title: The African Crane Database (1978-2014): Records of three threatened crane species (Family: Gruidae) from southern and eastern Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The International Crane Foundation (ICF) / Endangered Wildlife Trust's (EWT) African Crane Conservation Programme has recorded 26 403 crane sightings in its database from 1978 to 2014. This sightings collection is currently ongoing and records are continuously added to the database by the EWT field staff, ICF/EWT Partnership staff, various partner organizations and private individuals. The dataset has two peak collection periods: 1994-1996 and 2008-2012. The dataset collection spans five African countries: Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia; 98% of the data were collected in South Africa. Georeferencing of the dataset was verified before publication of the data. The dataset contains data on three African crane species: Blue CraneAnthropoides paradiseus, Grey Crowned CraneBalearica regulorumand Wattled CraneBugeranus carunculatus. The Blue and Wattled Cranes are classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable and the Grey Crowned Crane as Endangered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the single most comprehensive dataset published on African Crane species that adds new information about the distribution of these three threatened species. We hope this will further aid conservation authorities to monitor and protect these species. The dataset continues to grow and especially to expand in geographic coverage into new countries in Africa and new sites within countries. The dataset can be freely accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility data portal.
authors.affiliation: International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Page-Nicholson
authors.affiliation: International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kerryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.affiliation: Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M Genevieve W
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Jean Monnet University, Saint Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.affiliation: Flower Valley Conservation Trust, Gansbaai, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.affiliation: Wildlands Conservation Trust, Hilton, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Wildlands Conservation Trust, Hilton, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lizanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roxburgh
keywords:  Aves ; Africa; Anthropoides paradiseus; Balearica regulorum; Bugeranus carunculatus; Sightings; distribution; occurrence