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Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Continuing Studies Of Ultralight Aircraft Applications For Introducing Migratory Populations Of Endangered Cranes, Kent R. Clegg, James C. Lewis Jan 2001

Continuing Studies Of Ultralight Aircraft Applications For Introducing Migratory Populations Of Endangered Cranes, Kent R. Clegg, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This research tested whether captive-reared cranes led by an ultralight aircraft (UL) along a migration route, would, after release on a wintering area, integrate with wild cranes and migrate in spring to their natal area without human assistance. This was the historical first motorized migration involving an endangered species. In 1997, whooping cranes (Grus americana) and greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were group-reared in species-specific pens and 80% fledged. Beginning 13 October, 4 whooping cranes and 8 sandhill cranes were led along a 1, 133-km migration route from Grace, Idaho, to Bosque del Apache National …


Results Of The First Ultralight-Led Sandhill Crane Migration In Eastern North America, Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, Dewitt A. Clark, George F. Gee, David H. Ellis Jan 2001

Results Of The First Ultralight-Led Sandhill Crane Migration In Eastern North America, Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, Dewitt A. Clark, George F. Gee, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In 1997, we led 8 sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) south from Ontario, Canada by ultralight aircraft to a wintering area near Warrenton, Virginia, an area without a wild population. Six others were transported south in a trailer in hopes they would return north with those that flew. The migration was 863 kIn long, included 14 stops, and took 21 days to complete. A1l13 SUIViving birds were wintered together. In March 1998, the surviving 7 "aircraft-led" birds departed the wintering site. The following day, 6 of the 7 were reported on the south shore of Lake Ontario. The flock …


Results Of The Second (1996) Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind A Motorized Ground Vehicle, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matt Shawkey, Daniel P. Mummert, Daniel T. Sprague, Catherine H. Ellis, F. Benjamin Trahan Jan 2001

Results Of The Second (1996) Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind A Motorized Ground Vehicle, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matt Shawkey, Daniel P. Mummert, Daniel T. Sprague, Catherine H. Ellis, F. Benjamin Trahan

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fourteen greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were trained to follow a specially-equipped truck and 12 were led along a ca 620-Ian route from Camp Navajo in northern Arizona to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge near the ArizonalMexico border. Ten survived the trek, 380 Ian of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Major problems during the migration were powerline collisions (ca 15, 2 fatal) and overheating (when air temperatures exceeded ca 25° C). The tenacity of the cranes in following both in 1995 and 1996 under unfavorable conditions (e.g., …


Tracking Sandhill Crane Migration From Saskatchewan To The Gulf Coast, Dale G. Hjertaas, David H. Ellis, Brian W. Johns, Stacie L. Moon Jan 2001

Tracking Sandhill Crane Migration From Saskatchewan To The Gulf Coast, Dale G. Hjertaas, David H. Ellis, Brian W. Johns, Stacie L. Moon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Four adult sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis rowani) were captured in east-central Saskatchewan, equipped with transmitters, and tracked by satellite to detennine if their migration routes and wintering areas would allow their use as guide birds to establish a new migratory flock of whooping cranes (G. americana). Two birds captured near Yorkton died or their transmitters were lost before migration. Two adults from the Overflowing River moved to staging areas in southern Saskatchewan in September. By 29 September, Crane A left Saskatchewan and moved to North Dakota where it remained until late October. By 21 December, it …


Recommendations For The Attachment Of Satellite Transmitters To Cranes, David H. Ellis, Paul W. Howey, Gary L. Krapu Jan 2001

Recommendations For The Attachment Of Satellite Transmitters To Cranes, David H. Ellis, Paul W. Howey, Gary L. Krapu

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Recent advances in miniaturization of satellite transmitters have resulted in thumb-sized packages weighing less than 30 g. These are smaller than VHF radios routinely mounted on crane leg bands. With this development and with favorable signal reception results, there is no need for, and much to recommend against, the continued use of back-pack mounts. We provide details for leg-mount attachments.


Fate Of The Survivors Of The 1995 And 1996 Arizona Trucking Migrations Of Costume-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes, Daniel P. Mummert, David H. Ellis, Carol L. Chambers Jan 2001

Fate Of The Survivors Of The 1995 And 1996 Arizona Trucking Migrations Of Costume-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes, Daniel P. Mummert, David H. Ellis, Carol L. Chambers

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In 1995 and 1996, we trained 2 groups of costume-reared greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) (10 in 1995, 14 in 1996) to follow a truck. Thereafter we led 10 in 1995 and 12 in 1996 from Garland Prairie, northern Arizona, to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, southern Arizona (ca. 620 km). These techniques were being developed to create additional, disjunct populations of the whooping crane (G. americana). The cranes taught the migration route in 1995 did not follow the desired migration route in 1996 but did travel north 140 km along the route in …


Use Of Ultralight Aircraft For Introducing Migratory Crane Populations, Kent R. Clegg, James C. Lewis, David H. Ellis Jan 1997

