Chip

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

• Yellow
• White
• Black

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:

January 2015: Red White Black (Chip) is the oldest of this year’s cranes – and was starting to hatch on the journey back to the UK.  She is a pretty and elegant crane, but during rearing was a a little bit of a loner. She is the sibling of Re Bl Bk.  She was Matt Baker’s favourite when he visited with BBC Countryfile and has developed into a smooth, elegant, grey-looking juvenile crane.   She has been doing well since release, and is one of group of 9 youngsters that broke away from the main flock to spend most of December on Kingsmoor, but has more recently come back to form part of one larger group. She flies with one of her legs dangling - which is a bit of a shame - but it doesn't seem to affect her foraging behaviour or flight in any way. July 2015: Chip has spent the spring and summer mainly feeding on Nortmoor (Aller) and Northmoor near East Lyng, and roosting most of the time on West Sedgemoor.  The whole non-breeding flock appear to be thriving on the Levels and Moors this year. February 2016:Chip spent a rather unremarkable  autumn and winter of 2015/16 on the Somerset Levels and Moors spending time in a flock that fed on the whole across Wetmoor, Aller moor, and West Sedgemoor. She is likely to remain as part of the non-breeding flock through the coming Spring and Summer. July16: Remained in Somerset and was seen mating with Soar but since they are both only 2 years old they are not ready to breed so there was no nesting attempt. Like all the other birds of their year they have been in Somerset as far as can be ascertained but difficult to find and identify during the breeding season.  Nov 17:  Chip was seen at Slimbridge in the Spring, having mated with Monty and chased off Sedge (Monty’s mate of last year).  However, no nesting attempt was made and in late May Sedge was back on the scene.  Chip is back with the flock for the winter.    Sept 18:    No pairing or nesting attempts reported.  Chip was observed in late August on Aller moor.   Sept 2019:  Chip was last observed in March.  There has been no evidence of pairing or breeding attempts.     2020:  No evidence of pairing or breeding.  Chip has been observed with the flock on West Sedgemoor during the Autumn.    Sept 2021: No evidence of pairing or breeding.  Chip has been observed with the flock on West Sedgemoor, Somerset during September.  Autumn 2022:  No evidence of pairing or breeding this year.  Chip has not been seen since February on West Sedgemoor.

Photos of Chip

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