Migration Routes of Sandhill Cranes from Mid-Continental North America

Tacha, Thomas C.; Vohs, Paul A.; Iverson, George C.

doi:10.2307/3801462

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In crane family flocks, adults are more experienced than juveniles and forage with greater efficiency, which may explain why juveniles were less vigilant than adults [27], [30]–[32]. In red-crowned cranes, collective but not individual vigilance was higher in the area with more disturbances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coordination and Synchronisation of Anti-Predation Vigilance in Two Crane Species

Chen

Beauchamp

2011

PLoS ONE

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Much of the previous research on anti-predation vigilance in groups has assumed independent scanning for threats among group members. Alternative patterns that are based on monitoring the vigilance levels of companions can also be adaptive. Coordination of vigilance, in which foragers avoid scanning at the same time as others, should decrease the odds that no group member is alert. Synchronisation of vigilance implies that individuals are more likely to be vigilant when companions are already vigilant. While synchronisation will increase the odds that no one is vigilant, it may allow a better assessment of potential threats. We investigated temporal sequences of vigilance in family flocks consisting of two parents and at most two juveniles in two species of cranes in coastal China. We established whether the observed probability that at least one parent is alert was greater (coordination) or lower (synchronisation) than that predicted under the null hypothesis of independent vigilance. We documented coordination of vigilance in common cranes (Grus grus) foraging in an area with high potential for disturbance by people. We documented synchronisation of vigilance in red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) in the less but not in the more disturbed area. Coordination in small flocks leads to high collective vigilance but low foraging rates that may not be suitable in areas with low disturbance. We also argue that synchronisation should break down in areas with high disturbance because periods with low vigilance are riskier. Results highlight the view that temporal patterns of vigilance can take many forms depending on ecological factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sexual differences have been noted in other crane species for vigilance levels [30]. Since we could not identify sex for our focal subjects, the random selection procedure ensured that at the very least we did not choose one sex more often than the other.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coordination and Synchronisation of Anti-Predation Vigilance in Two Crane Species

Chen

Beauchamp

2011

PLoS ONE

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“…Cranes allocate more nutrients than geese toward helping young survive; both crane parents feed their offspring starting at hatch (Walkinshaw 1973) and continue sporadically until independence the following spring. Crane parents allow juveniles to remain with them until early April when they depart Nebraska (Tacha 1988), helping to ensure their offspring from the previous year have become adept at foraging and predator avoidance, traits that are likely to enhance their survival after becoming independent from their parents.…”

Section: Role Of Staging Areas To Mcpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring migration ecology of the mid‐continent sandhill crane population with an emphasis on use of the Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska

Krapu

Brandt

Kinzel

et al. 2014

Wildlife Monographs

109

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We conducted a 10-year study (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007) of the Mid-Continent Population (MCP) of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) to identify spring-migration corridors, locations of major stopovers, and migration chronology by crane breeding affiliation (western Alaska-Siberia [WA-S], northern Canada-Nunavut [NC-N], west-central Canada-Alaska [WC-A], and east-central Canada-Minnesota [EC-M]). In the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of Nebraska, we evaluated factors influencing staging chronology, food habits, fat storage, and habitat use of sandhill cranes. We compared our findings to results from the Platte River Ecology Study conducted during [1978][1979][1980]. We determined spring migration corridors used by the breeding affiliations (designated subpopulations for management purposes) by monitoring 169 cranes marked with platform transmitter terminals (PTTs). We also marked and monitored 456 cranes in the CPRV with very high frequency (VHF) transmitters to evaluate length and pattern of stay, habitat use, and movements. An estimated 42% and 58% of cranes staging in the CPRV were greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) and lesser sandhill cranes (G. c. canadensis), and they stayed for an average of 20 and 25 days (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), respectively. Cranes from the WA-S, NC-N, WC-A, and EC-M affiliations spent an average of 72, 77, 52, and 53 days, respectively, in spring migration of which 28, 23, 24, and 18 days occurred in the CPRV. The majority of the WA-S subpopulation settled in the CPRV apparently because of inadequate habitat to support more birds upstream, although WA-S cranes accounted for >90% of birds staging in the North Platte River Valley. Crane staging duration in the CPRV was negatively correlated with arrival dates; 92% of cranes stayed >7 days. A program of annual mechanical removal of mature stands of woody growth and seedlings that began in the early 1980s primarily in the main channel of the Platte River has allowed distribution of crane roosts to remain relatively stable over the past 2 decades. Most cranes returned to nocturnal roost sites used in previous years. Corn residues dominated the diet of sandhill cranes in the CPRV, as in the 1970s, despite a marked decline in standing crop of corn residues. Only 14% (10 of 74) of PTT-marked migrant cranes stayed at stopovers for !5 days before arriving in the CPRV, which limited the contribution of sites south of the CPRV for fat accumulation needed for migration and reproduction. Body masses of cranes (after adjusting for body size [an index of fat]) at arrival in the CPRV varied widely among years (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006), indicating the importance of maintaining productive habitats on the wintering grounds to condition cranes for migration and reproduction. Average rates of fat gain by adult females while in the CPRV remained similar from 1978-1979 to 1998-1999 but declined among males. Distances cranes flew to feeding grounds in the C...

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“…During surveys, the following data were recorded: location (township, section, range), number of cranes, age (juvenile or adult based on cheek patch color and feather coloration on head and neck) (Tacha 1988), sex (determined if a bird was observed unison calling, Archibald 1976), behavior, movements, habitat type, and the presence/absence of feather painting (Johnsgard 1983). (After digging in the mud and debris, adult and juvenile Sandhill Cranes preen the material over most of the body feathers, thus producing a stain that is usually a bright rusty brown (Walkinshaw 1973;Lewis 1979).…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cranes in the study area are referred to as mid-continent Sandhill Cranes as they migrate through the Great Plains of North America (Central Flyway) and winter primarily in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico (Tacha et al 1984). This paper describes Sandhill Crane eggs and nests, the habitat surrounding nest sites, and pair productivity within the YWC.…”

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confidence: 99%

Sandhill Crane, <em>Grus canadensis</em>, Nesting in the Yorkton Wetland Complex, Saskatchewan

Burke

2003

Can Field Nat

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Surveys for Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) were conducted near Yorkton, Saskatchewan during the summers of 1995, 1996 and 1997. Seven nesting territories were identified and habitat measurements were taken at six nests. All nests were located in the emergent deep marsh zone of open water marshes within residual stands of Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus). Seven eggs were measured in four nests. Estimated hatching dates ranged from 20 May to 9 June. Total productivity for the three years was 0.80 chick per breeding pair (12 offspring fledged by 15 pairs). Individual pair productivity was impacted by disturbance, mate change, adult mortality, and predation. Hunting mortality may also impact the population.

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Migration Routes of Sandhill Cranes from Mid-Continental North America

Cited by 27 publications

References 2 publications

Coordination and Synchronisation of Anti-Predation Vigilance in Two Crane Species

Coordination and Synchronisation of Anti-Predation Vigilance in Two Crane Species

Spring migration ecology of the mid‐continent sandhill crane population with an emphasis on use of the Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska

Sandhill Crane, <em>Grus canadensis</em>, Nesting in the Yorkton Wetland Complex, Saskatchewan

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