MORTALITY IN FLEDGED WHOOPING CRANES OF THE ARANSAS/WOOD BUFFALO POPULATION

Authors

James C. Lewis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ernie Kuyt, Canadian Wildlife Service
Kenneth E. Schwindt, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Thomas V. Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Date of this Version

1992

Document Type

Article

Citation

Lewis, J.C., E. Kuyt, K.E. Schwindt, and T.V. Stehn. Mortality in fledged whooping cranes of the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population. 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. 145-148.

Comments

Used by permission of the North American Crane Working Group.

Abstract

A total of 1,893 whooping cranes (Grus americana) overwintered at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge from 1950 through spring 1987. Winter losses (dead and disappeared) amounted to only 1.3% of the population, but 3.7% of the juveniles. About 19% of the annual losses occurred in the wintering area where birds spend 5 to 6 months of the year. Eighty-one percent of the losses occurred from April to November. Losses on the summering area appear to be low. The most significant losses seem to occur during migration and may comprise between 60 and 80% of the annual losses. Migration involves only 17-20% of the birds' year, but a period when losses are high because they are exposed to new hazards as they travel through unfamiliar environments.