The Blue Crane is the national bird of South Africa, and there are around 20 000 left in the country.
Xhosa people call the Blue Crane “Indwe”. When a warrior showed bravery in battle, he was honoured by the chief by having Blue Crane feathers put in his hair. These warriors were then known as men of “ugaba”, or trouble, meaning if trouble arose, they were the ones who could restore order.
Zulu chiefs wore the Blue Crane’s feathers in their headdresses, and called the bird “Udoyi”.
The Blue Crane is one of the most recognisable birds in South Africa, and is also known as the Stanley Crane or Paradise Crane. Their diet is mainly insects, but they will also eat frogs, lizards and small fish. When the female Blue Crane lays her eggs, she always lays two. She and the male take turns sitting on the eggs until they hatch, and raise the chicks together.
The Ndebele of South Africa call the Blue Crane “Mxololo”. They have great respect for it because of its great bravery and hunting prowess. Tales are told of Mxololo, which will catch a dangerous snake in its beak, then fly high into the sky and drop the serpent from a great height to kill it. Because of the high regard in which they hold the Blue Crane, the Ndebele are forbidden from hunting or eating it.
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