Changes in the number and distribution of Greater Sandhill Cranes in the Eastern Population

Lacy, Anne E.; Barzen, Jeb A.; Moore, Dorn M.; Norris, Kristin

doi:10.1111/jofo.12124

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…At relatively high densities sandhill cranes will nest in nearly any wetland (Barzen et al ). The ability to use these urban wetlands and landscapes will likely allow sandhill cranes to expand their numbers and their geographic breeding range, as is already occurring throughout the Midwest (Lacy et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive success of sandhill cranes in midwestern landscapes

2019

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A number of wildlife species have recovered from the brink of extinction to flourish and, in some cases, even become a commonly recognized urban species (e.g., Canada goose [Branta canadensis]). Broadly extirpated from much of their historical range in North America, the sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) demonstrated this potential for population recovery. The trajectory of the eastern population of greater sandhill cranes is remarkable—perhaps as many as 90,000 cranes now occur throughout the same Great Lakes states that reported only dozens of birds less than a century ago. However, understanding future population growth of the species remains uncertain because breeding birds are increasingly exposed to the pressures of urban sprawl and a changing agricultural landscape. From 2009 to 2014 we investigated the survival of sandhill crane nests and young up to 11 weeks of age (the point at which they are capable of flight) in the core of the eastern population's range in central Wisconsin and at its peripheral extent in a rapidly developing urban region of northeastern Illinois, USA. We located crane nests via systematic surveys on foot and from helicopters, we then radio‐tagged the young and monitored them until they died or were capable to sustained flight. Overall, young were more likely to hatch from nests in Illinois (60%) than in central Wisconsin (46%), regardless of differences in land cover surrounding the nest site. In contrast, the survivorship of young was positively correlated with urban land cover in both regions but higher in central Wisconsin (54%) than in northeast Illinois (27%). Overall, the probability of producing young was greater in landscapes with more urban development, regardless of region. We suggest that differences in predator composition, predator behavior, and crane density between rural and urban areas is the primary reason for the difference in crane productivity. Higher recruitment of sandhill cranes using urban landscapes may allow cranes to echo the population trajectory of urban Canada geese. We anticipate that sandhill cranes will continue to use urban landscapes, and likely expand their geographic range as breeding pairs benefit from the increased survivorship of young in those landscapes. © The Wildlife Society, 2019

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive success of sandhill cranes in midwestern landscapes

2019

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“…Given that low temperatures are unlikely to be fatal for whooping cranes 39 , the combination of temperature change and high food availability may facilitate overwintering farther north, because additional food is necessary to satisfy the high energetic requirements of overwintering in a colder place 11 40 . Northward shifts in the overwintering distributions of both Canada geese and sandhill cranes in the same region have been linked to long-term temperature trends and increasing agricultural food subsidies and, as for whooping cranes, temperatures alone cannot explain these shifts 4 22 41 . In fact, although climate is the most commonly studied driver of shortstopping 6 , the first descriptions of the phenomenon attributed it to changes in land use 4 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to this intrinsic driver, we tested the effects of environmental change in enabling shortstopping by examining two potential extrinsic drivers: grain cover and temperature anomaly. Corn cultivation is associated with shortstopping in sandhill cranes 22 , and whooping cranes can feed on a variety of crops, largely grains 23 , so we determined the percent grain cover within 10 km of each overwintering site as a measure of food availability from agriculture. Changes in climate could also drive shortstopping by decreasing the amount of energy required to overwinter at each site, so we calculated site-specific winter temperature anomalies.…”

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confidence: 99%

Experience drives innovation of new migration patterns of whooping cranes in response to global change

et al. 2016

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Anthropogenic changes in climate and land use are driving changes in migration patterns of birds worldwide. Spatial changes in migration have been related to long-term temperature trends, but the intrinsic mechanisms by which migratory species adapt to environmental change remain largely unexplored. We show that, for a long-lived social species, older birds with more experience are critical for innovating new migration behaviours. Groups containing older, more experienced individuals establish new overwintering sites closer to the breeding grounds, leading to a rapid population-level shift in migration patterns. Furthermore, these new overwintering sites are in areas where changes in climate have increased temperatures and where food availability from agriculture is high, creating favourable conditions for overwintering. Our results reveal that the age structure of populations is critical for the behavioural mechanisms that allow species to adapt to global change, particularly for long-lived animals, where changes in behaviour can occur faster than evolution.

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“…Recent analysis of long‐term Christmas Bird Count data indicated that cranes in the EP wintered at staging areas north of Georgia and Florida in recent decades (Amundson and Johnson , Lacy et al ). Lacy et al () suggested that climate and increased agriculture throughout the EP range may influence cranes to winter farther north. However, there has been no formal analysis to demonstrate that these factors are main contributors to a more northerly winter strategy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and migration chronology of Eastern population sandhill cranes

et al. 2017

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The Eastern Population (EP) of greater sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis tabida; cranes) is expanding in size and geographic range. Little information exists regarding the geographic extent of breeding, migration, and wintering ranges, migration chronology, or use of staging areas for cranes in the EP. To obtain these data, we attached solar global positioning system (GPS) platform transmitting terminals (PTTs) to 42 sandhill cranes and monitored daily locations from December 2009 through August 2014. On average, tagged cranes settled in summer areas during late‐March in Minnesota (7%), Wisconsin (29%), Michigan, USA (21%), and Ontario, Canada (38%) and arrived at their winter terminus beginning mid‐December in Indiana (15%), Kentucky (3%), Tennessee (45%), Georgia (5%), and Florida (32%). Cranes initiated spring migration beginning mid‐February to their respective summer areas on routes similar to those used during fall migration. Twenty‐five marked cranes returned to the same summer area after a second spring migration, of which 19 (76%) settled <3 km from the estimated mean center of the summer area of the previous year. During the 2010–2012 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Cooperative Fall Abundance Survey for cranes in the EP, we estimated that approximately 29–31% of cranes that summered in both Wisconsin and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan were not in areas included in the survey. The information we collected on crane movements provides insight into distribution and migration chronology that will aid in assessment of the current USFWS fall survey. In addition, information on specific use sites can assist state and federal managers to identify and protect key staging and winter areas particularly during current and future recreational harvest seasons. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Changes in the number and distribution of Greater Sandhill Cranes in the Eastern Population

Cited by 18 publications

References 10 publications

The reproductive success of sandhill cranes in midwestern landscapes

The reproductive success of sandhill cranes in midwestern landscapes

Experience drives innovation of new migration patterns of whooping cranes in response to global change

Distribution and migration chronology of Eastern population sandhill cranes

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