Crane time in the north: where the lucky birds now rest!

Crane time in the north: where the lucky birds now rest!

In February and March, tens of thousands of cranes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony raced on their way to the north. These impressive migratory birds return from their winter quarters in southern Europe and are referred to in Sweden as "birds of happiness" because they announce spring. In the landscape, they can not only be heard with their impressive bar dances, but also with their trumpet -like calls, while the crane pairs linger on food areas near their areas until the start of breeding in March.

The best observation locations are around the Bodden, in the Müritz National Park and on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. In Lower Saxony, the areas at Diepholz are particularly recommended. The number of cranes sailing through varies from year to year and depends on the breeding sequences and resting conditions. There are currently around 10,000 breeding pairs in Germany, which are mainly based in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg.

Current observations and counts

The return of the cranes is particularly clear this year: On February 12, 2025, 18,500 cranes were counted in Hesse, which is the highest daily value of the year. Over 45,000 cranes have been moving over Hesse since January, and a total of almost 100,000 in Germany could be. Around 11,500 breeding pairs are located in Germany, many of them continue their train to Scandinavia and the Baltic States.

The cranes' pull from the winter quarters stops unabated despite the sometimes strong headwind, and important resting places like the LAC du the in the champagne attract numerous birds. Cranes were counted here on February 9, 11.030. Cranes are characterized by a hurry in spring because they want to reach their breeding sites as quickly as possible.

For crane observation there is a lot of information and events offered by NABU and other organizations. The “Kranorama” observation platform and ranger information at the Kranich-Infomobil in Zingst.

For all nature lovers and bird observers, the crane time is a fascinating experience that can be used for both private observations and for guided tours. Other important rest areas next to the aforementioned are located at the Schaalsee, Galenbecker See and Lewitz. The NABU crane center in Groß Mohrdorf also offers excursions and valuable information.

These exciting train movements and the impressive crane observations can be experienced particularly well in spring when the cranes return from their winter quarters, such as ndr reported and nabu Complemented .