A review of the success of major crane conservation techniques

Abstract

SummaryThe purpose of this paper is to review the success of different crane conservation techniques in order to determine which combinations of techniques are most promising. Six major crane conservation techniques were defined and a literature review was conducted. A summary of each technique was prepared, including several examples of the technique's use and possible negative effects. All of the evaluated techniques were successful in at least some cases. Habitat and legal protection are general measures that are required for every species regardless of other conservation techniques being used. Artificial feeding is successful in rapidly bolstering some crane populations but may not be desirable as a long-term conservation technique. Powerline modification or removal should be used to preserve all localized or endangered crane populations. The release of captive-reared cranes shows promise as a conservation technique but should only be used as a last resort. Likewise, manipulation of wild crane eggs should only be used when absolutely necessary to establish or bolster captive flocks.

Mortality of sarus cranes (Grus antigone) due to electricity wires in Uttar Pradesh, India

“…Mortality related to power lines is known to affect migratory and non-migratory bird species (Hendersen et al 1996;Bevanger 1998;Janss 2001;Rubolinie et al 2001). Recent development and expansion of power grids in many countries is proving to be a major conservation problem to many threatened and endangered species (Crivelli et al 1988;Allan 1996;Davis 1998;Donázar et al 2002). Studies have attempted to understand power line related bird mortality and/or collision risk with respect to morphology (Bevanger 1998;Janss 2000), behaviour (flight frequency: Rusz et al 1986;attraction to lighted structures: Ogden 1996), breeding status, age and wind speed (Henderson et al 1996), and power line design and placement (Ferrer et al 1991;McCann & Wilkins 1995;Janss & Ferrer 1998).…”

“…Gruiformes, particularly cranes, are at high risk of mortality due to electrical wires (Bevanger 1998), and at least three of the 15 extant species experience mortalities at rates that are of concern to endangered species and local populations (US Fish & Wildlife Service 1994;McCann & Wilkins 1995;Allan 1996;Meine & Archibald 1996;Davis 1998;McCann & van Rooyen 2002;Wassenich 2003). There is little empirical information on the extent of mortality of most species of cranes (Brown & Drewien 1995) and long-term information on consequences to crane populations is rare (Masatomi 1991).…”

Dancing with cranes: a humanist perspective on cultural ecosystem services of wetlands

“…The artificial feeding increased the flock size at Hornborga from 750 cranes per day in 1979 to 5000 in 1995 (Davis, 1998). As of today, a flock of as many as 26,000 cranes can be observed around the lake during certain times of the year (V€ ast, 2017).…”

Altered wing phenotypes of captive-bred migratory birds incur post-release fitness costs

“…Wing shape strongly predicts flight efficiency (Lockwood et al 1998;Sheard et al2020). Given that migratory birds are commonly bred in captivity for reintroduction (Davis 2010;Burnside et al 2017;Hutchins et al 2018;Stojanovic et al 2020b;Tripovich et al 2021), quantifying the ubiquity of deleterious captive wing shape phenotypes and their post-release fitness consequences is critical information.…”