Population characteristics of the Whooping Crane, Grus americana

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Binkley, Clark S., Miller, Richard S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1983
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Wood Buffalo
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z83-363; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z83-363

The principal migratory population of Whooping Cranes is now increasing at an annual rate of about 4%, about twice the rate observed prior to the mid-1950's. Significant periodic fluctuations in total numbers overlay these average trends. These fluctuations can be explained by observed fluctuations in annual recruitment. On average, both the number of breeding pairs and the number of young fledged each year are roughly consistent with what is known about the life history of the species. Around these averages, however, significant variations in both parameters remain unexplained. Further research should focus on the factors responsible for successful pair formation, hatching, fledging, and 1st-year migration from the summer grounds at Wood Buffalo Park to the winter grounds at Aransas Wildlife Refuge.