Crane is able to raise her chick by herself

A FEMALE crane has successfully raised a chick to fledging age against all odds after losing her mate when the chick was just five weeks old.

Animal experts said it was “miraculous” the single mother was able to raise her offspring by herself after her partner died earlier this year.

Usually, both crane parents are involved in raising their young, feeding and then teaching them to find food and protecting the chicks until they can fly.

The bird is part of a tiny population of just two pairs that have recolonised Aberdeenshire after an absence of about 400 years.

The bird and her chick have now left for the winter, and animal conservationists are hopeful they will return next year.

Hywel Maggs, senior conservation officer for RSPB Scotland, said: “It is remarkable that this single crane managed to raise this chick on her own.

“When her mate disappeared, followed the next day by one of the chicks, we thought it would only be a matter of time before the second chick died.

“It’s unheard of in the UK for a single adult to successfully raise a chick and shows tremendous strength.

“Mother and son have now left Aberdeenshire on migration and we will have to wait until next year to see if she returns with a new mate.”

It takes about 10 weeks before a newly hatched chick can take its first flight, which is a long time for the wary parents to keep watch.

But they take their guard duties seriously even attacking foxes that stray too close.

This is a huge undertaking for the parents and many fail to successfully raise any chicks to a fledging age.

The species was once widespread in wetland areas across the UK, but drainage and hunting saw them become extinct in the UK by the 1600s.