grullas en Extremadura

Extremadura can be considered as the main wintering destination of those European Cranes who migrate taking the westerly route, hosting birds from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Estonia, as well as the rest of the countries which surround the Baltic Sea and even from the most westerly areas of Russia. The possibility of finding abundant food in extensive areas which combine wood pasture with cereal fields and irrigated lands, together with the existence of numerous wetlands where they can establish their roosts and the moderate winter temperatures of Extremadura (between 5º and 20º C) provide these birds with the ideal habitat to spend the winter months.

It is estimated that the wintering population in Extremadura ranges between 60,000 and 79,000 birds, showing a steady increase in the majority of the core sites. Their numbers may undergo changes of relative magnitude each season since the number of birds which arrive in Extremadura is closely related to prevailing climatic conditions and the availability of trophic resources in other areas of the migratory route. Very cold winters may mean that the populations which usually winter further north, especially in France (Las Landas, Lac du Der-Chantecoq) and Gallocanto (Aragon, Spain) fly instead to Extremadura. Similarly, milder winters may reduce the presence of birds in the region, in favour of more northerly areas.

The Common Crane is widely distributed during the winter in Extremadura and taking the foraging, feeding and roosting areas as a whole, it is estimated that the surface area occupied by the species is around 1,835.000 ha, which represents 44% of the entire region. It is, therefore, a species which can be easily spotted in several areas of the territory, besides being very easily detected owing to their movement in large flocks and the loudness of their call.