Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Whooping cranes making their winter appearance
 |
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas are home to a total of 156 whooping cranes, which includes 132 adults and 24 chicks.
The whoopers were spotted in an aerial census Wednesday, Nov. 8. The birds were found as follows:
ANWR - 49 adults and seven chicks.
Lamar - Two adults and one chick.
San Jose Island - 26 adults and four chicks.
Matagorda Island - 42 adults and 10 chicks.
Welder Flats 13 adults and two chicks.
Tom Stehn, whooping crane coordinator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), said nearly all whooping crane areas were covered during the aerial survey.
The flight was delayed by early morning fog before clear skies and light winds predominated.
He said the total of 156 cranes present is an increase over the 89 adults and 19 juveniles, a total of 108 cranes, present since the last flight Nov. 1.
The cranes are believed to have arrived with favorable migration conditions at Aransas Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 7.
In most years, a majority of the whooping crane flock arrives at Aransas approximately Nov. 4-7, so this year showed a similar pattern.
Sightings compiled by the USFWS endangered species office in Nebraska indicate starting in November, nearly all whooping cranes reported were at least as far south as the Platte River in central Nebraska, although a single bird may have been in west central Minnesota on Nov. 4. Recent sighting reports in the migration corridor indicate the rest of the flock is currently most likely spread between Kansas and points further south.
Present on Wednesday’s flight were two sets of twins (an adult pair with two chicks). This ties the winter with the most sets of twins which have arrived at Aransas since the collection of second eggs on the nesting grounds ended in 1996.
A family with twin chicks is currently at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge in northern Kansas.
Color bands were identified on seven cranes at Aransas. The single adult family last week on Matagorda Island was grouped as two adults close together with the chick, a probable indication re-pairing has occurred. Three cranes found on Aransas who over-summered were still together located on the refuge between Sundown and Dunham bays.
On Wednesday’s flight, eight cranes were sighted at fresh water sources and three were on a recent prescribed burn. Tides had increased since the previous week, with no cranes observed in open bays.
The whoopers were spotted in an aerial census Wednesday, Nov. 8. The birds were found as follows:
ANWR - 49 adults and seven chicks.
Lamar - Two adults and one chick.
San Jose Island - 26 adults and four chicks.
Matagorda Island - 42 adults and 10 chicks.
Welder Flats 13 adults and two chicks.
Tom Stehn, whooping crane coordinator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), said nearly all whooping crane areas were covered during the aerial survey.
The flight was delayed by early morning fog before clear skies and light winds predominated.
He said the total of 156 cranes present is an increase over the 89 adults and 19 juveniles, a total of 108 cranes, present since the last flight Nov. 1.
The cranes are believed to have arrived with favorable migration conditions at Aransas Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 7.
In most years, a majority of the whooping crane flock arrives at Aransas approximately Nov. 4-7, so this year showed a similar pattern.
Sightings compiled by the USFWS endangered species office in Nebraska indicate starting in November, nearly all whooping cranes reported were at least as far south as the Platte River in central Nebraska, although a single bird may have been in west central Minnesota on Nov. 4. Recent sighting reports in the migration corridor indicate the rest of the flock is currently most likely spread between Kansas and points further south.
Present on Wednesday’s flight were two sets of twins (an adult pair with two chicks). This ties the winter with the most sets of twins which have arrived at Aransas since the collection of second eggs on the nesting grounds ended in 1996.
A family with twin chicks is currently at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge in northern Kansas.
Color bands were identified on seven cranes at Aransas. The single adult family last week on Matagorda Island was grouped as two adults close together with the chick, a probable indication re-pairing has occurred. Three cranes found on Aransas who over-summered were still together located on the refuge between Sundown and Dunham bays.
On Wednesday’s flight, eight cranes were sighted at fresh water sources and three were on a recent prescribed burn. Tides had increased since the previous week, with no cranes observed in open bays.
 |
||
| Annexation decision nears, Mayor suggests dropping two of four areas |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
cheri palmer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 10:38 PM: