Chicks begin to forage soon after hatching. If a crane family is threatened by a predator, chicks seek shelter while the adults fly ahead to divert the predator from the young. Adolescent birds migrate with their parents in the fall, and most likely remain with their parents throughout the winter.

Dancing Damsel
The French word demoiselle means damsel (girl or maiden). Both sexes of the beautiful demoiselle look alike. Body plumage is light bluish gray, with light gray on the crown and along the back of the neck to the nape. The face and front of the neck is dark gray with long, pointed feathers hanging over the breast. Ornamental white ear tufts circle the sides and back of the bird's head. The iris is red, and the beak is olive at the base, yellowish at the middle and the orange at the tip. Legs and toes are black, as are the primary and secondary flight feathers. Tail feathers are gray with black tips.

As with all cranes, demoiselle cranes form lifelong monogamous pair bonds. These birds are renowned for their spectacular and elaborate courtship dances that strengthen bonds between mated pairs. During this graceful display, birds circle each other while leaping and calling, head-bobbing toward one another and bowing with spread wings. Occasionally, a group of demoiselles may form a loose ring around a dancing individual or pair. Uttering loud calls and fanning their tails, spectators replace dancing birds and, at times, the entire group may race off in one direction. The group dance fest is concluded when all participants take flight and circle the area prior to breaking up into smaller groups or pairs.

Up, Up and Away
Demoiselle cranes migrate long distances. In late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals and prepare for their flight to their winter range. During their migratory flight south, demoiselles fly like all cranes, with their head and neck straight forward and their feet and legs straight behind, reaching altitudes of 16,000-26,000 feet (4,875-7,925 m). Along their arduous journey, many die from fatigue, hunger and predation from birds such as eagles. At their wintering grounds, demoiselles have been observed flocking with Eurasian cranes, their combined totals reaching up to 20,000 individuals. Demoiselles maintain separate social groups within the larger flock. In March and April, demoiselle cranes begin their long spring journey back to their northern nesting grounds.

The zoo's demoiselle cranes can be seen at the Asian Marsh exhibit in Tropical Asia. Watch for cranes amid the dense foliage. In addition to the demoiselle cranes, visitors can also see the endangered white-naped, red-crowned cranes at their exhibits located in the Temperate Forest.

The demoiselle crane is not endangered at this time. Their range, however, has dwindled considerably over the last 150 years. The last sighted breeding in Tunisia and Morocco was in the 1930s. During the 19th century these cranes also bred in Algeria, Romania, northern Russia and southern Spain.

Seven of the 15 species of cranes are threatened or endangered. The destruction of natural habitat on breeding grounds, in wintering areas and along migration routes is having a devastating effect on crane and other migratory bird populations.

How You Can Help!
The effort to save threatened and endangered migratory birds requires cooperation and support at the international, national, regional and individual levels. You can help in this cause. Join and become active in Woodland Park Zoo and other conservation organizations of your choice. Recycle forest products. Eliminate or reduce pesticide use. Let your elected representatives know your views about conservation of migratory birds and their wild habitats.

Contact the Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org to find out about ways you can support conservation programs at the zoo. Discover more about endangered cranes by calling the International Crane Foundation at (608) 356-9462 or at their Web site.

Learn other ways you can help conserve wildlife and the habitats they require for survival by visiting our How You Can Help page.

Sources and Suggested Reading
Grooms, Steve. 1992. The Cry of the Sandhill Crane. NorthWord Press, Minocqua, WI. 160 p.

Johnsgard, Paul A. 1983. Cranes of the World. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN. 257 p.

Perrins, Dr. Christopher M., ed. 1993. The Encyclopedia of Birds. Facts on File, Inc., New York, NY. 447 p.

For Kids!
Horn, Gabriel. 1988. The Crane. Crestwood House, Mankato, MN. 48 p.

Voeller, Edward. 1989. The Red-Crowned Crane. Dillon Press, Minneapolis, MN. 59 p.

More References