Greetings all!
The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS
biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator.
Where applicable, CWS stands for Canadian Wildlife Service; USFWS is US Fish and
Wildlife Service. Crane monitoring involves cooperative efforts and support by
both countries, plus many volunteers and non-profit organizations along the way.
Anyone wanting to contact Tom about the report or the whooping crane projects
can reach him via email at: tom_stehn@fws.gov. Other information, including
archived copies of these reports, can be found at the Texas Whooping Crane web
site at http://www.ccbirding.com/
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October 20, 2004
An aerial census on October 20, 2004 of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and
surrounding areas estimated the number of whooping cranes present at 16 adults +
0 young = 16.
Recap of cranes observed: (16)
adults + young
Refuge 2 + 0
Lamar -
San Jose 10 + 0
Matagorda 2 + 0
Welder Flats 2 + 0
Total 16 + 0 = 16
Remarks:
Weather: Flight conditions were very good with sunshine and moderate southeast
winds. The southeast winds and near record high temperatures in the lower 90's
make it unlikely that any additional cranes will complete the migration until
the current weather pattern changes. The next major front is forecast to reach
the Texas coast on October 30th.
Cranes Present: The number of cranes estimated present at Aransas is 16. All
cranes sighted were in groups of two, and none were color-banded. The first 2
cranes to arrive were sighted on San Jose Island on October 12th. The following
morning, 2 additional cranes were sighted on Lamar Peninsula and apparently flew
on to the refuge later that day. A cold front with strong northwest winds
crossed the Texas coast on October 14th, presumably bringing more cranes.
Habitat Use at Aransas: About half of the cranes at Aransas were in high marsh
habitat, presumably feeding on wolfberries. Tides were measured at 2.4 mlt on
March 19th. All of the flats on San Jose were covered with water, indicating the
marshes are still full and the drop of tides only recent. Salinities in both
marsh and bay were at 15 ppt last week. Crabs are thought to be abundant in the
marshes, but I was unable to complete a crab count on October 13th due to an
encounter with an alligator that resulted in 25 stitches in my leg. I think I
was hit by the claw of the gator as it moved out of the way along a narrow bayou
in the salt marsh. During today's crane census flight, I had my leg propped up
and it is
healing nicely.
Migration sightings: Whooping cranes have been sighted in the U.S. from North
Dakota to Oklahoma, including a group of 8 at Salt Plains NWR in Oklahoma on
October 17th. Numerous migration sightings have been made in Saskatchewan this
fall, including multiple families. Two sets of twins were reported, including 1
adult with 2 chicks indicating that mortality of one parent had occurred. A
second instance of mortality was noted when a family consisting of 1 adult and 1
chick was reported. A notably large
group of 17 was at Muskiki Lake October 8-13. Saskatchewan had considerable snow
October 16-18th, with 25 cm falling in Saskatoon.
Tom Stehn
Whooping Crane Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Aransas NWR
P.O. Box 100
Austwell, TX 77950
(361) 286-3559 Ext. 221
fax (361) 286-3722
E:mail: tom_stehn@fws.gov
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Patty Waits Beasley
Corpus Christi, TX
email: patty@ccbirding.com
web:
http://www.ccbirding.com/