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Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Habitat use

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Examining Whooping Crane Breeding Season Foraging Behavior In The Eastern Migratory Population, Hillary L. Thompson, Anik Levac, Megan J. Fitzpatrick Jan 2018

Examining Whooping Crane Breeding Season Foraging Behavior In The Eastern Migratory Population, Hillary L. Thompson, Anik Levac, Megan J. Fitzpatrick

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Agricultural fields may provide an important supplementary foraging habitat for whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). We developed methods and gathered preliminary data regarding whooping crane foraging efficiency and habitat use to better understand the use of agricultural fields by breeding cranes. We generated a simple null hypothesis that cranes would spend more time in the habitat type (wetlands vs. agricultural fields) in which they were able to obtain a higher foraging efficiency to maximize food intake, along with several alternative hypotheses pertaining to reasons cranes may prefer wetlands or agricultural fields during …


Whooping Crane Migrational Habitat Use Of The Platte River, Nebraska, 2001-2006, Shay Howlin, Clayton Derby, Dale Strickland Jan 2010

Whooping Crane Migrational Habitat Use Of The Platte River, Nebraska, 2001-2006, Shay Howlin, Clayton Derby, Dale Strickland

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Platte River Endangered Species Partnership monitored whooping crane (Grus americana) habitat use along the Platte River between Chapman and Lexington, Nebraska during 11 migration seasons from 2001 to 2006. Daily aerial surveys took place in the morning from 21 March to 29 April in the spring and from 9 October to 10 November in the fall. Decoy detection trials were conducted during each of the 11 survey seasons to calculate actual sample inclusion probabilities for crane groups detected during monitoring flights. The detectability model found significant differences in detectability among strata (upland or channel), contractor, and altitude …


Home Range Size And Habitat Use Of Mississippi Sandhill Crane Colts, Scott G. Hereford, Tracy E. Grazia, Jereme N. Phillips, Glenn H. Olsen Jan 2010

Home Range Size And Habitat Use Of Mississippi Sandhill Crane Colts, Scott G. Hereford, Tracy E. Grazia, Jereme N. Phillips, Glenn H. Olsen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Recruitment in the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) is minimal, with the population of 110 sustained by an annual augmentation of captive-reared juveniles. Suitability of available habitat quality is likely involved in nesting success. Thousands of hectares of pine savanna were restored for crane use, but it is not clear how much was being used by crane families. We used 3-g subcutaneous transmitters to radio-tag 27 colts over 6 years from 1998 to 2002 and 2004 to determine home range and habitat use. Using a hand-held receiver, H-antenna and standard triangulation, location data were collected twice …


Behavior And Habitat Use Of Greater Sandhill Cranes Wintering In East Tennessee, David A. Aborn Jan 2010

Behavior And Habitat Use Of Greater Sandhill Cranes Wintering In East Tennessee, David A. Aborn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

An increase of eastern greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) stopping over and wintering at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in east Tennessee has led to overcrowding at the refuge, resulting in crane use of private property. Proper management is needed to prevent the cranes from becoming a nuisance, increase the suitability of the refuge for waterfowl, and reduce the likelihood of a disease outbreak. Observations of cranes revealed that cranes spent 83% of their time foraging, alert, or preening. Sandhill cranes foraged primarily in agricultural and grassy fields, whereas mudflats and shallow water were used for preening and …


The Cuban Sandhill Crane As Umbrella Species: Relationship With Plant Diversity In Threatene D White Sand Savannahs, Duniet Marrero Garcia, Jose A. Osorio, Xiomara Galvez Aguilera, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez Jan 2008

The Cuban Sandhill Crane As Umbrella Species: Relationship With Plant Diversity In Threatene D White Sand Savannahs, Duniet Marrero Garcia, Jose A. Osorio, Xiomara Galvez Aguilera, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This project describes relationships between the Cuban sandhill crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes) distribution and habitat use and plant diversity in white sand savannahs, a threatened ecosystem in Cuba. Data are based on habitat use and selection of 10 radio-tagged sandhill cranes in the Los Indios Ecological reserve, Isle of Youth. We used Arcview and satellite imagery to map broad vegetation categories. Within the general Pine-Palm savannahs specific plant communities were characterized using species composition and dominant plant life forms. Habitat types most used by cranes for feeding and nesting were also those with highest plant species richness and …


Patterns Of Habitat Use By Whooping Cranes During Migration: Summary From 1977–1999 Site Evaluation Data, Jane E. Austin, Amy L. Richert Jan 2005

