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Reproductive manipulation in the Whooping Crane Grus americana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

E. Kuyt
Affiliation:
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, 4.999 - 98 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3, Canada. Current address: 3810–103 B. Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6J 2X9, Canada
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Summary

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Whooping Cranes Grus americana increased from 16 wild migratory birds in 1941 to about 146 birds in 1991. Management on the breeding range in Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories-Alberta, and protection of the birds along their migration route and on the winter range in Texas, are partly responsible for the population increase. The present Wood Buffalo National Park-Aransas National Wildlife Refuge flock consists of almost 50% non-breeders, mostly subadults. Further increases in the number of breeding pairs beyond the 1991 record of 33 can therefore be expected. The wild population has been a source of surplus eggs, whose removal has not adversely affected population growth. These eggs have been used to establish captive flocks, and captive-reared stock will be used to establish other populations. Attempts to establish a new migratory flock in Idaho by means of cross-fostering Whooping Crane eggs to Sandhill Cranes Grus canadensis have not been completely successful. Present plans call for the establishment of a non-migratory flock in Florida.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1996

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