With air conditioning, rising living standards, and interstate construction, thousands of people moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to live and visit. The habitat was divided and subdivided until the refuge is now only small islands surrounded by human-altered landscapes. Cranes have also been directly harassed, shot, and may even suffer the effects of environmental contaminants. Cranes are unique and are among the most spectacular of the bird families. In fact, they have captured the human imagination as few other birds have.
Cranes also perform many interesting threat displays and other ritualized postures.
Because of these behaviors, their stately beauty, and their haunting calls, cranes are featured in the folklore of many cultures. They are symbols of a happy marriage and long life in the Far East. Any art museum with an Asian theme would likely have crane art. The royal courts of many countries kept captive cranes as status symbols. Crane postures have been captured in the moves of modern dance as well as ancient martial arts.