Whooping Crane Nesting Summary 2008

Whooping Crane

Eastern Flock Whooping Crane Pairs
Spring 2008 Nesting Report

2008 Summary: Eleven pairs nested; no successful nests.

PAIR ESTIMATED DATE INCUBATION BEGAN NEST STATUS

#211 and #217 April 7 Abandoned May 6. Two eggs collected

#213 and #218
April 8 Abandoned May 6. 1 egg collected

#403 and #309 April 8 or 9 Failed May 3.

#318 and #313 April 13 Failed May 6. Two eggs collected.

#317 and #303 April 9 or 10 Failed by May 5.

#212 and #419 Unknown (in Wood County) Failed by May 5. One egg collected (infertile)

#408 and #519 April 23 Failed by May 5

#311 and #312 April 15-17 Failed by May 5. 1 egg collected (non-viable)

#401 and 508 April 16 Failed by May 1

#416 and #209 Before April 14 Failed by Apr. 30

#505 and #415 Before April 14 Failed by Apr. 30

Journal Questions

Why did so many pairs abandon their nests? Dr. Richard Urbanek of ICF) suggests that the warm weather triggered an outbreak of black flies that were so thick they may have bothered the birds so badly that they abandon their nests to get away. (The Tracking Team did notice the birds were bothered by the balck flies.) What other reasons might explain why the birds abandoned their nests?


Richard Urbanek took this photo showing the abandoned eggs covered in black flies.

If it takes 30 days to incubate the eggs, at what date would each pair's first egg Have hatched?
Which of the pairs have incubated in previous years? Which have deserted their nests before?
What contributions have Pair 213 and 218 (click on links) made to the population of the new Eastern flock? (On their pages, scroll down to read Spring 2006 and Spring 2007 history.)
What unique contributions have Pair 211 and 217 made to the population of the new Eastern flock?