Blue Crane - on Paardevlei Trail Traditional Geocache
Blue Crane - on Paardevlei Trail
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A lovely cache on the Paardevlei walking trail named after a beautiful bird sometimes seen in the area
The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The blue crane is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. This crane is pale blue-gray in colour becoming darker on the upper head, neck and nape. From the crown to the lores, the plumage is distinctly lighter, sometimes whitish. The bill is ochre to greyish, with a pink tinge. The long wingtip feathers which trail to the ground. The primaries are black to slate grey, with dark coverts and blackish on the secondaries. Unlike most cranes, it has a relatively large head and a proportionately thin neck. Juveniles are similar but slightly lighter, with tawny coloration on the head, and no long wing plumes. The blue crane is partially social, less so during the breeding season. There is a strict hierarchy in groups, with the larger adult males being dominant. They overlap in range with 3 other crane species but interactions with these species and other "large wader" type birds are not known. They are relentlessly aggressive to various other animals during the nesting season, attacking non-predatory species such as cattle, tortoises, plovers and even sparrows. Humans are also attacked if they approach a nest too closely, with the aggressive male having torn clothes and drawn blood in such cases.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n ebpx nobhg 2z njnl sebz gur gerr va gur srapr.