Mogelijk eerste broedgeval van Kraanvogel Grus grus in Nederland

Early June 2000, three Cranes were observed in farmland in central Drenthe, one of which was decidedly smaller (c. 80 cm height) than the two adults. The smaller bird made a weak impression but escaped by jumping a ditch when approached, meanwhile both adults watching from 50 m distance. It was not seen again the following days. Both adults stayed at least till early October, and were accompanied by two more Cranes from 20 August onwards. The local habitat consists of large-scale farmland with a scattering of fens in a radius of several kms and human habitation concentrated in few and small villages. This observation fits the trend of the last few years, during which summering Cranes in potentially suitable breeding habitats in Drenthe and SE-Friesland have become commonplace.