Demoiselle Cranes at Kheechan

PSA Journal, Feb, 2004 by Dinesh Pagaria

Kheechan is a small village situated near Phalodi, which is about 86 miles from Jodhpur in the northern part of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. During winter, Kurjaan or Demoiselle Cranes migrate here. Due to the protection given by the villagers, these birds have been coming here by the thousands for many years.

Every year towards the end of September, just after the monsoon rains have ceased, they fly in from their breeding grounds of Eurasia and Mongolia.

Suddenly, the silent and sleepy village of Kheechan is transformed into a crowded place with the arrival of thousands of these birds as their "krok-krok" calls fill the air. The entire sky is filled with these noisy birds and the color of the sky becomes merely a background. The cranes stay here for 4-5 months. The Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo) is a medium-sized bird (approximately 30 inches). Its overall plumage is gray with a black head and neck and it has prominent white ear tufts and red eyes.

The long, black feathers of its lower neck fall over the breast. Young birds have a gray head and much shorter secondary feathers that drop over the tail. The birds are winter visitors and are most common in northwest India and in eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, though sporadically found throughout much of the country. Their food includes wheat, rice and grain.

The cranes feed in the early morning and early evening and rest during hot hours on marsh edges and sand banks along rivers. After the cranes complete their early morning feeding, they gather on the nearby sand dunes making a fascinating sight. Then, they depart in different directions in small family flocks. Once in the air, they immediately form a disciplined order and their flight is worth watching as their fully spread wings contrast with the bright blue winter sky.

In the middle of the day, the cranes assemble around several small ponds (called "naadis") dug near the village to collect rainwater for domestic and animal use. The cranes drink water and occasionally take a bath there too.

Sometimes, the cranes show mutual affection by dancing and communicating with each other.

These cranes can be photographed in Kheechan during winter months from November to February.

Knowledge of animal behavior will help you anticipate the cranes' actions, which in turn helps you take better photographs. A good camera is a must for bird photography, preferably with autofocus and a telephoto / zoom lens in the range of 200-600 mm (for 35 mm cameras). Autofocus is invaluable, as it allows the photographer to concentrate on composition. A good, sturdy tripod can be of added advantage though circumstances sometimes do not allow its use. Therefore, the ability to use a hand-held camera can prove useful.

In planning a photo shoot, time of day plays an important role, as the best shots are usually taken during early mornings or late evenings.

Wildlife photography requires a lot of patience, dedication, concentration, knowledge of wildlife, and a bit of good luck.

Dinesh Pagaria Udaipur, India