Khichen

Khichan

Our tour guide says:

The tiny village of Khichan has assumed a popular appeal with the bird watching community. The local people offer large amounts of grain to birds every morning and this has attracted large numbers of Demoiselle Cranes to usurp this food supply. It is great spectacle to watch these Cranes swoop down to a especially created rectangular enclosure, for their early breakfast. The feeding session lasts for an hour and a half, one group takes off as another settles. Their flight across the backdrop of the traditional mansions of the village, presents wonderful opportunities for photography, as do the feeding birds on the ground. We are very close by and can be offered vantage positions over the terraces, by the local people who feel proud of their visitors.

Lonely Planet says:

“This small village, 140 km northwest of Jodhpur, is a twitchers dream, and a regular stop on long-range camel safaris. From late August/early September to the end of March, you can witness masses of demoiselle cranes circling noisily and then descending on the surrounding fields at around 7 am and 5 pm to feed on grain spread around by the villagers.“

We say:

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/40676 Check out this link for
some background information about the cranes of the Khichan.

http://www.savingcranes.org/demoisellacrane.html Additional information
about Demoiselle cranes

The leader has landed, signaling to the rest of her group that it’s safe and time to chow down. Our host showed us pictures of her and how she lost her foot in an accident. She’s just fine now and still leader of her flock.

The next group waiting their turn just outside the fence. The cranes actually queue up in their flocks before flying from the hill, down to the outside of the fence and then flying over the fence to where the food is.