Oakie

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

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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:

June 2013: Oakie is predicted to be one of the largest of the 2013 cohort as at the end of June he already weighed more than birds 2 weeks older!  He adores the crane mum and dad and always follows quite close at heel around the enclosure.    He did have a sibling, which sadly sustained an injury during the rearing phase that led to him being put down, so he is now alone.  On arrival in Somerset it was noticed that he couldn't quite close the end of his beak - and he also had a bumpy bit half way up.  After a couple of weeks, however, his beak, fortunately got back to its usual shape and he could feed normally. He was briefly nicknamed Beaky, until championed and named by Oakhill College. January 2014: Oakie was released in mid September and quickly integrated with the older birds, spending the autumn foraging with the flock on West Sedgemoor, along the Stoke St. Gregory ridge, and the winter on splashy pasture land on Stanmoor near the village of Stoke St. Gregory. The deep and prolonged flooding that affected the Levels and Moors over the winter of 2013/14 did not seem to have had much of an effect on the new cohorts' welfare or integration. January 2015: Oakie went on to spend all of 2014 as an integral part of the non-breeding and non-moulting flock on the Levels and Moors and towards the tail end of the year was frequently seen feeding in with a group on Southlake and Aller Moors to the west of Langport. Sadly his radio tag failed part way through the year, which meant that he has been reported as missing frequently - when he has actually been present!  June 2015:   Oakie was being seen up till March 2015, but since then we have not had a positive ring-reading.  However – the summer months are very hard for ring reading and we think that he is probably alive and well and still out there ‘somewhere! ‘  February 2016: Oakie finally turned up at Slimbridge in July 2015  and remained there for the rest of the year. He is quite possibly paired with Cotton - a 2013 female.     July 16: Remained at Slimbridge and was seen associating with Cotton but there is no  evidence of nest preparation this season.        Nov 17:     Remained at Slimbridge and was seen associating with Cotton  but there is no evidence of nesting this season.   This pair are frequently seen in the company of Evie – so not a clear pair yet ,but one to watch in 2018.      Sept 18:  Confirmed as Sherbert’s mate at WWT Slimbridge at the end of April and incubation started from around 3rd May.  Hatch took place on 8th June with one chick confirmed on 28th June.  Chick fledged in late August.   Sept 2019:   Observed in March and April with Sherbert and their 2018 juvenile at WWT Slimbridge. On 11th April they were observed nest building with one egg laid the same day. The nest failed 23rd April -  cause unknown.   Started incubation on 2nd nest on 10th May but failed almost immediately. Again cause unknown. Observed at Slimbridge in late August.    2020 :   Oakie and Sherbert hatched 2 chicks within the reserve at WWT Slimbridge but one chick died soon after.  Sadly the second was found dead with an impact injury.  The pair have been observed regularly at Slimbridge during the Autumn.   Sept 2021:   Oakie remained at WWT Slimbridge with Sherbert and they were observed nest building in early April.  This nest was flooded and a second attempt was disturbed by (possibly) Sedge and her unringed mate. Their 3rd attempt was also disrupted by Sedge and mate.  They have been observed at Slimbridge in September.   Autumn 2022:  Oakie and Sherbert remained at WWT Slimbridge during the Winter.  Incubation on the first nest was confirmed on 3rd April but it failed and the second nest was started some time before 1st May.   2 chicks were hatched but both were lost soon after.  The pair have been seen at Slimbridge during the Autumn.                      

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Photos of Oakie

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