Basic info about the species-

Common name- Whooping Crane

Scientific name- Grus Americana
Taxonomy group- Birds
Last COSEWIC assessment- April 2010
Last Designation- Endangered
Sara Status- Schedule 1, Endangered

Whooping crane description-

The whooping crane, with the scientific terminology as the Grus Americana is the tallest bird in the North
Americas, and has adapted its name from the whooping sounds the creatures create. The cries of the
species are known to be shockingly loud and can be expressed upon as a “guard call”. It also one of the
only two crane species habited in North America, another being the sandhill crane. The average height of
the birds ranges between 4.9-5ft and can weigh about 7-8kg. Characteristics of adult whooping cranes
consist of their white colored body with a red crown and a long-pointed bill along with red, black, and
grey color markings covering the face. The adult birds also have black wing tips; these are only reliable
when the wings are outstretched. Immature birds consist of a combination of grey-white type body shade
and shortfall facial marks. The species are known to fully extend their legs and neck when in flight.
Population-
The whooping crane species had inhabited a very wide breeding range, stretching across great lands
among the central and northern prairies of North America, which was then lost in the early 1900’s due to
settlement. Currently, the population ranges “within Canada in Wood Buffalo National Park”- which
continues to spread between the provinces of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Per historical
determined knowledge, the whooping cranes were never a common species, as their population never
exceeded the like of fifteen-hundred individual members. The populations were at a great verge of
extinction amongst the years of 1941-50, with the numbers being at an all-time low of 16-21 existing
birds. Conservation efforts later helped the population increase and in 1993 it had been determined that
there were 260 existing birds and 183 of them living in the conservation park mentioned above,
increasing at a 3.7% rate every year. The population has been growing steadily ever since, per the U.S
fish and wildlife service, the whooping crane population today is to be at 603 birds in existence, still a
very low number in my opinion.
Habitat and Niche-
During its breeding season, the species habit bogs, marshes, and shallow lakes which have been separated
by small narrow ridges, these mainly existing within the conservation parks. The trees in the area mainly
consist of black and white spruce, Tamarack, and other willow trees. There has however been a great
number of loss in their personal habitat since the 1900’s, another factor adding on to the population
decrease. When migrating time approaches, the whooping cranes stop along the way to feed in different
wetlands and croplands, as their winter habitat consists of estuarine marshes and salt flats in southern
areas. The whooping cranes don’t play a significant role within any food chain due to their low counts,
however-the omnivores tend to eat berries, small fish, insects, crayfish, clams and snails during summer
times and crustaceans, blue crab and algae pants during their Texas visit in the winter. The species are
predatory to the American black bear, gray fox, and mountain lion, but the American bobcat has proved
as their greatest enemy, killing many of the cranes over the years. Overall, the whooping crane has a very
subtle role in its niche and has a regular bird defying habitat range.
Threats to the population-
The population of the whooping crane had been at all-time highs in the 1800’s at about 15 000-20 000
cranes spreading throughout North America. Per the FHWC, whooping crane habitat was lost to
agriculture and drainage during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and humans hunted the birds
to collect all their eggs all of which contributed to population decline. Now that numbers have begun to
spark again, new threats of habitat degradation and breeding ground loss is contributing to convolutions
within the population.
Past issues-
Whilst the whooping crane population had been rising at great paces in the 1800’s, the industrial
revolution and greater development within the southern prairies contributed to a great amount of habitat
loss, as the crane population had usually been very scarce from human interaction. The loss of wetlands
led to a decrease in habitable space and less plants available to consume, later nearing humans had begun
to hunt the species down for leisure and collect their eggs. Vast diseases leading to the egg breaking very
easily also contributed towards its population decline. No change was made until 1941 when numbers
reached an all-time low of 26. Laws constricting crane hunting and government actions along the side had
helped to put the crane population back in shape.
Current issues-
With wild life conversation areas primarily helping the whooping crane population, new issues have
sprung up affecting the winter habitat of the whooping crane. Some factors include the contamination of
water and accidental spills. Oil spilling into oceans could prove toxic to the cranes when consuming
oceanic foods. More habitats in the Texas area is also starting to disappear due to more housing
construction projects and new oil grounds. Although minor issues come and go causing little conundrums,
the whooping crane population has remained to be at stable rising rates. Wild diseases like the bursal
disease spreading through Texas are also keeping ecologists on the tip of their toes to monitor the
migration routes of the flocks throughout several years.
Federal and Provincial Protection-
Many laws have been passed to help protect the species from extinction. Per the Canadian government
website, “the whooping crane is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA)”. The crane
species are protected under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. This act makes it prohibited to
kill, harm or collect adults, immatures, and eggs correlated with the whooping crane species. It is also
provincially protected under the Saskatchewan and Alberta Wildlife Acts and the Manitoba Endangered
Species Act.
Conservation efforts-
Like mentioned in the previous statements, several laws prohibiting any harm towards the whooping
crane species had helped bring back some of its population. Under private SARA orders, dozens of
whooping cranes had also been placed at the Buffalo Wildlife conservation area to help increase
population, where in 2004 in had been found that 66 chicks had hatched from 54 nests. The continuing
process of hatching new eggs and keeping the species in protected areas help the crane population reach
numbers scarce from 100 years, numbering 216 individuals at the Buffalo park. Countless breeding
centers have also opened throughout Canada, including Calgary, N.W.T and Wisconsin. Per the SARA
website; “The Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories opened a new exhibit
prominently displaying the Whooping Crane named CANUS. CANUS was the name given to the most
prolific Whooping Crane ever. CANUS and his offspring have sired approximately 186 chicks in his 38-
years in captivity at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center”. With more breeding helping the numbers go
up, it seems like the population of the whooping crane may return to how it was in the 1800’s in a few
decades.