Use Of Ultralight Aircraft For Introducing Migratory Crane Populations, Kent R. Clegg, James C. Lewis, David H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were used as the research surrogate for whooping cranes (Grus americana) to determine if captive-reared cranes could be led by an ultralight aircraft (UL) along a migration route and if, after release on a wintering area, they would integrate with wild cranes and migrate north in spring to their natal area without assistance. In 1995, KRC raised 15 cranes to fledging and trained them to respond to his vocal imitation of a sandhill crane brood call. Chicks learned to follow him as he walked, drove an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) , …


Habitat Use By Migrant Whooping Cranes In Saskatchewan, Brian W. Johns, Eric J. Woodsworth, Ed A. Driver Jan 1997

Habitat Use By Migrant Whooping Cranes In Saskatchewan, Brian W. Johns, Eric J. Woodsworth, Ed A. Driver

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We investigated habitat use by migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Saskatchewan between 1986 and 1990. At foraging and roosting sites and a sample of randomly selected sites we measured various habitat parameters. Palustrine and lacustrine wetlands were the most frequently used wetlands. Temporary and seasonal wetlands were the primary roost habitat during spring migration, and semi-permanent and permanent wetlands were frequently used during the fall. Cranes were attracted to areas of higher than average wetland density. Land use within 2 km of roost sites was intensively modified by man. Cereal crops were the most used feeding areas. …


A Reintroduction Technique For Migratory Birds: Leading Canada Geese And Isolation-Reared Sandhill Cranes With Ultralight Aircraft, William A. Lishman, Tighe L. Teets, Joseph W. Duff, William J. L. Sladen, Galvin G. Shire, Kirk M. Goolsby, Wayne A. Bezner Kerr, Richard Urbanek Jan 1997

A Reintroduction Technique For Migratory Birds: Leading Canada Geese And Isolation-Reared Sandhill Cranes With Ultralight Aircraft, William A. Lishman, Tighe L. Teets, Joseph W. Duff, William J. L. Sladen, Galvin G. Shire, Kirk M. Goolsby, Wayne A. Bezner Kerr, Richard Urbanek

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

No successful method for establishing self-sustaining populations of whooping cranes (Grus americana), particularly in a migration situation, has been proven. This research initiated development of a reintroduction technique using ultralight aircraft to lead cranes from a natal area along a desired route to a predetermined wintering site. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were used in initial migration efforts. Ultralight aircraft and pilots successfully led 86 juvenile geese on 3 southbound migrations from Ontario to winter sites 640-1,312 kIn from the natal area. Of 16 1993-hatched geese that survived their first winter in Virginia and 35 1994- hatched …


Availability Of Stopover Habitat For Migrant Whooping Cranes In Nebraska, Dale W. Stahlecker Jan 1997

Availability Of Stopover Habitat For Migrant Whooping Cranes In Nebraska, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Four stratified random samples of 512 National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps within the central Nebraska portion of the Wood Buffalo-Aransas whooping crane (Grus americana) migration corridor were used to evaluate the availability of wetland roost sites. Wetlands were eliminated as potential roosts if visibility was obscured by vegetation or slope, if certain human activities occurred within 100-800 ro, or if water < 30 em deep was not available. Seasonal emergent wetlands, available as roosts primarily in spring, dominated all samples, particularly in the nortb. Sixty-five percent of all wetlands >0.04 ha passed map review and 52 % passed when ground-truthed. NWI map review was a good predictor of both suitability (63 % correct) and unsuitability (73 % correct). More than one-half of all open and emergent …


Results Of An Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind Motorized Ground Vehicles, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matthew Kinloch, Catherine H. Ellis Jan 1997

Results Of An Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind Motorized Ground Vehicles, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matthew Kinloch, Catherine H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Ten greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) , trained to enter and ride in a specially-equipped truck, were transported at ca 80 days of age from their rearing site at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent), Maryland, to a reintroduction site located within the species' former breeding range in northern Arizona. After 5 additional weeks of training, these juvenile cranes were led south ca 600 km to a wintering area on the Arizona/Mexico border. Nine of the 10 survived the trek, 495 km of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Their …


Progress In Satellite Tracking Cranes, David H. Ellis, Dwight G. Smith, Glenn H. Olsen, Mark R. Fuller, Steven E. Landfried, Hiroyoshi Higuchi, Charles H. Vermillion Jan 1992

Progress In Satellite Tracking Cranes, David H. Ellis, Dwight G. Smith, Glenn H. Olsen, Mark R. Fuller, Steven E. Landfried, Hiroyoshi Higuchi, Charles H. Vermillion

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We review the history of tracking cranes with satellite telemetry and identify some of the difficulties in designing satellite transmitters and harnesses for cranes. Miniaturization of these transmitters and a plethora of harnessing experiments since 1989 allow us to recommend limited application of this technology to all species of cranes. We are still uncertain, however, if cranes harnessed with satellite telemetry devices are able to reproduce after migration. Because of this uncertainty, we urge caution in the use of this technology, especially with breeding adults in severely endangered popUlations. This manuscript also describes continuing research needs.


