 Source of image: www.nbrb.by
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| “PRYPYATSKY” NATIONAL PARK. COMMON CRANE In southern Belarus, in the middle of Belarusian Polesye the “Prypyatsky” National Park is situated. It was established in 1996 on the basis of the Prypyat State Landscape and Hydrological Preserve. The park is a plain declining towards the Prypyat River. Over 85% of its territory is covered with forest. The most unique feature of the Park are its oak woods which add unrivalled coloring to the landscape. Fauna is rich and diverse, particularly as regards birds, due to e great deal of water in the park.
The common crane breeds in high- and low-lying swamps, flood-lands of big rivers, and can be found in reclaimed blocks of marshes. It is protected both domestically, i.e. added to the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus, and internationally, i.e. protected under the Bern and Bonn Conventions.
The common crane is a rather big, long-legged and long-necked bird of specific appearance. Plumage of both males and females is basically gray, the back and sides of the neck are white. The front of the neck, the back of the head, the lower part of the cheeks, and throat are black. Males weigh, on average, 5 kilograms (some up to 7 kilograms) while females are somewhat lighter - about 4.5 kilograms. The crane is 114-145 centimeters long with a wingspan of 220 - 245 centimeters.
Cranes are flying to Belarus in late March - early April. On arrival, individual pairs occupy nesting areas and announce their presence by making loud calls.
Cranes' dances could be observed in mid-April. In April, they lay, as a rule, two olive-gray eggs. Males share equally in incubation during 30 days.
Two or three days after coming to the world, the young leave the nest and follow their parents. By the end of July, at the age of 2.5 - 3 months they begin to fly. In the second half of August local populations form flocks in permanent feeding and resting grounds.
Cranes depart the country in late September - the first half of October. They normally fly in flocks of 15-60 individuals calling to one another. They spend nights in open marshes or in the field.
Birds mainly eat plant food, but will also eat suitably sized prey such as large insects, lizards, small amphibia, and other animals during spring and summer.
Text from the official flyer “Prypyatsky National Park. Common Crane” of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
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| Date : 18.07.2006 |
| Metal : Au 900 |
| Diameter, mm : 21.00 |
| Weight, g : 8.00 |
| Mintage, St. : 3000 |
Minted by :
The Mint of Poland PLC., Warsaw, Poland |
Design :
S.Zaskevich | | |
Ebay-Statistic
(Prices in Euro):
| Year |
Count |
Ave
rage |
Min. |
Max. |
| 2006 |
9 |
206,14 |
171,00 |
288,04 |
| 2007 |
5 |
187,59 |
125,00 |
240,00 |
| 2008 |
3 |
241,65 |
169,55 |
332,41 |
| 2009 |
3 |
238,04 |
210,00 |
253,12 |
| 2010 |
8 |
271,12 |
230,00 |
292,00 |
| 2011 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
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