Recovery Progress and Activities

Summary of Progress to Date The recovery of the Whooping Crane is a cooperative effort
between Canada and the United States. The naturally occurring population in Wood Buffalo
National Park (WBNP) continues to prosper. In 2004, a record 66 chicks hatched from 54
nests, including 20 sets of twins. From these, a record 40 chicks fledged in mid-August,
including 5 sets of twins. The excellent production resulted in the WBNP population numbering
a record 216 individuals, a population size that they have not been at in over 100 years. As
well, several reintroduced flocks of Whooping Cranes exist. A non-migratory wild flock was
established in 1993 in Florida, and the eastern migratory flock was formed in 2001 and
migrates between Wisconsin and Florida. No individuals remain from the first flock established
in 1975 in south-eastern Idaho, wintering in the middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico.
Summary of Research/Monitoring Activities the Whooping Crane is one of the most well
studied species at risk in Canada. Breeding ground surveys in the northern part of WBNP have
been conducted annually since 1964. These surveys have been used to gather important
ecological information such as the number of breeding pairs, and hatching and fledging
success. The cranes? migration route to their wintering grounds in and around the Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge in Texas has also been monitored since 1975 to identify the flight
path and locate important staging areas. The health of wild and captive flocks is monitored for
West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus. Research
efforts have been quite varied for the Whooping Crane. From 1996-1999, researchers at
WBNP investigated Whooping Crane diet and causes of chick mortality. This project identified
food resources available to the cranes on their breeding territories and used radio
transmitters and observations to determine the age and cause of death for chicks lost during
the breeding season. Other research involves identifying and describing crane breeding
habitat, mapping it in a Geographical Information System (GIS), and comparing the extent
and suitability of this habitat to similar but currently unoccupied habitat. This mapping, in
conjunction with ongoing population viability analysis, is being used to identify critical habitat
for the Whooping Crane in Canada. Summary of Recovery Activities Captive breeding and
reintroduction has played an important role in the recovery of the Whooping Crane. A captive
breeding center has been in operation at the Calgary Zoo since 1993, and in its first 11 years
of operation it produced 20 offspring for release into the wild and for the maintenance of the
captive breeding flock. Two additional captive breeding facilities, the International Crane
Foundation, and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Centre, are in Wisconsin and Maryland
respectively. The Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories opened a new
exhibit prominently displaying the Whooping Crane named CANUS. CANUS was the name
given to the most prolific Whooping Crane ever. CANUS and his offspring have sired
approximately 186 chicks in his 38-years in captivity at the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center. Other recovery activities include an ongoing public awareness program in
Saskatchewan. URLs
http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/endspecies/whooping/db01s03.en.htmlhttp://www.bringback
thecranes.org/crane-
info/recv2004a.htmhttp://www.operationmigration.org/http://endangered.fws.gov/canada/cr
ane.htmhttp://www.whoopingcrane.com