CRANE MIGRATION IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO

Authors

Dale W. Stahlecker, Eagle Ecological Services

Date of this Version

1992

Document Type

Article

Citation

Stahlecker, D.W. Crane migration in northern New Mexico. In: Wood D. A., ed. 1992. Proceedings 1988 North American Crane Workshop, Feb. 22–24, 1988. Lake Wales, Florida (Tallahassee, FL: State of Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Nongame Wildlife Program Technical Report #12, 1992), pp. 1-12.

Comments

Used by permission of the North American Crane Working Group.

Abstract

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% of the sandhill cranes counted stopped overnight in 1984, 58% stopped in 1986, and 46% in 1987. Most completed 225 to 280 km of the journey and roosted on rivers and mesas north of Albuquerque. Stopover rates were affected by wind speed/ direction and solar radiation, but were most highly correlated with frontal movements. During the 1985 spring migration 25,890 cranes were counted. Aided by southerly winds, over 95% apparently completed the northward journey in 1 day.