Patterns Of Habitat Use By Whooping Cranes During Migration: Summary From 1977–1999 Site Evaluation Data, Jane E. Austin, Amy L. Richert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used site evaluation data collected during 1977–1999 to examine patterns of habitat use by whooping cranes (Grus americana) during migration through the United States portion of the Wood Buffalo–Aransas flyway. We examined characteristics of 3 types of stopover habitats: 1) roost sites (n = 141 records), 2) feeding sites (n = 306), and 3) dual-use sites (i.e., where observer recorded cranes as using a site for both roosting and feeding (n = 248). Results in spring were influenced by the large number of records from Nebraska (> 67% of spring records) and in fall by frequent observations …


Do Arctic-Nesting Geese Compete With Sandhill Cranes For Waste Corn In The Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska?, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt, Robert R. Cox Jr. Jan 2005

Do Arctic-Nesting Geese Compete With Sandhill Cranes For Waste Corn In The Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska?, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt, Robert R. Cox Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Numbers of arctic-nesting geese staging in spring in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of southcentral Nebraska increased dramatically from the 1970s to the 1990s, raising concerns that geese may be competing with the mid-continental population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) for waste corn. From late February to mid-April 1998-2001, we measured temporal patterns of cropland use, evaluated habitat preferences, and compared numbers of geese using the primary crane-occupied parts of the CPRV area with numbers of sandhill cranes. Numbers of Canada geese (Branta canadensis), lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens)/ Ross’ geese (Chen …


Nocturnal Roost Site Selection And Diurnal Habitat Use By Sandhill Cranes During Spring In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Davis Jan 2001

Nocturnal Roost Site Selection And Diurnal Habitat Use By Sandhill Cranes During Spring In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Davis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During spring 1998 and 1999, the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust conducted ground and aerial surveys of staging sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis; hereafter, cranes) to detennine roost site selection and habitat-use patterns along a l20-Ian stretch of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. Cranes peaked at 232,023 during 22-28 March 1998 and 206,074 during 28 Februaty-6 March 1999 in the study area, a portion of the total crane staging area in the Platte River Valley. Diurnal observations showed that 48% of the cranes were in com fields, 34% in lowland grasslands, 13% in alfalfa fields, and 5% …


Home Range And Habitat Use By Isolation-Reared Sandhill Cranes, Wenrui Duan, Theodore A. Bookhouts, Richard P. Urbanek Jan 1997

Home Range And Habitat Use By Isolation-Reared Sandhill Cranes, Wenrui Duan, Theodore A. Bookhouts, Richard P. Urbanek

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We isolation-reared, placed radio transmitters on, and released 38 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) on Seney National Wildlife Refuge (Seney) in 1988-90 to develop procedures for initiating new populations of cranes. Here we report on habitat selection by breeding birds with functional radio transmitters. Home ranges established by 6 cranes in 1992, when they were 2 to 4 years old, averaged 199±50.8 (SE) ha (harmonic mean method, 75 % utilization) and were of 2 types: feeding grounds separated from nesting habitat and feeding grounds adjacent to nesting habitat. Home ranges consisted of 36% emergent palustrine wetlands, 28% …


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. …


Habitat Use By Florida Sandhill Cranes On The Kissimmee Prairie In Central Florida, Mary Anne Bishop Jan 1992

Habitat Use By Florida Sandhill Cranes On The Kissimmee Prairie In Central Florida, Mary Anne Bishop

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Radio-tagged Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were monitored for habitat use during 1985 and 1986 on the Kissimmee Prairie in central Florida. For both breeding and nonbreeding cranes, 93 % of the daytime locations were in 3 habitat types: cropland and plowed pasture, improved pasture, and palustrine emergent wetlands. Improved pasture was the most frequently used daytime habitat for both social classes. Radio locations were divided among 4 time blocks (3 diurnal, 1 nocturnal) and 4 3-month seasons. Time-of-day effects for use of wetlands and improved pasture were only marginally significant (1' < 0.08 and l' < 0.09, respectively) for breeders and not significant (1' < 0.30 and l' < 0.43, respectively) for nonbreeders. There was no significant difference in habitat use by breeders among seasons. Chi-square analyses of diurnal locations indicated that 4 of the 6 breeding cranes monitored used palustrine emergent wetlands more than their availability. The selection for wetlands reflects not only the rich food sources available, but also their use as midday loafing and drinking sites and as a source of cover that the upland habitats do not offer.