Imagine...it's spring, and the morning sun is slowly burning the mist off the marshes...
You walk towards the source of this incredible sound, and catch a glimpse of movement in the meadow grasses. With bill turned skywards, a piebald head on a long slender neck is heralding the day. Your heart almost stops. Unmistakable - it's a crane!
Cranes look magnificent. Their trumpeting calls sound astonishing.
And they have a courtship dance that has to be seen to be believed.
Before hunting and the draining of our wetlands wiped them out, cranes were plentiful in the UK.
Today, about 15 pairs are holding steady in the east of the country,
but to give the birds a chance of restablishing their former numbers across wetlands throughout the UK, cranes need a helping hand.
Our aim is to restore healthy populations of wild cranes throughout the UK, so that people can once again experience these beautiful birds.
Explore this site, watch Crane Country a short film introducing the project,
listen to the Crane Soundscape, Meet the Cranes of 2010, Meet the Cranes of 2011, view the Crane Sightings Map and if you've seen the cranes in the wild,
you can find out more on how to submit your sighting.
Keep up to date with the Latest News providing regular updates
from the project team on the progress so far.
Cranes have inhabited the world for an incredible 40 million years... more than 13 times as long as human kind!
They are the tallest birds in the UK - Eurasian cranes stand at 4 - 4 1/2 feet and are Britain’s tallest bird species
They are the loudest birds - their calls travel over distances of 3 miles
They are the highest flying of all birds - they reach altitudes of 32,000 feet.
Follow the Great Crane Project on flickr
Clarence
Gemma
Minnie
Dennis
Gilbert
Michael
Bart
Yellow Black Red
Black Green Red
Mennis
Chris
Twinkle
Wendy
Howard
Vince
Squidgy
Green Black Red
Ruby
Tamsin
Reg
Sedge