Common crane

The common crane is a large gray bird. It has a long neck and long legs which it keeps at full stretch while flying.

The common crane thrives in bogs, lakeside meadows and in reeds alongside a lake or a sea. The species is found in the northern parts of Europe and Asia. The common crane winters in northern Africa, in Middle Eastern and in Southeast and Southwest Europe. Migrating flocks fly in a V-like formation.

According to an old belief the weather of the following summer can be predicted from the common cranes’ spring migration. If common cranes fly high up in the sky in a neat formation the following summer will be warm. If they fly low and in disorder, the following summer will be rainy.