Kada mužjak ždrala naiđe na svoju ženku, izvešće atraktivni ples na koji će ona odgovoriti When a male crane finds himself a female, he performs an attractive dance to which she will respond
CRANE (GRUIDAE)
ous types of rodents, can found by these owls in Vojvodina’s settlements and surrounding fields. And this is also very useful for the local residents, because these birds protect crops from the damage rodents can inflict on them.
Do you know what the crane, our bird in this feature and the most represented in our country during this time of year, is most famous for? If you love cranes, you are well aware that the answer is their lovers’dance. If you’re not, you will remember that all the beauty and elegance of a crane is expressed through this incredible act. Long-legged cranes, with their sil- very-grey colouring, grow to a height of up to 120 cm, while their wingspan can be double that length. They are specific in that they are monogamous. When a male crane finds himself a female, he will perform an attractive dance to which she will respond. If you are fortunate enough to catch such a moment, you will see two cranes spread- ing their wings, elegantly leaping and bow- ing to one another, emitting specific sounds. Following this performance, some types re- tain their partners for life. Until the 20 th century they also nest- ed in Serbia, but they unfortunately left fol- lowing the draining of the swamps and the immersion of the Vlasina mud (now Vlasi- na Lake). However, cranes have not forgot- ten their former habitat and today, on their journey southwards, they often drop in to rest in our country. You can see them during that time in the Slano Kopovo Special Na- ture Reserve, which is located next to Novi Bečej. During the autumn migration period, as many as 20,000 cranes rest in this place. We are also extremely happy to find that they are beginning to drop by during sum- mer too, which raises hopes that they will start nesting in Serbia again.
GRIFFON VULTURE (GYPS FULVUS)
Another extraordinary“nature purifier” on the territory of Serbia is the griffon vul- ture. This graceful and grandiose species of vulture is one of Serbia’s largest birds, and it is in November that it starts nesting in this area. Around a metre tall, it has a wingspan that can extend to as much as 2.5 metres. Several hundred pairs of griffon vul- tures will create their homes in inaccessi- ble cliffs and represent a real attraction for all nature lovers who dare to embark on this adventure. The corpses of dead animals are the main food source of this winged beauty, by which it provides a great service to man- kind, though man unfortunately seems in- capable of appreciating that service. That’s because this bird, which was once wide- spread from North to South, between East and West, today only survives on the terri- tory of Western Serbia. Existing data also shows that they once even nested alongside the Danube in Srem and Banat, but today you will only find them in the canyons of the Uvac and Mileševka rivers, which are designated as special na- ture reserves. Over 500 individuals of this species live in that area, thanks to stringent protection measures, as well as bird-lovers who bring dead cattle to feeding grounds intended exclusively for griffon vultures.
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