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Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group Sixth North American Crane Workshop, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

ACCELERATED RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR MIGRATORY SHORE AND UPLAND GAME BIRDS

Whereas, the Accelerated Research Program for Migratory Shore and Upland Game Birds supported substantial research on cranes in North America prior to the early 1980's, and Whereas, population and habitat management techniques require additional research, and Whereas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service retains a mandate to properly manage migratory shore and upland game birds, Therefore, be it resolved that the North American Crane Working Group supports the reinstatement of the Accelerated Research Program for Migratory Shore and Upland Game Birds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with annual …

Food And Feeding Habits Of Released Florida Sandhill Cranes, Christine R. Rucker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Food habits of 4 pairs of free-ranging Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, were studied from May to October 1990. Food items were identified and quantified at close range « 10 m). The 4 pairs varied in how they used plant and animal resources (P < 0.0001). Animal material in the diets averaged 19.1 % and ranged from 13.4 to 36.7%. Plant material averaged 80.9% in the pairs' diets. Major foods included subsurface bulbs, roots, and tubers of yellow star grass (Hypoxis micrantha), catbrier (Smilax glauca), and false garlic (Allium bivalva), longleaf pine seeds (Pinus palustris), and insects. Food habits shifted seasonally for all pairs (P < 0.(001). In July and August the percent occurrences of yellow star grass and false garlic in the diets were > 50 %. During September and October pine seed occurrence was > 75 % in the diets of …

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

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.

Unusual Movements And Behaviors Of Color-Banded Whooping Cranes During Winter, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Color-banding of whooping cranes (Grus americana) has allowed individual recognition of >45% of the population between 1985 and 1990 and has provided the opportunity to monitor individual movements and behaviors. Unusual occurrences have included: 5 whooping crane juveniles that separated from their parents prior to reaching the wintering grounds, a sandhill crane (G. canadensis) juvenile wintering with a whooping crane pair, whooping cranes that oversummered at Aransas, a widowed crane that paired with a new mate within 48 hours, 2 cranes that did not reach the wintering grounds until 3 years of age, a known nesting …

Survival Of Juvenile Greater Sandhill Cranes At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield, Susan M. Lindstedt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) recruitment rates in southeast Oregon have generally been low since the mid-1970s. To identify causative factors for low chick survival, transmitters were placed on 21 flightless young in 1983 and 18 in 1984. Of the chicks monitored in 1983, contact was lost with 4, 13 were lost to predators, 1 died of parasitic pneumonia) drowned and 2 fledged. In 1984, 8 chicks were monitored, 4 were lost to predators, 1 drowned, and 3 died from unknown causes. Of 10 transmitters which malfunctioned, 8 were on chicks known to have died. Predation was …

Autumn Sandhill Crane Migration In Southeastern Oregon, Carroll D. Littlefield

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Each autumn, from 2,000 to 3,000 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) of the Central Valley Population congregate on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Migratory behavIor, flock SIzes and arrivals and departures from this important autumn use area were observed for 13 years (1970-1986). Average size of flocks arriving from the north was 15.7, with those arriving from the southwest averaging 7.4. Flocks departing for California wintering areas averaged 9.2, but as smaller groups merged, flock , sizes increased to 24.8 (35 km southwest from the departure area). Most flIghts were at speeds ra~?mg from 56 to 88 kmh-l, …

Habitat Use By Florida Sandhill Cranes In The Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, Alan J. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Habitat selection by Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) in the Okefenokee Swamp was studied 1985-87. Wetland habitats were used exclusively. Herbaceous emergent marsh was the only habitat selected throughout the year. Although composing only 12.6% of the Swamp, such marsh received 54.8% use. Use of macrophyte emergent marsh (aquatic bed) peaked during summer and averaged 24.2% throughout the year. Shrub-scrub marsh, used for nesting, received 14.2% use. Habitat selection by adults and subadults (1-3 year-olds) was similar. Significant differences occurred only in spring when adults utilized Carex sp. and shrub-scrub marsh for nesting. Water depths in the …

Sandhill Crane Mortality Resulting From Neckbands, Alan Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Forty-three greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and 18 Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) were captured and fitted with plastic neckbands in 1985 and 1986. Nine (15%) died after inserting their bills inside their bands and were unable to free themselves. Death from neckbands occurred in 3 (20%) of 15 radio-tagged cranes, suggesting that the actual mortality was higher than that observed. No neckband-related deaths were observed in cranes < 12 months of age, and females exhibited mortality 2.5 times higher than males. Mortality was equally divided between cranes that received secured and unsecured neckbands. Increasing the height of neckbands from 6.5 to 8.2 cm did not reduce the incidence of death.

