Cranes return to Belgian wetlands after fires
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Cranes landed in the Hautes Fagnes, a plateau in eastern Belgium, this week, offering a positive sign after wildfires damaged the area in August.
Roger Herman, honorary president of the Friends of the Fagne association, expressed relief at the birds’ return, noting they usually stop there during their annual migration from Scandinavia to southern Europe.
Herman observed hundreds of cranes and believes restoration efforts, specifically the creation of ponds, helped both limit fire damage and provide a landing spot for the birds. The cranes were seen feeding on molinia, a grass typically considered a weed in the Fagnes. While molinia is resilient to heat and fire, other plants like heather and blueberries suffered greatly in the fires, raising concerns about long-term biodiversity in the affected areas.
The presence of the cranes suggests the restoration work is having a positive impact, though the long-term effects of the fires remain a concern.
