Experts of the International Crane Foundation have come to the southern province of Kien Giang to watch the number of red-headed cranes (Grus antigone sharpii) which are heading to the bang grass (Lepironia articulate) fields there.

Red-headed cranes are also returning to the Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province after the forest fire there eight months ago.

Over the last week, dozens of red-headed cranes flocked to the Lepironia articulate grass field in Phu My commune, Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province, to look for food, said Ha Tri Cao, coordinator of the project to preserve and sustainably develop the Lepironia articulate grass fields in Phu My commune.

Only three or four birds appeared on the first day but so far, nearly 40 birds have come to the grass fields, Cao added.

According to this expert, the red-headed crane season in these grass fields will last until May 2011. Last year, the highest number of cranes recorded at this grass field was 134.

Nguyen Van Hung, director of the Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province, also said that nearly 20 red-headed cranes have come to his park.

The number of rare birds is not high and their return to the park is nearly one month later than previous years, it is still good news because the rare birds still choose the park as their home despite the fire there eight months ago.

The red-headed crane is one of the largest of its kind, standing approximately 1.75m tall and weighing 8.7kg. The birds have an average wingspan of 2.5m. These cranes, once prevalent in all of Southeast Asia, can now only be found in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It is estimated that over 200 of the birds live in An Giang, Dong Thap, Kien Giang and Dak Lak provinces in Vietnam.