The common crane, a bird that is part of its folklore and was a popular pet during medieval times, has returned to the Ireland after more than three centuries after it disappeared from island nation.
- A pair of cranes was spotted last year on a restored peat bog –a type of wetland that is mostly found in northern latitude countries.
About Common Crane
- Common Crane (Grus grus) breeds across temperate Eurasia and migrates south across its range.
- Cranes stand at 4 feet tall with a wingspan of over 7 feet
- The common crane is typically seen in Ireland during the winter, but is not sighted during the breeding season.
What are bogs and peat?
- A bog is a freshwater wetland of soft, spongy ground consisting mainly of partially decayed plant matter called peat which is used to keep houses and businesses warm in Northern Europe.
- Bogs are generally found in cool, northern climates and take thousands of years to develop.
- Bogs also act as carbon sinks, sequestering around 200 million tons of carbon from the environment in Siberia and Scandinavia.
(Source: Indian Express and NGC)
