Seasonal variation in grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) abundance in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Grey crowned cranes (Balearica regulorum), an endangered species, exhibit significant seasonal variation in abundance within the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. Research reveals that crane densities are markedly lower during the wet season (2.4/km²) compared to the dry season (20.2/km²). This study utilized line-transect distance sampling across multiple 2-km road segments to estimate crane populations in April and August 2016, analyzing data from 106 transects with observations of 174 crane groups ranging from 1 to 61 individuals. The findings suggest that the Ngorongoro Crater serves as a critical seasonal habitat for cranes, particularly during the dry season when they concentrate in perennial wetlands. This underscores the site's importance for crane conservation efforts in northern Tanzania.

Amulike, B. B., Fuller, T. K., Houlihan, P. W., & Griffin, C. R. (2020). Seasonal variation in grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) abundance in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology, 58(4), 685–691. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12738