Territorial Behavior Of Florida Sandhill Cranes In The Okefenokee Swamp, Laurel A. Bennett, Alan J. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Intraspecific and territorial interactions of adult Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were studied in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia 1985-87. Adult pairs occupied exclusive and defended territories year round. We did not observe social behavior or flocking by adult cranes. Reproductive success did not influence the fidelity of pairs to their territories or aggressiveness toward other cranes. Females that lost mates retained their territories and eventually re-paired. Territorality was most intense during fall and winter and may have been necessary to maintain feeding areas. Habitat conditions in the Okefenokee Swamp may dictate territorality, not sociality, as a strategy …

Reducing Conflicts Between Snow Goose Hunters And Whooping Cranes At Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Robert H. Edens

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Bosque snow goose (Chen caerulescens) hunt was initiated in 1966 and had become an important recreational hunt by 1975, when the experimental whooping crane (Grus americana) foster parent program was initiated. Since 16 sandhill cranes (G. canadensIs) had been mistakenly shot prior to the program, concern was that whooping cranes might also be shot. The Bosque Snow Goose Hunter Training Program was initiated in 1977, consisting of a 1-hour slide/tape presentatIon and a 10-minute bird identification test. Modifications to hunt procedures and the requirement of all hunters to attend the hunter training program …

Land Use Status And Trends Of Potential Whooping Crane Release Sites In Central Florida, Mary Anne Bishop

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Three areas in central Florida, identified as potential sites for the reintroduction of a nonmigratory flock of whooping cranes (Grus americana), were evaluated. and ranked as to their priority for reintroduction based on their land use status and trends. The Kissimmee Prairie, including Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Prairie-Lakes State Preserve, and the National Audubon Society's Kissimmee Prairie Sanctuary was ranked first, the Webb Wildlife Management Area second, and Myakka River State Park third. Primary criteria used for each site and its surrounding lands included acreage, ownership, management, public use, access, potential threats, and the potential to support …

Relationship Of Channel Maintenance Flows To Whooping Crane Use Of The Platte River, Craig A. Faanes, David B. Bowman

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Periodic high flows in the Platte River are necessary to scour vegetation and redistribute sediment in the stream channel. Peak and mean annual flows have been reduced by as much as 70% from pre-development times, but channel maintenance flows still occur, although at a much reduced frequency and magnitude of occurrence. Use of the Platte River by migrant whooping cranes (Grus americana) in recent years appears to be related to the recent occurrence of flows in excess of 8,000 cfs for 5 or more consecutive days.

Release Of Sandhill Crane Chicks Hand-Reared With Artificial Stimuli, Robert H. Horwich, John Wood, Ray Anderson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhlll crane chicks (Grus canadensis tabida) were hand-reared using moveable puppets and vocalizing crane models as substitute parents. Their parental attachment was transferred to a crane-costumed human who introduced them to a wild environment and to wild foods. Five chicks were gentle-released in Wisconsin when 3.5 months old, a period of high sociality, and all successfully joined wild cranes. Following their first few weeks in association with wild cranes, their behavior was normal and comparable to that of wild chicks and they achieved normal flight distance from humans. Four of the 5 were relocated in Wisconsin the …

Whooping Cranes At The San Antonio Zoo, Jacqueline A. Lauver

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Since April, 1956, when an injured whooping crane (Grus americana) was received for rehabilitation, the San Antonio Zoo has maintained these birds in the collection and is 1 of only 2 zoos to have raised them. The zoo's management efforts, combined with favorable climatic cbnditions and water sources have contributed to a successful breeding program. The whooping crane is 1 of 7 crane species successfully bred, and 1 of 8 crane species currently in the collection.

