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Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Endangered species

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Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2017-2019, Scott G. Hereford, Angela J. Dedrickson Jan 2022

Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2017-2019, Scott G. Hereford, Angela J. Dedrickson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To manage crane habitat on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge during 2017-2019, 5,822 ha were treated with prescribed burns, 648 ha of woody vegetation were removed, 97 ha of invasive plants were chemically treated, and 1.2 ha of crops were planted. Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) use responded to habitat treatment; 348 of 349 VHF radio locations were in treated areas. There were 316 target predators removed. Eighteen captive-reared juveniles were acclimated and released. We detected an average of 38 nests per year, including a record 40 nests in 2019. Fifteen chicks fledged in 2019, …


Effects Of Rearing Environment On Behavior Of Captive-Reared Whooping Cranes, Christy L. Sadowski, Glenn H. Olsen, M. Elsbeth Mcphee Jan 2018

Effects Of Rearing Environment On Behavior Of Captive-Reared Whooping Cranes, Christy L. Sadowski, Glenn H. Olsen, M. Elsbeth Mcphee

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) are 1 of the most endangered bird species in North America. In 1999 the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership was formed to establish a migratory population of whooping cranes in eastern North America. These efforts have been extremely successful in terms of adult survival but reproductive success post-release has been low. One hypothesis developed to explain such low reproductive success is that captive-rearing techniques fail to prepare the birds to be effective parents. Captive-reared whooping cranes at the U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, are either reared by humans in crane costumes …


Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2014-2016, Scott G. Hereford, Angela J. Dedrickson Jan 2018

Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2014-2016, Scott G. Hereford, Angela J. Dedrickson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To manage crane habitat during 2014-2016, 5,826 ha were treated with prescribed burns, 298 ha of woody vegetation were removed, 94 ha of invasive plants were chemically treated, and 8 ha of crops were planted. There were 247 predators removed. We acclimated and released 29 captive-reared juveniles. We began testing drones (unmanned aerial systems [UAS]), to locate nests. We detected an average of 34 nests per year with 6 fledglings each year. The December 2016 population was 129 cranes, up 9% from the previous 3 years.


Distribution, Densities, And Ecology Of Siberian Cranes In The Khroma River Region Of Northern Yakutia In Northeastern Russia, Inga P. Bysykatova, Gary L. Krapu, Nicolai I. Germogenov, Deborah A. Buhl Jan 2016

Distribution, Densities, And Ecology Of Siberian Cranes In The Khroma River Region Of Northern Yakutia In Northeastern Russia, Inga P. Bysykatova, Gary L. Krapu, Nicolai I. Germogenov, Deborah A. Buhl

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) is the third rarest crane species in the world with a breeding range now centered on 3 core areas and a buffer zone in the arctic of northern Yakutia in northeastern Russia. During 16 July-2 August 2009, we undertook ground surveys within the Khroma River core breeding area, surrounding buffer zone, and lands lying to the west of the known breeding range to estimate densities and determine habitat use and social status of Siberian cranes. A total of 142 Siberian cranes were sighted (including 55 pairs) at 54 locations with 32 cranes (including 13 pairs) …


The Utility Of Census Or Survey For Monitoring Whooping Cranes In Winter, Bruce H. Pugesek, Thomas V. Stehn Jan 2016

The Utility Of Census Or Survey For Monitoring Whooping Cranes In Winter, Bruce H. Pugesek, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We discuss recent changes in the monitoring program for endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) on their winter habitat in Texas. A 61-year annual census was replaced in the winter of 2011-2012 with a distance sampling procedure. Justification for the change was, in part, based on criticism of the previous methods of counting cranes and the assessment of crane mortality on the wintering grounds. We argue here that the arguments, methods, and analyses employed to discount the census procedure and mortality estimates were applied incorrectly or with flawed logic and assertions. We provide analysis and logical arguments to show …


Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update, 2003-2005, Scott G. Hereford, Tracy E. Grazia Jan 2008

Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update, 2003-2005, Scott G. Hereford, Tracy E. Grazia

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) is an endangered non-migratory subspecies found on and near the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Mississippi. From 2003 to 2005, conservation efforts for the recovery of this population included management activities such as protection and law enforcement, restocking, predator management, farming, prescribed burning, mechanical vegetation removal, hydrological restoration, pest plant management, and education. To maintain open savanna, 1842 hectares were burned annually, with 38% during the growing season. To restore open savanna, 506 hectares of woody vegetation were removed using mechanical methods. To bolster the population, we released 17-25 captive-reared …


Past, Present, And Hypothetical Methods For Crane Reintroduction And Migration, David H. Ellis Jan 2005

Past, Present, And Hypothetical Methods For Crane Reintroduction And Migration, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In the early 1980’s the technique of releasing yearling parent-reared cranes was perfected with the Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla). In the late 1980’s, we discovered that hand-reared yearlings could also be released with good expectation of survival in both migratory and nonmigratory situations. In the mid-1990’s, efforts expanded in many directions including (1) the use of various types of motorized vehicles to lead migrations, (2) the release of juveniles one by one into wild flocks in autumn or winter, and (3) the release of adult pairs. Here I outline new and proven techniques and those likely …


Microsatellite Dna Loci For Genetic Studies Of Cranes, Travis C. Glenn, Ryan S. Ojerio, Wolfgang Stephan, Michael J. Braun Jan 1997

Microsatellite Dna Loci For Genetic Studies Of Cranes, Travis C. Glenn, Ryan S. Ojerio, Wolfgang Stephan, Michael J. Braun

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

MicrosateIIites are short tandem arrays of simple DNA sequences (e.g., [AC]n, where n ~ 10), which are often highly polymorphic among individuals. These repetitive elements are rapidly becoming the molecular genetic marker of choice for genetic mapping, parentage analyses, and fundamental popUlation genetics. We have isolated more than 50 microsatellite loci from the whooping crane (Grus americana). The microsatellites cloned from whooping cranes are unusually short and infrequent in comparison to other birds and especially so in comparison to mammals or reptiles. However, at least 13 of the 20 primer pairs developed amplify polymorphic loci. Paternity for …