Friends of Francis

Yesterday while I stood on a small island in Poyang Lake, China, six Siberian cranes in glistening white with black wing tips circled overhead on midday thermals. Like fellow humans since times untold, I was touched by their magnificence and inspired anew to help these global treasures survive.

These cranes once graced wetlands and skies from Egypt to Japan. They are reduced to a single group. They all winter at Poyang Lake. Shallow wetlands vital to cranes are threatened by a proposed dam across the outflow. So we join forces with Chinese conservationists to help.

Recently, Siberian Cranes wintered in Iran and India. A single bird continued to come to Iran. The last crane was seen in India a decade ago. Shooting along their migration routes that spanned a continent is believed to be their demise. So one must go to Poyang Lake in winter to experience these global treasures.

Your friend with the cranes,

George Archibald
Co-founder
International Crane Foundation