The Contingency Plan For Federal-State Cooperative Protection Of Whooping Cranes, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A "Contingency Plan for Federal-State Cooperative Protection of Whooping Cranes" was developed in 1985 to protect migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana). Thirteen states and the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented the plan in summer 1985. One state and one feq,eral employee, and alternates, are appointed as the "key contact" individuals within each state. Reports of sightings of whooping cranes are forwarded to these key contacts and they coordinate the response to sightings. An important part of the plan is education activities designed to increase the public's ability to identify whooping cranes and to encourage the reporting of …

Introduction Of Whooping Cranes In Eastern North America, James C. Lewis, F. Graham Cooch

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) historically occurred throughout most of North America. A migration route last used prior to 1857 crossed the Appalachians to Atlantic Coast wintering grounds in coastal areas of New Jersey, South Carolina and river deltas farther south. The species disappeared from most eastern North American locations in the late 1800's. The winter 1987 population consisted of 43 captive birds and 154 in 2 wild subpopulations. Pursuant to both Canadian and u.s. recovery plans, sites in Michigan-Ontario, Georgia and Rorida are being considered as potential release locations for establishing an eastern population. Cross-fostering, gentle release and …

Mate Recognition And Fidelity In Captive Sandhill Cranes, Peter W. Shannon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Two pairs of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were maintained at Audubon Park Zoo in separate but adjacent exhibits. The male of pair #2 was killed and due to medical problems associated with the female of pair #1, male #1 and female #2 were placed together. These birds subsequently bonded but did not nest. Following a 17 month separation, female #1 was moved to an area where she could hear but not see male #1 and female #2 . Almost immediately, male #1 began attempting to move himself closer to female #1 . They were placed together, …

Whooping Crane Habitat Alteration Analysis At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, C. Lee Sherrod, Richard Medina

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Aquatic, wetland, and upland habitat changes were quantified within the approximate critical habitat of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana) along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) through Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and San Antonio, Bay, Texas. Study procedures employed comparative analysis of pre-GIWW (1930) and present (1986) aerial photography to provide a basis for the assessment of positive and negative impacts of the construction, operation and maintenance of the GIWW, principally on the whooping crane, but also on biota in general. Thirteen habitat mapping categories were utilized to describe an approximately 1,830 m wide corridor along the GIWW …

Lead Poisoning In A Whooping Crane, S. Bret Synder, Michael J. Richard, John P. Thilsted, Roderick C. Drewien, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The first known incident of lead poisoning in a whooping crane (Grus americana) occurred as the affected bird completed its second migration from Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Idaho to Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. It fell ill about 4 1/2 weeks after reaching the winter site and was captured. The bird exhibited signs of anorexia and starvation, weakness with drooped wings, greenish watery diarrhea and an unusual gaping of the mouth with abnormal swallowing motions. Blood showed marked polychromasia (>50%) and reticulocytosis (>80%) of RBC's. Serum chemistry values were not diagnostic. A radiograph …

Crane Migration In Northern New Mexico, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and foster-reared whooping cranes (G. americana) were monitored on a 345 km migration between their traditional stopover in southcentral Colorado and their winter grounds in central New Mexico during 4 autumns (1984-87) and 1 spring (1985). Autumn sandhill crane counts totaled 17,363 in 1984, 9,317 in 1985, 29,053 in 1986, and 26,552 in 1987. Peak flights of over 7,000 cranes in 1 day were recorded in both 1986 and 1987. More than 50% of the cranes were counted on just 4 days in 1984, 1986 and 1987. At least 27% …

Nesting Of Greater Sandhill Cranes On Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Richard P. Urbanek, Theodore A. Bookhout

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During 1987, 59 nests of 57 pairs of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were located, mainly from the air, on or near the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan, and 52 nests were ground-checked. Nests were in available palustrine classes without tree canopies. Only 19% were in Sphagnum bogs, in which most nests from other areas of the Upper Peninsula have been found. Cattail (Typha latifolia) marshes, most prevalent in the managed area of the refuge, contabed 44% of the nests, and sedge (Carex spp.) marshes accounted for 37%. Important co-dominant plant species were leatherleaf …

