Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting Update, 8-9 April 2003

Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting Update, 23 April 2003 – Conboy Lake NWR

1. Laurel: single bird in territory on 20 April; assumed incubation in progress 2. Chapman Creek (white/blue): pair incubating 20 April on refuge, NW of Chapman Creek in-line WCS 3. Cold Springs: pair incubating 23 April; north of Cold Springs Ditch behind conifer stand 4. Aspen Grove: no sightings 5. Willard #1: assumed incubation; single in territory since 8 April 6. Willard #2: assumed incubation; single in territory on 20 April 7. C&H: assumed incubation; single in territory since 9 April, nesting behavior on 23 April 8. Frazier Meadow (red/green): pair incubating since 8 April in Frazier Meadow but both off-nest on 20 and 23 April 9. Dean Meadow: pair incubating since 8 April; nest in Deans Meadow area 10. Conboy Lake #1: pair in territory 8 April around Conboy Lake but not since 11. Conboy Lake #2 (male-green/red, female-blue/red): new pair in territory since 13 March; not nesting as of 23 April 12. Myers: assumed incubation; single in territory on 20 April 13. Arena: assumed incubation; single in territory on 20 April 14. North Oxbow: assumed incubation; single in territory on 20 April 15. Ziegler: assumed incubation; single in Bird Creek-NE on 23 April 16. Non-affiliated pair: (Black/White-left leg): pair wandering on 23 April, no territory affiliation 17. Non-affiliated pair: (White/Black-right leg): pair wandering on 23 April, no territory affiliation; white band slipped below knee and at ankle 18. Troh: pair not confirmed this season 19. Kelley: pair observed on 14 March; no surveys since that date

Subadults

1 subadult from 2002 Dean Meadow nest observed there on 8 April 1 subadult from 2002 Willard nest not observed since 12 March 3 non-territorial adults in flock with 2 above subadults and 2 non-affiliated pairs

Color-bands not accounted for this season

Green/Blue Green/Black

Off-Refuge

1. Pair (Female white/red) at Camas Prairie, Mt Hood NF nesting meadow ~ 6 April 2. 1 unbanded bird (with behavioral cues) at Panakanic suggesting nest incubation in progress

Cranes23Apr03.doc