Behavior and Ethology Commons^™

Nesting Success And Production Of Greater Sandhill Cranes During Experimental Predator Control At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon,1982–83, Carroll D. Littlefield, John E. Cornely

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sancfrtill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) nest commonly on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, but depredations by common ravens (Corvus corax) and coyotes (Canis latrans) contributed substantially to low recruitment during the 1970's. An experimental predator removal study was initiated in 1982 to determine if nesting success and recruitment would increase if predator populations were reduced. We monitored 120 crane nests located in 2 treatment areas (ravens and coyotes removed, and only ravens removed) and 1 control area (40 nests per area). Nesting success between the 2 predator control areas differed significantly during the …

Sandhill Crane Use Of The Mid-Pecos Valley Of Eastern New Mexico, James B. Montgomery Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) were monitored during winters 1989-94 in the mid-Pecos River Valley of eastern New Mexico to detennine how many used this region following a population decline in the 1980's. Numbers annually increased to a late October/early November peak (X = 7,017), fluctuated around 6,000 through December, declined in January (X = 3,531), and again peaked in February/early March (X = 5,737). Annual crane use-days (weekly counts X 7) varied from 500,545 to 1,007,673 (X = 760,606). Cranes foraged mainly in corn and sorghum stubble and alfalfa fields. Crop averages (ha) during 1990-92 were alfalfa 21,449, …

An Experimental Release Of Whooping Cranes In Florida: The First Three Years, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Marilyn G. Spalding, James A. Schmidt, Stephen T. Schwikert, Jane M. Nicolich, Marianne Wellington, James C. Lewis, Tom H. Logan

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fifty-two juvenile whooping cranes (Grus americana) were soft-released in Florida from February 1993 to April 1995. The birds were released in groups ranging in size from 5 to 14 individuals. The first-year survival rate was 0.42 for all years combined. First-year rates for each year were 0.36 for 1993, 0.32 for 1994, and 0.47 for 1995. Most mortality (62%) occurred during the first 3 months following release. The survival rate of 0.81 the second year after release was similar to that of Florida sandhill cranes (G. canadensis pratensis) (0.87). Predation by bobcats (Lynx rufus) …

Causes Of Mississippi Sandhill Crane Mortality In Captivity, 1984–95, Glenn H. Olsen, George F. Gee

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During 1984-95, 111 deaths were documented in the captive flock of Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) housed at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Trauma was the leading cause of death (37%), followed by infectious/parasitic diseases (25%), anatomic abnormalities (15%), and miscellaneous (8%). No positive diagnosis of cause of death was found in 19% of the necropsies. Chicks < 2 months old suffered 76 % of captive deaths. Trauma, the greatest cause of deaths of captive juveniles and adults, is likely limited to collisions in the wild. Infectious/parasitic diseases and anatomic abnormalities could affect wild chick survival at similar rates to those of captive chicks.

Whooping Crane Mortality At Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 1982–95, Glenn H. Olsen, Joanna A. Taylor, George F. Gee

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) have been reared at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center since 1966. During 1982-95 there were 103 mortalities caused by infectious and parasitic diseases (46%), trauma (21 %), anatomic abnormalities (17%), miscellaneous conditions (12 %) I and open or no diagnoses (5 %). The implications that disease may have on new whooping crane flocks in Florida and Canada are discussed, based on these mortality factors in captivity.

Summary Of Sandhill Crane Hunting Seasons In North Dakota, 1968–94, David E. Sharp, John E. Cornely

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The migratory Mid-continent Population (MCP), containing 3 subspecies, is the most numerous of all sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) populations. During fall the MCP uses major staging areas in the Canadian prairie provinces and northcentral United States. In North Dakota, sport hunting of the MCP resumed in 1968, after being closed during 1916-67. The resumption and expansion of crane hunting in North Dakota during 1968-94 followed a gradual panern of implementation. Subspecies considerations, the presence of whooping cranes (G. americana), crop depredation complaints. and public reaction influenced the geographic and temporal expansion of seasons. Harvests gradually increased …

