2023 Coordinated Spring Survey of Mid-Continent Sandhill Cranes

Authors

Terry Liddick, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, BMBS

Date of this Version

7-25-2023

Citation

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Survey, July 25, 2023

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

The aerial transect portion of the coordinated spring survey of mid-continent Sandhill cranes was conducted on March 22, 2023 in Nebraska’s Central Platte and North Platte River valleys (United States). The 2023 photo-corrected aerial estimate is 1,259,000 birds. Outside the traditional aerial transect portion, observers conducted ground surveys during the period March 20–22. From these regions, observers in the Official Survey Area (OSA) of Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming reported an additional 25,363 cranes. The 2023 total estimate (1,284,500) increased 43.1% from 2022. The current three-year average (2021–2023 with no photo correction in 2021), based on photo corrected estimates from aerial transects is 909,000.