Opening of the crane season 2019
The cranes are coming back to Brandenburg! After the first observations this week, the return of the cranes from their winter quarters has begun. The 2019 crane season is officially opening at Linumer Bruch in Germany.
The Cranes Are Returning to Linumer Bruch
Every year, the return of the cranes marks one of the most impressive signs of spring in Brandenburg. After spending the winter farther south, the birds begin their long journey north again.
Linumer Bruch, north of Berlin, is one of the places where this seasonal movement can be particularly impressive. During the migration period, cranes use the wetlands and surrounding fields as an important resting area.
The first returning birds are therefore a welcome sight for people who look forward to the beginning of the spring migration each year.
Why Linumer Bruch Attracts Cranes
Linumer Bruch is a wetland landscape in Brandenburg with extensive open areas, meadows, fields, and water. These surroundings provide suitable conditions for cranes during their migration.
The birds need safe places to rest and spend the night. Open fields also provide opportunities for feeding during the day. The combination of wetlands and agricultural land makes the area particularly attractive during the migration season.
For visitors, the landscape itself is part of the experience. Linumer Bruch does not look like a traditional tourist attraction. It is a wide, open landscape where the natural rhythm of the seasons determines what you can see.
The Return of the Cranes
Cranes do not all arrive at exactly the same time. Their return takes place over a period of days and weeks as the migration progresses.
In early spring, the first sightings are therefore especially exciting. A few birds can suddenly appear in the landscape, followed by larger groups as more cranes make their way north.
For people living in Brandenburg, the returning cranes are one of those natural signs that winter is coming to an end. Their calls and large formations in the sky can make the change of season feel very real.
Cranes in the Brandenburg Landscape
The landscape around Linumer Bruch is typical of parts of Brandenburg. Large open fields alternate with wetlands, small bodies of water, forests, and rural settlements.
This creates a very different impression from Berlin, even though the capital is not far away. Within a relatively short distance, the dense urban landscape gives way to wide horizons and quiet countryside.
That contrast is one of the things I particularly like about Brandenburg. You can experience the energy of Berlin and, not far away, find landscapes where wildlife and the seasons set the pace.
A Sign That Spring Is Coming
The return of the cranes is more than an interesting wildlife event. It is also a seasonal tradition for many people in the region.
After the dark and cold months of winter, the arrival of migratory birds brings a noticeable sense of change. The days are getting longer, the landscape begins to turn green again, and the first signs of spring appear.
When the cranes return to Brandenburg, spring no longer feels like something that is still far away.
Watching the Cranes
Watching cranes in the wild requires patience. The birds may be visible in the distance, while at other times they can be heard before they can be seen.
The best experience is therefore often not about getting as close as possible. It is about observing the birds without disturbing them and taking in the surrounding landscape at the same time.
Large groups of cranes can be particularly impressive when they gather in open fields or fly across the sky in formation.
The Beginning of the 2019 Crane Season
With the first returning cranes, the 2019 season at Linumer Bruch has begun. For nature lovers in Brandenburg, this is a welcome sign that another migration season is underway.
The cranes will continue their journey north as spring progresses. For a short time, Linumer Bruch becomes part of one of the great seasonal movements of birds between their wintering and breeding areas.
A Small Spring Tradition in Brandenburg
For me, the return of the cranes is one of those simple seasonal events that makes the landscape around Berlin and Brandenburg feel connected to the wider natural world.
You do not need a large attraction or a complicated itinerary to appreciate it. Sometimes it is enough to stand outside, hear the cranes calling overhead, and realize that spring has started to return.
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The return of the cranes marks the beginning of another spring migration season at Linumer Bruch in Brandenburg, Germany.
Sources & References
Background information on crane migration and conservation in Germany: NABU – Crane Conservation in Germany
