In the wetlands of picturesque Kampong Trach, Southeastern Cambodia, nests a majestic bird; The Sarus Crane.
With males reaching heights of almost two meters, seeing one of these avian marvels taking flight is a sight to behold - and indeed, a privilege, as by some estimates, there are as few as 3000 of these birds remaining in their natural habitats in South East Asia.
The Crane sanctuary beside my work, at Anlong Pring, is home to around three hundred breeding pairs from November to May of each year. Their gray plumage, contrasts vividly with their bright red heads and hazel wing tips.
Sarus Cranes are monogamous - when they mate, it is for life, and they typically lay their eggs on constructed nests in flooded wetland or rice paddy. Each breeding pair will produce two eggs most years and very exceptionally they may lay three or even four if conditions are ideal. The parent cranes take turns to incubate their eggs.
Their chicks can walk and follow their parents from birth, and make their first flights between two and three months old. Not all chicks will make it - humans, water cats, snakehead, snakes and rodents being natural predators to them. In recent times the risk from humans in this area is much reduced; thanks in no small part to education programs but even more so to the almighty tourist dollar boosting the local resident's coffers and giving them the incentive to help conserve this beautiful bird.
37km from beautiful Kampot, or an overnight trip from Ho Chi Minh (Old Saigon) - this is well worth a visit.
For more information on Sarus Cranes visit:
http://www.conservapedia.com/Saurus_crane
http://alouattasen.weebly.com/saurus-crane.html
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Mescal