Haribo

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

• Blue
• Black
• Blue

What is this?

Each crane has a unique combination of 3 coloured rings on their right leg. This marking code helps to identify the crane in the wild.

Character profile:

September 2012: When young, Haribo was very shy and nervous but once socialised, he became a more confident individual. He was soon so confident, that he started to attack the shorter of the suited crane parents. Once in Somerset, he became really quite bolshie and annoying to be around  if dressed in a crane rearing suit. For a while, he had a very dark neck with a blonde Mohawk on top his head - quite a look!  At his transfer to Somerset, his feathers were in incredibly good condition - handy for keeping out the driving Somerset rain. After release, he has been enjoying the space and freedom of the enclosure and taking some good strong flights. He was the first to fly on release day - and flies, like Chris from the 2010 cohort, with a dangly leg.  January 2013: As autumn turned to winter, the cranes began to flock together to look for food, which they found in plentiful supply in the form of maize left in fields from the harvest.  All 48 have been spending most of their time either feeding in the maize stubble or down on Stanmoor, completely unperturbed by the surrounding floodwater.  January 2014: 2013 was a largely uneventful and quiet year for Haribo.  The spring and summer were spent largely on Aller Moor and West Sedgemoor, with the autumn spent feeding on the Stoke St. Gregory Ridge, and Stanmoor, and the winter flood period on pasture land on Stanmoor along with the majority of the other cranes.   July 2015: In spring 2014 Haribo formed a surprise partnership with Twinkle – a 2010 female. He was the only 2012 male to form a pair bond and hold a territory, at only 2 years old, on Wetmoor – which was particularly wet that year following substantial winter flooding.   However, no breeding attempt was made.  The two birds remained together within the main flock through the summer autumn and winter, on the Somerset Levels and Moors.  Spring 2015 saw Haribo once again courting Twinkle and the pair held a territory once again on Wetmoor – which this year, was not particularly wet, and we think, unsuitable for breeding cranes.  They were seen there on an off through the spring, but by June were being seen as a non-territorial pair again on West Sedgemoor. They are not thought to have made a breeding attempt. February 2016: Haribo spent the winter on the Somerset levels and Moors but was seen early in the new Year back on Westmoor with Twinkle.  Perhaps this will be the year they realy make a go of it?   July 16: Set up territory on Westmoor . Incubation of two eggs started on 12th April. After 12 days the eggs were predated – probably by crows. There wereno further known nesting attempts.  Nov 17:  Haribo and his mate, Twinkle returned to their territory on Westmoor, Somerset  in December and were observed there until late May.  Seen frequently feeding together in different parts of their territory.  There was no sign of nesting activity this year.  They rejoined the flock in the Autumn though they are seen on their territory too.      Sept 2018:  Seen quite often on West Moor in Jan, Feb & March.  Incubation started on 2nd April whilst the moor was inundated with floodwater but the nest failed on 11th April as levels receded   Only one of the pair seen feeding on Westmoor 27th April (likely start date for second nest) and a 2nd nest was observed on 30th April.  Nest failed on 17th May – cause unknown but site had started to dry out.  No further nesting attempts reported.   Sept 2019:  Observed with Twinkle in January and March in their territory on Westmoor, in the Somerset Levels and Moors. Incubation started on 16^th March and they hatched 2 chicks on 16^th April.   On 8^th May concerns were raised that both chicks were lost but on 11^th May one chick seen with its parents.   The juvenile fledged circa 10^th July and was seen with its parents in the flock on Aller moor in late August.  This pair had tried hard to breed over the last 3 years so it is very good to witness their success.     2020:  Haribo was thought to have made a nesting attempt on Westmoor, Somerset, with Twinkle, as there was evidence observed of each of the pair seen feeding alone.  Soon after they were seen together again so the attempt is thought to have failed.  No evidence of further attempts.  Haribo was seen as part of the pair amongst the flock on West Sedgemoor during the Autumn.  :   Sept 2021:   Haribo and Twinkle were observed on West Sedgemoor, Somerset in January but returned to their territory on Westmoor, Somerset Levels and Moors and started incubating sometime before 17th March when the nest was confirmed.  On 9th April the pair were seen feeding together with no sign of chicks.  One broken eggshell was found on their nest.  No further attempt was observed.  The pair were seen together on West Sedgemoor in September.   Autumn 2022: Haribo and Twinkle  were observed on Westmoor,  Somerset Levels and Moors during the winter and started incubating sometime before 27th February when the nest was confirmed. 1 chick was hatched  on 28th March but was lost in May – cause unknown.  The pair have continued to occupy their territory in September and October with occasional visits to West Sedgemoor, Somerset.

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Photos of Haribo

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