Trends in the occurrence of large Whooping Crane groups during migration in the great plains, USA

Caven, Andrew J.; Rabbe, Matt; Malzahn, Jenna; Lacy, Anne E.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03549

Cited by 5 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(83 reference statements)

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“…In other words, when suitable habitats are not limited by drought, individuals may be more capable of behaviorally responding to disturbances than when habitats are limited, and avoidance behaviors may not be linked to population-level consequences (Gill et al, 2001). However, as the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping crane continues to grow , Butler et al, 2020, Caven et al, 2020, stopover habitats may become increasingly limited in drought years or across specific regions of the migration corridor. Ecological theory suggests that population density influences habitat selection by individuals, making suboptimal habitats more attractive as density increases (Fretwell and Lucas, 1970).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes

et al. 2022

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The expansion of human infrastructure has contributed to novel risks and disturbance regimes in most ecosystems, leading to considerable uncertainty about how species will respond to altered landscapes. A recent assessment revealed that whooping cranes (Grus americana), an endangered migratory waterbird species, avoid wind-energy infrastructure during migration. However, uncertainties regarding collective impacts of other types of human infrastructure, such as power lines, variable drought conditions, and continued construction of wind energy infrastructure may compromise ongoing recovery efforts for whooping cranes. Droughts are increasing in frequency and severity throughout the whooping crane migration corridor, and the impacts of drought on stopover habitat use are largely unknown. Moreover, decision-based analyses are increasingly advocated to guide recovery planning for endangered species, yet applications remain rare. Using GPS locations from 57 whooping cranes from 2010 through 2016 in the United States Great Plains, we assessed habitat selection and avoidance of potential disturbances during migration relative to drought conditions, and we used these results in an optimization analysis to select potential sites for new wind energy developments that minimize relative habitat loss for whooping cranes and maximize wind energy potential. Drought occurrence and severity varied spatially and temporally across the migration corridor during our study period. Whooping cranes rarely used areas <5 km from human settlements and wind energy infrastructure under both drought and non-drought conditions, and <2 km from power lines during non-drought conditions, with the lowest likelihood of use near wind energy infrastructure. Whooping cranes differed in their selection of wetland and cropland land cover types depending on drought or non-drought conditions. We identified scenarios for wind energy expansion across the migration corridor and in select states, which are robust to uncertain drought conditions, where future loss of highly selected stopover habitats could be minimized under a common strategy. Our approach was to estimate functional habitat loss while integrating current disturbances, potential future disturbances, and uncertainty in drought conditions. Therefore, dynamic models describing potential costs associated with risk-averse behaviors resulting from future developments can inform proactive conservation before population impacts occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes

et al. 2022

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“…Indeed, their selection of stopover locations may in part be influenced by year-to-year changes in wetlands availability (e.g., dependent on precipitation). Furthermore, there is evidence that Whooping Crane flock sizes may be increasing at some stopover locations, outpacing the overall growth of the AWBP, which may be an indicator of limited stopover habitat availability in those areas (Caven et al, 2020). Large aggregations of Whooping Cranes may increase the risk of catastrophic loss, e.g., from disease or adverse weather events (Caven et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, there is evidence that Whooping Crane flock sizes may be increasing at some stopover locations, outpacing the overall growth of the AWBP, which may be an indicator of limited stopover habitat availability in those areas (Caven et al, 2020). Large aggregations of Whooping Cranes may increase the risk of catastrophic loss, e.g., from disease or adverse weather events (Caven et al, 2020). For these reasons, Friends of the Wild Whoopers (FOTWW), a 501(c)(3) organization, emphasizes that numerous other smaller stopover sites are also essential to ensure diverse opportunities for potential stopover use along the migration corridor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying, Protecting and Managing Stopover Habitats for Wild Whooping Cranes on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lakes

McConnell¹

2021

Preprint

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The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is one of North America’s most endangered species. There is only one wild, self-sustaining migratory population of Whooping Cranes, the Aransas–Wood Buffalo population (AWBP). The birds of the AWBP migrate 4,000 km twice each year between their nesting grounds in northern Canada and their wintering grounds on the Texas Gulf Coast. During migration, AWBP Whooping Cranes must land at suitable ponds or wetlands to forage, rest or roost. The Whooping Crane Recovery Plan, developed by federal wildlife agencies in Canada and the USA, calls for the protection and management of Whooping Crane stopover locations within the migration corridor. Although major stopover areas have been protected, many other smaller sites remain to be identified. However, the Recovery Plan offers no specific entity to identify, protect and manage the latter. To address these deficiencies in information and activity, Friends of the Wild Whoopers partnered with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) within the AWBP migration corridor to share information about Whooping Cranes and their habitat needs and identify potential stopover locations on USACE properties that could be protected and managed for cranes. This partnership identified 624 potential stopover sites on 34 USACE lakes, principally in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, with commitments to manage the habitats as resources allow.

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“…Once on the precipice of extinction, the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of Whooping Cranes ( Grus americana ) have rebounded to an estimated population of just over 540 individuals in 2022 (USFWS 2022). Historically, Whooping Cranes traveled in small family-based groups, occasionally more, but recent research has noted much larger groups at stopover sites between the Aransas National Wildlife Area in southern Texas and Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada (Caven et al . 2020, Silcock and Jorgensen 2021).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…2020, Silcock and Jorgensen 2021). In addition to population increases, Caven et al (2020) observed larger groups of whooping cranes roosting in locations where high-quality wetland sites were relatively limited and also noted that larger groups were apparently more likely to form near the center of the migration corridor where stopovers are more common, potentially as a result of conspecific attraction.…”

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confidence: 99%

Record-Sized Flock of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) Observed Staging in the Central Platte River Valley During Autumn 2021

Baasch,

Rabbe,

Medaries

et al. 2023

Waterbirds

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Increases in population size and reductions in suitable migration stopover habitat associated with drought, water development, and agricultural practices, along with conspecific attraction, are hypothesized mechanisms for increasing flock sizes of migrating Whooping Cranes. During autumn 2021, we observed such a phenomenon during a period of drought in the central Great Plains when 46 Whooping Cranes gathered as a single flock in the central Platte River valley. We provide a detailed account of how this larger aggregation formed from 5 smaller groups, behavioral observations, and environmental conditions experienced during this event including river flow, ambient temperature, and wind and drought conditions. Here, we report considerations for environmental and hydrologic conditions preceding and during this event as well as use patterns and behaviors we observed while the largest single flock of Whooping Cranes ever documented in the United States portion of the migration corridor was in the central Platte River valley.

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Trends in the occurrence of large Whooping Crane groups during migration in the great plains, USA

Cited by 5 publications

References 45 publications

Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes

Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes

Identifying, Protecting and Managing Stopover Habitats for Wild Whooping Cranes on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lakes

Record-Sized Flock of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) Observed Staging in the Central Platte River Valley During Autumn 2021

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