Wiz

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

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• 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: Initially Wiz was a very shy bird who did not bond to the crane parents. Over time he became aggressive and seemed to enjoy picking on the other birds when they were trying to rest - not the way to become popular. He has a unique walk due to one of his toes on his left food being crooked from a young age.  Once down in Somerset, however, his overall disposition seemed to mellow, and he became content to integrate and forage with the rest of the flock. January 2013:  As autumn turned into 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 stubbles or on the pastures of Stanmoor, completely unperturbed by the surrounding floodwater.  January 2014:  2013 was quite uneventful for Wiz.  The spring and summer were spent split between Aller Moor and West Sedgemoor, and as the autumn drew on, feeding was amongst the flock along the Stoke St. Gregory Ridge, and on Stanmoor.  With the deep and prolonged flooding of December and January, the group remained on Stanmoor which was relatively flood-free, feeding in waterlogged fields on worms.   July 2015: In early spring 2014 it appeared that Wiz was forming a pair-bond with Elizabeth Royal  - a good choice! However, the romance was short-lived and Wiz spent the summer mooching with the crowd of non-breeding birds on the Somerset Levels and Moors.  The winter of 2014/15 was spent largely uneventfully in Somerset too, and with the onset of spring 2015 Wiz remained un-paired.  We hope he will find a partner in 2016.  February 2016: Wiz remained in Somerset all winter and by February was still not clearly paired with any particular bird. July 16: There is no evidence of either pairing or nest preparation this season. July 17:  Wiz was seen with Margaret on Wetmoor in early March but no nesting attempt was evident.  In April he was seen with Acorn.  Back with the flock in the Autumn.    Sept 18:   No pairing or nesting attempts reported.   Wiz observed with the flock on Aller moor on 8^th August.  Sept 2019: Observed on Whitmoor, Somerset Levels and Moors with Pippa and their 2018 juvenile on 16^th February.  By the 10^th April seen in territory on Wetmoor, Somerset. Observed incubating on 17^th April.   Hatch took place on the 18th or 19th May.  Observations through the summer indicated that chick was likely still present, but observed feeding with no sign of chicks in August so assumed failed at late stages of chick  rearing.        2020:   Observed acting territorially with Pippa in late March on Wetmoor -  Somerset, and incubating in late April.  The nest failed in May and no further attempt was observed.  Wiz has been observed with the flock on West Sedgemoor during the Autumn.    Sept 2021:  Wiz and Pippa were observed regularly on their territory on Wetmoor, Somerset levels and Moors from January to March.  Observed nest building on 25th March but still feeding together 5th April.  Pippa was identified as one of a pair nesting on Whitmoor and still sitting on 25th May.  Appeared to have hatched by 8th June but evidence was confusing.  Eventually both adults were observed with one chick which was ringed at the end of July and fledged by mid-August.  The family were observed on West Sedgemoor in September.  Autumn 2022:  Wiz and Pippa were seen on Wetmoor over the winter but were very difficult to find during the breeding season.  A nest was discovered on Whitmoor, Somerset Levels and Moors and incubation started on 15th April but failed after 10 days and no further attempt was observed.  They have been seen in September and October with the flock on West Sedgemoor without juveniles.

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Photos of Wiz

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