Weekly Update, 14-22 August 2005
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Whooper
Reintroduction Updates
Current Trip:
Summer 2005: Monitoring the
Whooping Cranes
Entry August 26
Weekly Update, 14-22
August 2005
After a summer of above-average temperatures and little bird movement,
recent cool temperatures have prompted some early autumn
staging/pre-migratory activity in one pair and in three birds from the
2004 cohort (see below for details).
The eastern migratory population contains 42
individuals: 25 males and 17 females.
Currently, 35 Whooping
Cranes are in the core reintroduction area. During the week, between 25
and 32 of these birds spent time at the Necedah National Wildlife
Refuge. This includes 7 pairs and 16 individuals.
The 7 pairs on territories at the
Refuge are:
Nos. 1-01 and 2-02
Nos. 5-01 and 4-02.
On August 22, this pair moved from their Refuge territory to a property
in west-central Wisconsin. The last time they moved from their
territory was on May 20th.
Nos. 3-02 and 17-03
Nos. 11-02 and 17-02
Nos. 13-02 and 18-02. In the evenings, they move
from their territory to a roost occupied by a small flock of Sandhill
Cranes.
Nos. 16-02 and 3-03
Nos. 1-03 and 11-03
The 16 individuals at the Refuge
include:
No. 8-02. On August 14, he was observed foraging
with female No. 13-03 and they stayed together the rest of the week.
No. 13-03. She associated alternately with two males
(Nos. 10-03 and 8-02) during the week, but spent most of her time with
No. 8-02.
No. 10-03. On August 14 and 15 he foraged and
roosted with No. 13-03.
No. 5-02
No. 12-02
No. 4-03
No. 7-03.
He was last observed on August 4 with Nos. 2, 3, 12, 16, and 17-04. He
was not with this group of yearlings when they were observed on 15
August. His transmitter is nonfunctional, and he cannot be tracked.
No. 18-03. He moved away from Nos. 1, 7, and 8-04 on
August 14 and remained alone on the Refuge for the rest of the week.
Nos. 1, 7, and 8-04. On August 22, these birds moved
from Necedah NWR to southeastern Wisconsin.
Nos. 2, 3, 12, 16, and 17-04.
This group roosted at the Refuge on August 14, 15 and 19. On August
16-18, they flew a few miles away and roosted. On August 20, they
returned to the Refuge where they stayed the rest of the week.
Two pairs occupy territories near the
core reintroduction area:
Nos. 9-02 and 2-03
Nos. 1-02 and 6-03.
This pair remained on their territory until August 16. They then moved
to the Refuge where they stayed for the rest of the week.
There is one bird in central
Wisconsin:
No. 2-01. She was detected in flight on August 22.
There are six birds in southeastern
Wisconsin:
No. 7-01. She continues to forage in harvested wheat
fields. Her transmitter is nonfunctional, and she cannot be tracked.
Nos. 12-03 and 16-03. These birds remain in a small
series of wetlands in farmland.
No. 15-04. She remains in close association with
Sandhill Cranes.
Nos. 19-04 and 20-04. These birds remain with
Sandhill Cranes in farmland.
One bird is in an unknown location:
No. 9-03.
She was not recorded during the week. She was last observed on August
13, foraging in a wet hayfield in north eastern New York.
This
report was compiled by Dr. Richard Urbanek, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife
Service. Tracking has been accomplished by Dr. Urbanek, Lara Fondow
(International Crane Foundation) and Stacy Castelda (U.S. Fish
&
Wildlife Service) with additional assistance from Kelly Maguire
(International Crane Foundation).
This email is generated by the International Crane Foundation located
at E11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo, WI. 53913. Check out our website!
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