A male East African crowned crane was donated to Ardastra on the 2nd of August 2006 and he now wonders the gardens freely.

These birds are named for the striking, straw colored bristle-like feathers on the top of their heads. They are found in the marshes, cultivated lands and grassy flatlands near rivers and lakes in eastern Congo, Uganda, and Kenya to central Tanzania. They are noted for their spectacular dances which involve head-bobbing, wing fluttering, leaps and bows.