Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)

1
Sandhill Cranes(Grus canadensis)
Alex Clevenger April 6, 2005
2
Description

• 37 inches long
• Wingspan of 80 inches
• Long, pointed bill
• Long thin neck
• Long, fluffy tertials droop down over tail and
  primaries

3
Description Cont.

• Plumage often appears rusty because of iron
  stains

4
Identifying Adult and Juvenile

• Adult
• Unfeatherd red lores
• Red feathered
• crown
• Entirely gray plumage
• Whitish cheeks and chin

5
Identifying Adult and Juvenile Cont.

• Juvenile
• Gray-brown mottled plumage
• Feathered gray lore

6
Similar Species

• Whooping Crane
• White all over
• Black primaries
• Forehead, lores, and lower cheek black

7
Similar Species Cont.

• Great Blue Herons
• Great Blue Herons lack the long fluffy tertials
  and red crown
• All G. B. Herons hold their neck in S-curve
  when flying
• G. B. Herons have a hoarse croak as a call and
  Sandhill has a trumpet-like call

Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Crane
8
Vocalization

• Most common call is a repeated series of
  trumpeting garoo-a-a-a calls
• This call can be heard for miles
• Another common call is the Unison call

9
Habitat

• Large freshwater marshes, prairie ponds, and
  marshy tundra
• Prairies and grain fields are used during winter

10
Diet
11
Fall Staging

• Around the beginning of August Sandhills have an
  extreme change in behavior
• Staging areas are usually a days flight from
  nesting marshes

12
Fall Migration

• In late Autumn Sandhills will begin their
  journey south
• Flying at 50 mph they can travel 500 miles in a
  day

13
Spring Migration

• In early March Sandhills begin their migration
  North
• Their largest stopping point on this trip is the
  Platte river in Nebraska

14
Platte River

• The Platte river provides safe nigh time roosts,
  grain in crop fields, and other nutrients in
  adjacent wet meadows
• The loss of this habitat is threatening the
  species
• Up to 75of wet meadows have been converted to
  Agriculture fields

15
Migration Studies

• Studies are being done by USGS to more clearly
  understand their migration route
• Cranes are captured with rocket nets and
  satellite transmitters are attached

16
Wintering Range
17
Breeding Range
18
Courtship Display

• Cranes do a ritual dance before mating
• Young unpaired birds also dance, suggesting it
  has other functions

19
Nesting

• Traditionally, cranes select remote inaccessible
  wetlands for nesting
• Large nests are constructed of vegetation
  pulled from the nearby area

20
Nesting Cont.

• Nest diameter 2-3 feet, rising 3-5 inches above
  the water

21
Reproductive Information

• Number of broods per season 1
• Clutch size 1-3 eggs
• Incubation length 28-32 days

22
Fledglings

• Hatching is staggered and siblicide often occurs
• Within 24 hours of hatching, young can walk as
  well as swim
• Young take their first flight within 10 weeks

23
Fledglings Cont.

• Both parents and young typically stay together
  for 9-10 months

• Parents protect chicks from the elements for a
  few days after theyve hatched

24
Subspecies

• 6 subspecies
• Lesser Sandhill Crane (G. c. canadensis)
• Greater Sandhill Crane (G. c. tabida)
• Florida Sandhill Crane (G. c. pratensis)
• Mississippi Sandhill Crane (G. c. pulla)
• Cuba Sandhill Crane (G. c. nesiotes)
• Canadian Sandhill Crane (G. c. rowani)

25
Subspecies Cont.

• Greater, Lesser, and Canadian subspecies range
  throughout Northern U.S. and Canada, and are
  migratory
• Florida, Mississippi, and Cuba subspecies are in
  the Southern U.S. and Cuba and are non-migratory

26
Subspecies Cont.

• The Mississippi subspecies is on the endangered
  species list

27
Hunting

• Cranes are hunted in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas,and
  North and South Dakota
• The season ranges in the states from Oct.-Nov.
  or Dec. to Jan.
• Bag limits are usually 2 with a total possession
  of 4

28
Sources

• http//www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/rowe/crane
  20facts.htm
• http//www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/sancra/
• http//www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/migra
  tion/sandhill.asp
• http//www.enature.com/
• http//www.naturescapes.net/112003/mf1103.htm
• http//www.florida.sierraclub.org/turtlecoast/hom
  e/Sandhill.htm
• http//wildlife.state.co.us/species_profiles/sand
  hill.asp
• http//magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/cranecam/
  about.html
• http//www.nodakoutdoors.com/valleyoutdoors40.php
  
• http//www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i2060id.h
  tml
• http//www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hunt/regs/migratory_g
  ame/crane_zone/
• http//www.michiganaudubon.org/bakersanctuary/cra
  ne.htm
• http www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/content/
  download/2102/9849/file/R-25-20.pdf
• http//www.npwrc.usgs.gov/perm/cranemov/capture.h
  tm
• http//www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/h
  unt/licenses/

29
ANY QUESTIONS