Temporal Patterns Of Sandhill Crane Roost Site Use In The Platte River, Bradley S. Norling, Stanley H. Anderson, Wayne A. Hubert Jan 1992

Temporal Patterns Of Sandhill Crane Roost Site Use In The Platte River, Bradley S. Norling, Stanley H. Anderson, Wayne A. Hubert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Temporal patterns of daily arrival and departure of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) at roost sites were examined along the Platte River in Nebraska during spring 1990. Departure times were earliest and arrival times were latest during the beginning of the 8taging season (9-21 March). Date within the staging season was the primary variable associated with time of initial departure and arrival, but arrival and departure times were also influenced by climatic factors. Departure times correlated positively with fog and precipitation (P < 0.05) and negatively with air temperature (P < 0.05), whereas arrival times correlated positively with both cloud cover and air temperature (P < 0.05).


Satellite Telemetry Reveals Winter Home Of Eurasian Crane From Northwestern Siberia, David H. Ellis, Yuri M. Markin, Charles H. Vermillion, Charles M. Hoisington, Alexander G. Sorokin, Grey W. Pendleton Jan 1992

Satellite Telemetry Reveals Winter Home Of Eurasian Crane From Northwestern Siberia, David H. Ellis, Yuri M. Markin, Charles H. Vermillion, Charles M. Hoisington, Alexander G. Sorokin, Grey W. Pendleton

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Satellite telemetry is a developing technology for the study of crane migration. A greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) was tracked by satellite from Florida to Michigan in March 1989 (Nagendran 1992). This note reports the second attempt to use satellite telemetry to follow crane migration. In 1989 -90, tests of various harness and backpack designs for satellite telemetry transmitters (PTT's) with free-flying and confined sandhill cranes led to a 4-strap design (see Olsen et al. 1992) that was accepted for field testing. Through a cooperative effort between the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (USFWS) , International Crane Foundation, …


Satellite Tracking Of A Greater Sandhill Crane, Meenakshi Nagendran Jan 1992

Satellite Tracking Of A Greater Sandhill Crane, Meenakshi Nagendran

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The first satellite transmitter (PTT) to be used on a wild crane was deployed on an isolation-reared greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) colt in south Texas on 6 November 1988. The 160-g transmitter required more than 8 hours of direct sunlight for the solar cells to recharge the NiCad battery power supply. Signal repetition rate was once every 60 seconds. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency satellites in polar orbits, equipped with Argos instruments, received PIT signals via a doppler shift mechanism. Information included location of PTT (bird), long-term activity, short-term activity, and ambient temperature. The crane colt …


Using National Wetlands Inventory Maps To Quantify Whooping Crane Stopover Habitat In Oklahoma, Dale W. Stahlecker Jan 1992

Using National Wetlands Inventory Maps To Quantify Whooping Crane Stopover Habitat In Oklahoma, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Three stratified random samples of the 416 National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps within the western Oklahoma portion of the Wood Buffalo-Aransas whooping crane (Grus americana) migration corridor were used to evaluate the availability of wetland roost sites. Wetlands were eliminated as potential roosts if visibility was obscured by vegetation or slope, or if certain human activities occurred within 100-800 m. Thirty percent of all wetlands >0.04 ha passed map review, but only 7% passed when ground truthed. NWI map review was a poor predictor of suitability (33 % correct) but a good predictor of unsuitability (97 % correct). …


Behavior Of Whooping Cranes During Initiation Of Migration, Thomas V. Stehn Jan 1992

Behavior Of Whooping Cranes During Initiation Of Migration, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) observed immediately before the initiation of migratory flights exhibited increased alertness, wing ruffling, and head tilting. Seven observations at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Texas, indicate that the departure of 1 group of whooping cranes may influence other nearby cranes to start migration, even though later departing groups may fly separately.


Development Of An Isolation-Rearing/Gentle Release Procedure For Reintroducing Migratory Cranes, Richard P. Urbanek, Theodore A. Bookhout Jan 1992

Development Of An Isolation-Rearing/Gentle Release Procedure For Reintroducing Migratory Cranes, Richard P. Urbanek, Theodore A. Bookhout

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During 1988 -90, in an effort to develop a reintroduction technique for the whooping crane (Grus americana), we reared 38 greater sandhill crane chicks (G. canadensis tabida) in isolation from humans and gentle-released them on Seney National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Chicks were reared in the field with a puppet/costume technique. After chicks completed acclimation to wild conditions in a release pen, we induced them to migrate by breaking their flock into small groups, translocating some groups, and using guide birds. Solutions to migration initiation problems encountered in 1988-89 were developed …