University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies Nebraska Academy of Sciences 1977 Sandhill Crane Dancing During The Spring Migration James R. Gray Kearney State College Thomas F. Sweeney Saint Louis University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas Gray, James R. and Sweeney, Thomas F., "Sandhill Crane Dancing During The Spring Migration" (1977). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 447. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/447 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. SANDHILL CRANE DANCING DURING THE SPRING MIGRATION JAMES R. GRAY Kearney State Col/ege, Kearney, Nebraska 68847 Present address: Columbus Middle School Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 and THOMAS F. SWEENEY Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63108 The role, intensity, and frequency of Lesser Sandhill Crane McNulty, 1966; and Walkinshaw, 1949). Thus, 5 functions (Crus canadensis) dances were interpreted from observations of 1,167 have been proposed as roles of crane dancing. dance sequences from March 6, 1975, to April 15,1975. The observa­ tions were from 27 sites in Kearney and Hall Counties, Nebraska. In this study, research was conducted to determine the Nineteen variables, selected as possible determinants of dance frequency (dances/minute of observation), intensity (time frequency (dances/minute), were recorded on field observation forms duration of individual dance sequences), and the role of this along with a description of each dance and the approximate dUIlltion. behavior during the spring migration of Sandhill Cranes through central Nebraska. The 19 variables were regressed against the dance frequency of the total dances as well as 6 subgroups-courtship display, emotion or tension-release, aggression-related activity, pre-flight and pre-walk MATERIALS AND METHOD communication, and response to possible danger. Primary factors selected as influencing the dance frequencies of all the dances collect­ The dancing behavior of Sandhill Cranes was observed ively included: relative density, distance to the nearest road, date, time, for two periods during the spring migration: March 6, 1975- flock size, circular flock shape, and grazing in corn stubble. Primary predictors were also selected for each of the 6 dance types. March 18, 1975, and March 31, 1975-April 15, 1975. listed in Table I are the dates of field observations, the length of The intensity (duration) of each dance was recorded. As the time spent at each site, the total number of dances recorded migratory season progressed, the dance frequency increased, whereas, per site, and the dance frequency for each of the 27 sites. the intensity decreased. This was primarily due to an increase in ten­ sion-release and aggression-related dances of which nearly 97% lasted less than 30 seconds. In Kearney County, Nebraska, the study was bordered on the west by Nebraska Highway 44; on the south by a t t t county road 1 mile south and running parallel to Nebraska link 50A connecting Nebraska Highways 10 and 44; on the INTRODUCTION east by a county road 2 miles east and running parallel to Nebraska Highway 10; and on the north by the Platte River. Heineman (1954) wrote that the dance display of the In Hall County, all observations were within a I-mile radius lesser Sandhill Crane was a "sight to behold" and a "joy for of the intersection of Nebraska Highway link 40C and Platte nature lovers." Several investigators felt that this avian phe­ River Drive, with two exceptions-one observation on Shoe­ nomenon was more than a pleasure for bird watchers, so they maker Island and another approximately 1 mile south of the devised studies to determine the value of the behavior to the south channel of the Platte River and .3 miles west of Nebras­ cranes. ka Highway 281. Fey (1965) and Schaffer (1968) referred to the dance Approximately one hour was spent at each site (X = as a curious courtship display; however, many investigators 58.15 minutes/site). Observations were recorded on tape and have reported this to be only part of the value. Functions also later transcribed onto a form devised for the study which pro­ ascribed to the dances were: aggressive maintenance of an vided space for recording individual bird behavior during and individual territory (Farrar, 1975; Keith, 1962; and Walkin­ following a dance. Included in this section were the actions shaw, 1949); pre-flight communication (Walkinshaw, 1949); of the dancers and responses of surrounding birds, plus an response to a possible danger (Keith, 1962); an emotional approximate duration of each dance sequence, i.e., a = 1 to 30 outlet or tension-release activity (Farrar, 1975; Keith, 1962; seconds, b = 30 to 60 seconds and c = more than 60 seconds. 