Migration Chronology Distribution of Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes (RWO 86 Annual Report, 2013)

Abstract

The Eastern Population (EP) of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) is rapidly expanding in size and geographic range. The core of their breeding range occurs in Wisconsin, Michigan, and southern Ontario; however, the EP range has expanded in all directions as the population has grown. Little is known about the geographic extent of breeding, migration, and wintering ranges of EP cranes, or migration chronology and use of staging areas. In December of 2009, we began trapping and attaching solar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTTs) on EP sandhill cranes to assess movements throughout the year. We continued trapping throughout the spring and fall of 2010, the winter of 2010-2011, the fall of 2011 and winter of 2011-2012. To date, we have rocket-net trapped and attached PTTs (n = 33) to cranes in Indiana: Goose Ponds Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA), Greene County and Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Jasper and Pulaski Counties; Minnesota: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Sherburne County; Tennessee: Hiawassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs County and Hop-In Wildlife Refuge, Obion County; and Wisconsin: Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Burnett County. Location data for these birds are currently being received from Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) America Inc., MD, translated by software developed by NorthStar Science and Technology LLC, MD, and viewed using Environment System Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS software. Data are currently being analyzed, with a target of spring 2014 to provide a final project report