| Lea
Craig-Moore Reports from Canada:
Today (May 14) I'm off to Wood Buffalo National
Park! Judging by YAY's recent locations in the park, it looks
likes
nesting
has
begun! (YAY is the GPS-banded female of a breeding pair.)
How Many Nests?
We are expecting an average number
of nests this year in and around Wood Buffalo National Park. In
recent
years there have been between 60 and 65 nests. Winter snow cover
was less than normal this year, so we are anticipating a slight
reduction in water levels. Luckily water levels were high at the
end of the season last year so nesting conditions should not be
impacted too much.
Finding and Counting the Nests
Our first aerial survey
of the breeding cranes will take place on May 16th. Weather pending,
we expect it to
take about 20 hours of flying, or 7 flights, to cover all the
whooping crane breeding areas. Last nesting season, after several
adults
died at Aransas, we found several core territories empty in
Wood Buffalo NP. It will be interesting to see if new pairs are
adventuresome
and aggressive enough to take advantage of the available "real
estate" and claim the former territories as their own. By
this time next week we should have our curiosity answered!
| UPDATE
May 30: 74 nests were found during airplane surveys
in and around
Canada’s
Wood Buffalo National Park. Lea noted that only four 2009
territories were without a nest this year. Water conditions
are terrific and all marshes appear to be full. The 74 nests
found beat the previous record of 66 nests (in 2008), and also
last year’s
nest total of 62. What exciting and encouraging
news. Lea said fledging surveys and the new program of banding
some juveniles will begin the first week of August. |
Lea Craig-Moore
Wildlife
Technician | Technicienne de la faune
Environment
Canada | Environnement Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
|