57 Table I: DESCRIPI10N OF DANCES Date, Duration, Number of Dances and Dance Frequency Bird A flapped and jumped twice and then ran around For the 27 Observation ~tes Bird B with small steps. Bird A then threw sticks into the air. Birds A and B then alternated jumps; A stopped jumping, Time at Total but B jumped one more time. Both birds bobbed their heads, Date of Site Number of Dance alternating the bobs with sigmoid neck postures. Bird A Observation (minutes) Dances Frequency "craned" its neck and appeared to sing for about 10 seconds. Both birds returned to grazing. The dance sequence lasted March 6, 1975 20 1 .0500 longer than 30 seconds, but less than 60. [A f + j 2x, A small March 6, 1975 80 11 . 1375 steps B, A sticks. AB alt. j, B j. AB alt. bob and sigmoid . A sing 10 secs. (b)] . March 8, 1975 56 28 .0500 March 8, 1975 30 2 .0667 Bird A flapped twice, then it flapped and jumped into March 8, 1975 29 5 .1724 the air. After a pause of 10 seconds, it flapped and jumped twice, running to a point about 15' outside of the flock. March 11, 1975 81 73 .9012 It jumped one more time and then returned to grazing. The March 11, 1975 45 26 .5778 dance sequence lasted between 30 and 60 seconds. [A f 2x, March 13, 1975 40 25 .6250 A f+ j, 10 secs., A f + j 2x, flock ~ 10'. j. (b)]. March 13, 1975 49 35 .7143 Bird A pecked at Bird B; the latter flapped andjumped March 15, 1975 32 1 .0312 into the air and then ran about 10' from Bird A. The sequence March 15, 1975 25 7 .2800 lasted less than 30 seconds. [A -+ B, B f+ j, B -+ 10'. (a)]. March 18, 1975 30 7 .2333 Bird A flapped and jumped into the air three times. March 18, 1975 60 36 .6000 Mter a pause of 5 seconds, Bird A and 4 other birds flew March 31,1975 51 45 .8824 from the flock and out of the sight of the observer. The dance sequence lasted less than 30 seconds. [A f + j 3x, 5 secs., March 31, 1975 40 9 .2250 A +4 fly. (a)] . March 31,1975 61 42 .6885 March 31,1975 138 289 2.0942 Bird A flapped and jumped. Immediately Bird A and 35 birds walked 35' to the west of the flock and began grazing. April 1, 1975 60 18 .3000 The sequence lasted longer than 60 seconds. [A f + j, A + 35 April 1, 1975 72 93 1.2917 walk -+ 35' w. (c)]. April 1, 1975 40 4 .1000 As the observer's car approached, all birds within 100 April 3, 1975 120 62 .5166 yards of the road flew away; 15 birds remained flapping and April 5, 1975 86 158 1.8372 jumping for more than 30 seconds. [Car, all ( 100 yards fly, April 6, 1975 40 70 1.7500 15 f+ j 30 secs. (b)]. April 8, 1975 42 30 .7142 Supplementary recording sheets were used to record April 8, 1975 60 11 .1833 only the individual dancing section. A change in the first April 12, 1975 123 75 .6098 section required using Parts I and n, e.g. abrupt wind changes" commencement of precipitation, or large additions to the April 15, 1975 60 4 .0667 flock. 1570 1167 .7668 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The dance frequency at each of the 27 sites was deter­ mined by dividing the total number of dances by the time The following is a hypothetical Part n of the recording form spent at each site. The word "dance" was used to describe a indicating the 6 dance types that the author determined were particular action of the Sandhill Cranes, specifically the act roles of crane dancing: emotional outlet, aggreSSion-related of leaping into the air and flapping the wings. This definition activity, courtship display, response to possible danger, pre­ was the same as that used by Keith (1962) when describing flight and pre-walk communication. The dances are recorded a similar activity of the Japanese Crane (Grus japonensis). in a long form and on an abbreviated form adopted by the In the preceding section, the dances were referred to as "f + j" author as the study progressed. in the author's notation. By Keith's defmition, each "f + j" 58 was actually a dance, such that if 6 cranes flapped and jumped, 14. wind speed: 0 = 4 mi/hr to 11 = 15 mi/hr. then 6 dances occurred. However, in this study, each indi­ vidual bird was not counted, but rather the entire dance se­ 15.