Renesting Of Mississippi Sandhill Cranes In Jackson County, Mississippi 1965–1989, Jacob M. Valentine Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Among 118 active nests of Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) in Jackson County, Mississippi, 1%5-1989, 13 were renests. Three chicks from 19 wild and 3 from 3 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) switched eggs hatched in 13 first nests, but 5 died early and 1 after 2 weeks. Ten eggs were dead (infertile or the embryos died) in or at the nest. Two clutches (3 eggs) were destroyed by mammalian predators, 2 eggs were taken for captive propagation, and 1 was pecked and destroyed by the crane pair. Three chicks hatched from 22 wild eggs and 1 …

The Study Of Relatedness And Genetic Diversity In Cranes, George F. Gee, Herbert C. Dessauer, Jonathan Longmire, W. Elwood Briles, Raymond C. Simon

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is responsible for recovery of endangered species in the wild and, when necessary, maintenance in captivity. These programs provide an immediate measure of insurance against extinction. A prerequisite inherent in all of these programs is the preservation of enough genetic diversity to maintain a viable population and to maintain the capacity of the population to respond to change. Measures of genetic diversity examine polymorphic genes that are not influenced by selection pressures. Examples of these techniques and those used to determine relatedness are discussed. Studies of genetic diversity, electrophoresis of blood proteins, relatedness, …

Long-Term White-Tailed Deer Harvest Trends For The Southcentral United States, Richard A. Kluender, Philip A. Tappe, Michael E. Cartwright

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

White-tailed deer herd size across the southcentral states continues to increase. Concurrent with this increase has come a total harvest level increase for most states. Southcentral states have increased bag limits on antlerless deer to insure that herd health is maintained as herd sizes approach total carrying capacity. Harvest growth rates, however, show irregularities from year to year. The cyclic pattern of harvest (and population) growth rate is of shorter duration than would be expected in a large ungulate population. An exogenous influence is suspected. Cyclic patterns in harvest growth rates move opposite the growth rate of epizootic hemorrhagic disease …

Zooplankton Community Abundance And Diversity In Dardanelle Reservoir, Arkansas, 1981-1990, John D. Rickett, Robert L. Watson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Zooplankton samples were collected quarterly from five stations representing the discharge bay and four "control" or "dispersing impact" stations. Rotifers dominated all samples numerically and by the number of taxa. All major groups (Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda, and Protozoa) exhibited greatest abundances during the summer. Quarterly variations in abundance and number of taxa were documented. Except for an increase in taxonomic analysis detail between 1981 and 1984 resulting in several more taxa added to the list, no long-term increases, declines or repeating cycles were apparent. Margalef's Richness Index reflected this change and showed a long-term increase with evidence of a 5- …

Distribution Of The Southern Red-Backed Salamander, Plethodon Serratus (Caudata: Plethodontidae) In The Ouachita Mountain Region Of Arkansas, M. Doug Fletcher, Betty G. Cochran, Stanley E. Trauth, David A. Saugey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Sequential Occupation By Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers And Red-Bellied Woodpeckers In The Ouachita National Forest, Joseph C. Neal, Warren G. Montague, Douglas A. James

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Maternity Colony Of Gray Bats In A Non-Cave Site, Lorraine Timmerman, V. Rick Mcdaniel

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Stream Microcosm Toxicity Tests: Colonizing Test Organisms And Predicting The Effects Of Fenvalerate On Riffle Insect Communities, Dan H. Breneman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Small streams and rivers draining agricultural watersheds are frequently exposed to hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, chemical registration procedures currently do not include standardized protocols capable of predicting chemical impacts in lotic ecosystems. Three experiments were conducted utilizing artificial streams and rock-filled artificial substrates in an attempt to further standardize stream microcosm test procedures.

In the first experiment stream microcosms were used to predict the effects of a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide on riffle insect communities. Aquatic macroinvertebrates colonized on artificial substrates were placed in artificial streams and dosed in triplicate at 0.0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 ug/L fenvalerate (cyano (3-phenoxyphenyl) methyl-4- …