Observation of an Extra-pair Copulation by Sandhill Cranes

Observations on Behavior of Sandhill Cranes

T HE Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) nests on the low, wet coastal tundra near the mouth of the McConnell River (60” 50’ N, 94” 25’ W) , on the western shore of Hudson Bay. During studies of geese and jaegers we have made many casual observations of cranes. Although adult cranes are conspicuous due to their large size and loud calls, the nests and young are very difficult to locate. Since the ...

Capture of sandhill cranes using alpha-chloralose.

From 1990-2001, we made 188 successful captures of 166 different greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) through experimental use of alpha-chloralose (AC). Most captures took place during September (72.3%; n = 136), followed by August (14.9%; n = 28), and October (12.8%; n = 24). Territorial pairs were captured more successfully than family groups. Overall morbidity (6.4%) and mortalit...

Habitat Use by Migrant Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska

The principal spring staging areas of the midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are along the Platte and North Platte rivers in south-central Nebraska. Most of these lands are privately owned and managed for corn and cattle production. Diurnal habitat use by radio-tagged cranes was primarily in cropland (55%), native grassland (28%), and tame hayland (15%). Ninety-nine pe...

Evolutionary biology: Why do birds engage in extra-pair copulation?

Interaction of Young Florida Sandhill Cranes with Their Parents

We studied the interactions of 46 Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) chicks and their parents from hatching until the chicks left the family group. Our goal was to see if young remained closer to one parent than the other and if the distance between a chick and its parents increased as the young approached the age of independence. Using a population of individually marked adult ...