Avian Tuberculosis In A Whooping Crane: Treatment And Outcome, S. Bret Snyder, Michael J. Richard, Carol U. Meteyer

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A whooping crane (Grus americana) confirmed as suffering from Mycobacterium avium infection was treated for 1 year with daily doses of rifampin (45 mg/kg) and ethambutol (30 mg/kg) and 2 doses of M. vaccae antigen. Remission of disease occurred during therapy; however, recrudescence to active infection was suspected by 10 months after the antitubercular drugs were discontinued when the crane exhibited weight loss and had thickening of bowel wall as seen on radiographs. A second therapeutic regimen using azithromycin was then initiated (40 mg/kg fed daily) and was accompanied by a second remission within 6 weeks. After 16 …

Metal Consumption By Whooping Cranes And Possible Zinc Toxicosis, Marilyn G. Spalding, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Lee R. Mcdowell, Maria S. Sepulveda

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Fourteen captive-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) were transferred to a pen for soft-release in Florida. Nine were killed by predators within 6 months. We found metal objects in the stomachs of 6 of these 9 either by radiography or at necropsy. All 6 had elevated serum zinc (Zn) concentrations (x = 10.3 ± 2.7 flg/ml, range 7.2-14 .ug/ml) when compared to 3 without metal in their stomachs (X = 2.4 ± 0.92 flg/ml, range 1.6-3.4 J1.g/ml). We observed lethargy, abnormal posture, anemia, and elevated white blood cell counts in 2 cranes at or near the time of elevated …

Pair Formation By Color-Marked Whooping Cranes On The Wintering Grounds, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Observations were made of color-marked whooping cranes (Grus americana) at Aransas during the 1977-94 winters. Suhadult cranes wintered near their juvenile home ranges in flocks averaging 3.12 birds. One and 2 winters prior to nesting, subadults at Aransas tended to form duos apart from other subadults. Frequencies of association 1 year prior to nesting averaged 65.4%. However, 27.7 % of pair bonds (n = 18) formed during spring migration or on the breeding grounds without any observed prior association at Aransas. Sixty-eight banded cranes formed pairs. Pair members averaged 1.06 years difference in age. Winter territories of adults …

Food And Energy Intake Rates Of Wintering Whooping Cranes Foraging On Two Selected Food Items, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, Jay T. Nelson, R. Douglas Slack

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Number, mass, and potential energy of food items consumed by wintering whooping cranes (Grus americana) foraging on blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and woltberry (Lycium carolinianum) fruit were estimated and compared between 2 consecutive winter periods. Mass consumed was determined through field observations by quantifying the number of items taken per unit time and the average, or modal, weight of each food item determined from collections. Gross energy intake was determined by calculating the product of mass consumed times gross energy (kJ/g) of each food item. Potential energy retained was calculated by determining metabolizable energy …

Semen Collection And Fertility In Naturally Fertile Sandhill Cranes, Guojun Chen, George F. Gee, Jane M. Nicolich, Joanna A. Taylor

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Aviculturists often ask if semen collection will interfere with fertility in naturally fertile pairs of cranes. We used 12 naturally fertile Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) pairs for this study, 6 control and 6 experimental. All pairs had produced fertile eggs in previous years and were in out-of-doors pens scattered throughout different pen complexes, within auditory range but physically isolated. Semen was collected on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons from 26 February 1993 to 4 June 1993. We used standard artificial insemination methods to collect and to evaluate the semen and spermatozoa. Semen collection did not affect semen quality …

Results Of Eight Years Of Predator Control To Enhance Sandhill Crane Production On Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Gary L. Ivey

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Because of a 21 % decline in breeding pairs of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge from 1971 to 1985, a predator control program was initiated in 1986 to enhance production. The primary cause for the decline was low recruitment of young due to high predation by ravens (Corvus corax). raccoons (Procyon lotor), and coyotes (Canis latrans), On average, predators destroyed 46% of all crane nests and 90% of the prefledged colts. Mink (Mustela vison) were added to the program in 1993 after a study …

