TRANSLOCATION OF FLORIDA SANDHILL CRANES TO GEORGIA

Authors

WESLEY A. ABLER, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
STEPHEN A. NESBITT, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionFollow

Date of this Version

2001

Document Type

Article

Citation

Abler, Wesley A. and Nesbitt, Stephen A. Translocation of Florida sandhill cranes to Georgia. In: Ellis, David H., ed., Proceedings of the Eighth North American Crane Workshop, 11–14 January 2000, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Seattle, Wash: North American Crane Working Group, 2001), pp. 73-79.

Comments

Reproduced by permission of the North American Crane Working Group (NACWG).

Abstract

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months following release, and 2 cranes 28 months after release. Six radio-fitted cranes were monitored more than 28 months following release. Successful reproduction of translocated cranes was also observed on the area (as many as 4 pairs of cranes were observed with chicks) which likely indicated the beginning of a residential population of cranes. The methods developed for this project may be useful for translocation of wild sandhill cranes into formerly occupied suitable habitats.