Journey North Whooping Crane Migration

Whooping Crane

Eastern Flock Whooping Crane Pairs
Spring 2008 Nesting Report

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

Spring 2008 had more pairs on nests than any other year:
2005: 2 pairs incubated
2006: 5 pairs incubated
2007: 4 pairs incubated

Journal Questions

Why did so many pairs abandon their nests? One theory (proposed by George Archibald, co-founder of ICF) is that the warm weather triggered an outbreak of black flies that were so thick that it may have caused the birds to abandon their nests. What do you think of this theory? (The Tracking Team did notice the birds were bothered by flies. Richard Urbanek took a photo showing the abandoned eggs covered in black flies.) What other reasons might explain the birds abandoning their nests?
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 made to the population of the new Eastern flock? (Hint: Scroll down to read Spring 2006 and Spring 2007 history.)
What contributions have Pair 211 and 217 made to the population of the new Eastern flock?