Long Bone Fracture Management In A Sandhill Crane: A Case Report, Patrice N. Klein, Dorothy Thompson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A 65-day-old, juvenile Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) sustained an oblique fracture of the right middiaphyseal femur. Internal fixation by use of an intramedullary pin and full cerclage wire was performed to stabilize the fracture site. Post-operative medical management of these fractures is often unsuccessful due to secondary complications associated with long-term restraint. This report describes the successful recovery of an endangered sandhill crane with a long bone fracture of the pelvic limb through a program of incremental physical therapy beginning 2 weeks post-femoral fracture repair. Sling support, assisted walking, and hydrotherapy were methods effective in preventing …

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOM TACHA TO CRANE RESEARCH

Participants of the Seventh North American Crane Workshop wish to recognize Tom Tacha's many contributions to the understanding of Mid-continent sandhill crane behavior, ecology, and taxonomy. Tom published 30 papers on cranes between 1979 and 1995 and was chief editor of Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Management in North America, published shortly before his death. Tom's Ph.D. work and other morphological and behavioral studies strongly influenced our notions of the boundaries among, and validity of. the 3 migratory sandhill crane subspecies. He set new standards for quantitative analysis of …

Visual Search For Natural Grains In Pigeons (Columba Livia) : Search Images And Selective Attention, Cynthia M. Langley, Donald A. Riley, Alan B. Bond, Namni Goel

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The experiments reported here were designed to test the suggestion of many researchers that selective attention to visual features of a prey can account for search-image effects. In 3 experiments pigeons ate wheat and vetch grains presented on multicolored and gray gravel trays. In Experiment 1 search-image effects were evident when grains were cryptic but not when they were conspicuous. Experiment 2 demonstrated that search images can be activated when the grains encountered are either cryptic or conspicuous but that search images affect search performance only when the grains are cryptic. Experiment 3 demonstrated that search images are short-term in …

Habitat And Courtship Behavior Of The Wolf Spider Schizocosa Retrorsa (Banks) (Araneae, Lycosidae), Eileen Hebets, Gail E. Stratton, Gary Miller

Eileen Hebets Publications

The habitat and courtship behavior of the wolf spider Schizocosa retrorsa (Banks 1911) were studied and are described here for the first time. The range of S. retrorsa was extended to include the lower peninsula of Michigan. This species is locally abundant in highly exposed habitats of sand or pine litter. Male courtship consists of chemoexploration, palpal drumming, an extended leg tap, and a "push-up" display. Female displays include a double leg arch, approaches, and orientations toward the male.

Pattern And Duration Of Copulation In Wolf Spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae), Gail E. Stratton, Eileen Hebets, Patricia R. Miller, Gary L. Miller

Eileen Hebets Publications

The temporal patterns of insertion of male palps, expansion of the hematodocha and duration of copulation are reported for 10 species of Schizocosa Chamberlin 1904, three species of Rabidosa Roewer 1955, one species of Gladicosa Brady 1986, one species of Hogna Simon 1885, two species of Isohogna Roewer 1960, one species of Trochosa C.L. Koch 1848, one species of Geolycosa Montgomery 1904, two species of Arctosn C.L. Koch 1848, three species of Alopecosa Simon 1885 and six species of Pardosa C.L. Koch 1847. In all species of Schizocosa examined so far, males showed a pattern composed of a series of …

Predicting Cognitive Capacity From Natural History: Examples From Four Species Of Corvids, Russell P. Balda, Alan Kamil, Peter A. Bednekoff

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Birds have been studied for centuries because they are numerous, conspicuous, and aesthetically pleasing to humans. Despite their overall regard for birds, historically, many ornithologists have considered birds as instinct-driven organisms of little intellectual capacity. For example, the ornithological textbook of choice from the 1960s states the following view of avian intelligence:

Flight has proven to be an enormously successful evolutionary venture, but one that has cost birds dearly in mental development. In effect, problems merely by flying away from them. … As a consequence, much [avian] behavior is, by mammalian standards, fragmentary, stereotyped, and at times amazingly stupid. (Welty, …

Behavioral Responses To Pine Needle Oil In The Northern Pocket Gopher, Gisela Epple, Dale L. Nolte, J. Russell Mason, Eugeny Aronov, Shirley Wager-Page

