Whooping Crane Migration Update: May 26, 1999 Today's Report Includes: Thanks to Brian Johns! Settling In: Brian Johns's May 4 Report from Wood Buffalo National Park News about an Old Friend: Brian Johns's May 15 Report Brian's Final Update: May 26, 1999 Flock Numbers: Discussion of Challenge Question #9 Discussion of Challenge Question #10 Migration Hazards: Discussion of Challenge Question #12 Have a Great Summer! Thanks to Brian Johns! Whooping Crane Biologist Brian Johns We at Journey North are lucky to have found Brian Johns. We are very grateful for his fascinating first hand reports about the Whooping Cranes on their breeding grounds in the far north. Thanks for all your help, Brian! Settling In: Brian Johns's May 4 Report from Wood Buffalo National Park Dear Journey North The progress of whooping crane migration slowed down for a couple of days last week. Throughout the migration corridor in Saskatchewan there were north winds mixed with rain showers on April 27-29. Since the cranes usually migrate with either a tail wind or no wind they certainly were not going to waste their energy flying into a headwind. These north winds kept the cranes on the ground long enough in a few areas that they were seen and reported by crane observers. To date there have been 17 confirmed sightings of cranes in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, totaling 44 different birds. On April 29 I observed a pair of unbanded whoopers about 25 kilometres from my house here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This pair was first seen on April 27 feeding on waste grain in one of last year's wheat fields. When the birds weren't feeding in the field they were in a large wetland next to the field. While at the wetland they usually stood in about 25 centimetres of water. Here they mostly rested but they also fed along the shoreline, drank water and cleaned and adjusted their feathers in preparation for continuing their migration. Wood Buffalo National Park Warden Doug Bergeson reports that the snow melted fast this spring and there is not much snow left in the nesting area. All of the nesting ponds are free of ice and only the very large deep wetlands still have ice on them. Water levels over most of the nesting area are very low for this time of year. About 17 pairs have already arrived in the park and 4 of those pairs have nested and are now sitting on eggs. Brian Brian Johns Canadian Wildlife Service News about an Old Friend: Brian Johns's May 15 Report Dear Journey North Since I last contacted you I have traveled to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. This is the closest town to the Whooping Crane nesting area. As of May 13 I have seen 42 Whooping Crane nests. Five other pairs were seen that may nest and 3 pairs have not been found yet. Remember GwG-YbY? She and her mate are nesting about 3 kilometres southwest of where they usually nest. Their traditional territory is drier than normal and that may have caused the birds to move to the new spot. The area that they are in now has deeper water and is close to some deeper wetlands that should not go dry by the end of the summer. GwG-YbY and her mate were first seen on their territory on April 23. They moved around for 1 week before finally settling on the right location for their nest. On May 3 one of the birds was seen sitting on the nest. The nest is in about 25 centimeters of water and contains 2 eggs which is the normal number that cranes lay. Both the male and female share incubation duties and they will incubate the eggs for about 30 days before the eggs hatch. These eggs should hatch during the first few days of June. The wetland that the pair is nesting in is a mix of open water and a grassy wetland plant called sedge. The pair's nest is constructed out of this sedge and is about 1 metre across. This past year the amount of precipitation that fell in Fort Smith was the lowest of the last 20 years. During years with high water levels the survival of young Whooping Crane chicks is greater than during years with low water levels in the breeding area. We suspect that chick survival is lower during these dry years because; the entire area is more accessible to land based predators; family groups have to travel over greater distances to find food in the remaining wetlands and may encounter these predators; and food resources available to the cranes may also be limited thus putting added stress on the young while they are growing. Brian Brian's Final Update, May 26, 1999 Total number of nesting pairs to date is 45. This is down 4 from the previous year, however there are a couple of pairs that I have not been able to find yet. Brian Brian Johns, Canadian Wildlife Service Flock Numbers: Discussion of Challenge Question #9 "Calculate the percent remaining of the total Whooping Crane flock of 183" Date 03/25/99 04/01/99 04/08/99 04/15/99 # Cranes Remaining 164 137 56 41 % Remaining (of 183) 90% 75% 31% 22% Discussion of Challenge Question #10 "When will the first cranes reach Wood Buffalo National Park?" They were first detected on April 9, 1999. Hazards of Migration: Discussion of Challenge Question #12 "What are some of the hazards that Whooping Cranes face on their long flight between Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Wood Buffalo National Park?" Power lines, hail storms, tornadoes, Peregrine Falcons, Bald and Golden Eagles, foxes, raccoons, wolves, coyotes, and steel leg traps are all potential hazards to these huge but fragile creatures. A huge Whooping Crane weighs only 14 - 16 pounds. Have a Great Summer! This is our FINAL Whooping Crane Update for Spring, 1999. We hope the whoopers and you have a wonderful summer. See you next year! Copyright 1999 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form