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Ashen cranes in Médoc Atlantique
Who are the grey cranes?
The sandhill crane belongs to one of the oldest bird orders: the gruiformes. This beautiful wader, which has evolved little over millions of years, is a member of the gruidae family. One of the largest birds in Europe, a sandhill crane reaches a height of about 1.30 m, weighs between 4 and 6 kg and has a wingspan of 2 m to 2.20 m.
Its name "ash" comes from its predominantly grey, ash-coloured, relatively uniform colour. The adult bird has a contrasting black and white head. A red cap on top of the head is also more or less visible depending on the season.
Where do they come from?
Every year in autumn, the grey cranes leave the plains of Northern and Eastern Europe and migrate several thousand kilometres through Southern Europe to North Africa.
During this long journey, they usually take a break at our destination, much to our delight!
Where to observe them and when?
It is possible to observe them at sunrise as well as at sunset, between November and December, at the Cousseau pond in Lacanau.
Our tip for recognising them: they fly with their necks and legs outstretched!