National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995

For many herbivorous mammals, oils from conifers are feeding repellents. Our study investigated effects of pine needle oil on feeding and other behaviors of northern pocket gophers. In one-choice feeding trials pocket gophers were offered sweet potato from single feeding stations placed into each subject's home cage. Stations contained either a scent dispenser with pine needle oil or with mineral oil. Pine needle oil did not inhibit food retrieval under these conditions. Responses to pine needle oil and to a control odorant, d-pulegone, were also tested in mazes where subjects were offered choices between two goal boxes, each containing food …

The Challenge And Opportunity Of Recovering Wolf Populations, L. David Mech

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

The gray wolf once inhabited a wide variety of habitats throughout most of the northern hemisphere north of 20°N latitude. Because the animal preyed on livestock and competed with humans for wild prey, it was extirpated from much of its range outside of wilderness areas. Environmental awareness in the late 1960s brought for the wolf legal protection, increased research, and favorable media coverage. The species has increased in both Europe and North America, is beginning to reoccupy semiwilderness and agricultural land, and is causing increased damage to livestock. Because of the wolfs high reproductive rate and long dispersal tendencies, the …

Performance Of Four Seed-Caching Corvid Species In Operant Tests Of Nonspatial And Spatial Memory, Deborah J. Olsen, Alan Kamil, Russell P. Balda, Pamela J. Nims

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The performance of 4 seed-caching corvid species was tested using 2 different operant nonmatching tasks. These species differ in their dependence on stored food, and differences in spatial memory tests have been correlated with better performance by the more cache-dependent species. Acquisition and retention of a color non-matching-to-sample task was tested in Experiment 1. Acquisition of the color task was not correlated with cache dependence, and no differences between species in performance during memory testing were found. Acquisition and retention of an operant spatial non-matching-to-sample task was tested in Experiment 2. Species differences in the spatial task were found for …

A Ten-Year History Of The Demography And Productivity Of An Arctic Wolf Pack, L. David Mech

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

A pack of two to eight adult wolves (Canis lupus arctos) and their pups was observed during ten summers (1986–95) on Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. The author habituated the wolf pack to his presence in the first summer and reinforced the habituation each summer thereafter. The first alpha female produced four to six pups each year between 1986 and 1989. However, her daughter, who succeeded her as the alpha female, produced only one to three pups each year between 1990 and 1992 and in 1994, and apparently did not whelp in 1993 or in 1995. The tenure …

The Effects Of Requiring Different Response Strategies Following Caching In Clark’S Nutcrackers (Nucifraga Columbiana), Alan Kamil, Russell P. Balda, Deborah J. Olson

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Clark’s nutcrackers use spatial memory to recover stored food in the field and have performed very well in laboratory tests of spatial memory. During the present experiment, two groups of nutcrackers cached seeds every 4 days. Following each cache session, the stay group was tested with seeds in their caches; the shift group found seeds in novel sites. The stay group performed accurately throughout the experiment, but the shift group gave no indication of being able to learn to avoid sites where they had stored seeds. These results suggest that although nutcrackers can learn to shift away from remembered locations …

Performance Of Four Seed-Caching Corvid Species In The Radial-Arm Maze Analog, Alan Kamil, Russell P. Balda, Deborah J. Olson

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Four seed-caching corvid species were tested in an open-room analog of the radial-arm maze. During Experiment 1, the species more dependent on stored food, Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) and pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), acquired the task more quickly and to higher accuracy levels than either scrub jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) or Mexican jays (A. ultramarina). During Experiment 2, performance after retention intervals was tested. When intervals of 30-210 min were tested in ascending order, species differences observed during acquisition were again obtained. However, when intervals of 5-300 min were tested in random order, …

Effects Of Response Strategy And Retention Interval On Performance Of Clark’S Nutcrackers In A Radial Maze Analogue, Deborah J. Olson, Alan C. Kamil, Russell P. Balda

