November 19, 2021
The last survivor of a flock of Siberian cranes has migrated to northern Iran to spend the winter there alone for the 14th year.
The crane, named Omid (Hope), flies every year from Siberia to Mazandaran province over a distance of 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles). This year, he arrived the evening of October 29.
He used to make the trip along with his mate, Arezoo (Wish). But she died 14 years ago. Omid has kept coming to the Iranian wetlands alone. He did not return to Iran two winters in the last 14, sparking fears that he had died. But after a gap year, he was back.
Siberian cranes migrate to these lagoons from their natural habitat in Siberia after flying across Russia, Kazakhstan and the Azerbaijan Republic before arriving in Iran.
They spend around four months in two wetlands, Fereydunkenar and Sorkhrud, which are refuges for migratory birds.
Siberian cranes have a long lifetime, reproduce only a few young and remain loyal to their mates. If they lose their mate, they do not mate again.
Given that the Siberian crane is regarded as an endangered species, the Department of the Environment of Mazandaran Province protects this rare bird with the help of many volunteers from the communities around the wetlands.
According to the International Crane Foundation, there are only two flocks left in the world. The largest group is in East Asia, with Omid and probably no other birds remaining in the western flock.
The eastern flock breeds in northeastern Siberia and winters at Poyang Lake in the Lower Yangtze River Basin in China. The western flock, Omid’s group, breeds just south of the Ob River in Russia. Omid may be the only bird left in this flock. Most of its birds wintered in India, but none has have been sighted there since 2002.
With a height of 140 centimeters (4-1/2 feet) and a weight of 6 kilograms (13 lbs.), there are only 3,600 to 4,000 Siberian cranes left in the world.
Adult cranes have red skin on the forehead, face, and sides of the head, white plumage with black wingtips, and reddish-pink legs while juvenile cranes have a plumage mix of white and cinnamon-brown feathers and a tan head.
The oldest documented Siberian Crane was named Wolf. He died at the age of 83. Wolf is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