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Two groups of Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) were trained to use either a stay or shift response strategy in a radial maze analogue. Each trial had a preretention stage, a retention interval, and a postretention test. In Experiment 1, acquisition with a 5-min retention interval was studied. Response strategy did not affect the rate at which the task was learned. Performance following longer retention intervals was tested in Experiments 2-4. Changes in retention intervals were presented in trial blocks of increasing duration in Experiment 2 and were randomly presented between trials in Experiment 3. Experiment 4 extended the …

Population Estimates Of Kea In Arthur's Pass National Park, Alan B. Bond, Judy Diamond

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The population dynamics of a local group of Kea (Nestor notabilis) was studied at a refuse dump in Arthur's Pass National Park over the course of three successive summers. The mean number of buds that foraged at the dump during the summer was estimated as 20 juveniles, 10 subadults, and 36 adults. An average of 11% of these birds were females. The number of adults was quite stable across years. The total population of Kea in this area was estimated to be between 88 and 119, or in the order of 0.018 to 0.040 buds per hectare. Mortality …

Aggressive Motivation In The Midas Cichlid: Evidence For Behavioral Efference, Alan B. Bond

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Behavioral Efference is a hypothetical positive feedback from the performance of an aggressive display that augments the level of aggressive motivation. The hypothesis was proposed (Bond, 1989) to account for the occurrence of truthful communication during aggressive encounters, even in the face of a presumed selective pressure in favor of deceit (Maynard Smith, 1984). Evidence of Behavioral Efference was sought in an experimental study of adult Midas cichlids Cichlasoma citrinellum, in which subjects responded aggressively to varying sizes of dummy fish. Before and after each aggression trial, the level of aggressive motivation was estimated from the intensity of the subject’s …

Status, Production And Migration Of Greater Sandhill Cranes On Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, Jon J. Dimatteo

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) nesting at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwestern Minnesota were studied from 20 April 1984 to 10 December 1985. Local birds were monitored to determine population size and age structure, reproductive success, and migration routes and wintering grounds. Forty-two pairs were identified. Thirty-four were breeding pairs and 3 were subadult (nonbreeding) pairs. Twenty nests were found; pairs at 13 of these hatched at least 1 young. Forty-three pairs hatched a minimum of 62 young, and 28 pairs fledged 42 of 47 young. Fifteen birds were colormarked, 8 of which were radio-tagged …

An Evaluation Of Three Areas For Potential Populations Of Whooping Cranes, Janet L. Mcmillen, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Mary A. Bishop, Alan J. Bennett, Laurel A. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) populations were evaluated on the Seney NWR, Michigan, the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, and in southcentral Florida to evaluate their suitability to support introduced whooping cranes (G. americana). This paper compares data collected at these sites and additional data collected in northcentral Florida. The length of the egg-laying period varied from 4.5 months in central Florida to 1 month at Seney, but egg-laying ceased at all sites from mid-May to early June. Mean clutch sizes were similar 0.7-1.9). Renesting ranged from 79% in northcentral Florida to <=5% at Seney. These dates and values are consistent with nesting successes that ranged from 48% in northcentral Florida to 80% at Seney. Average annual recruitment, 12.3 juveniles/lOa adults, was highest on the Kissimmee Prairie in southcentral Florida. Average annual horne range size for the non-migratory populations were 1 km2 on the Okefenokee and 6.6 km2 on the Kissimmee. Nesting season horne range sizes ranged from 0.5 km2 on the Okefenokee to 1.8 km2 at Seney. All candidate populations successfully satisfied most of the guidelines for potential whooping crane populations as established by the Whooping Crane Recovery Team. Once reintroduction techniques have been refined, any or all of the study sites have the capacity to accommodate a flock of whooping cranes commensurate with Whooping Crane Recovery Team recommendations.

A Microcomputer Data Base For Managing Whooping Crane Observation Records, Duane A. Asherin, David B. Hamilton, Wendy M. Brown, Roderick C. Drewien

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A database called WHOOPER contains whooping crane (Grus americana) observations for the Rocky Mountain foster-parent population and currently consists of 1,438 observations covering the period 1975-1987. The dBase III Plus database management system for microcomputers is used for the application. This description of the data base and its capabilities updates the prototype database described in the 1985 Crane Workshop.