International Whooping Crane Recovery Plan for a 60-Day Review and Comment Period Ending on March 11, 2005
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service International Recovery Plan Whooping Crane (Grus americana) Third Revision March 2007 DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions believed necessary to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the Environment Canada in Canada and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State or Provincial Agencies, and others. Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official position or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than Environment Canada and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the agencies mentioned only after they have been signed as approved by appropriate personnel and posted on the public registry. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery actions. This International Recovery Plan, while approved by Environment Canada, does not constitute a Recovery Strategy under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA). A separate document derived from this International Recovery Plan and published on Environment Canada's SARA Public Registry will be prepared. LITERATURE CITATION The Literature Citation should read as follows: Canadian Wildlife Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. International recovery plan for the whooping crane. Ottawa: Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 162 pp. In the U.S., copies may be obtained on-line (Species Search, whooping crane): http://www.fws.gov/endangered In Canada, additional copies may be obtained from: Recovery Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service 4th Floor PVM, 351 Joseph Blvd Hull, QC K1A 0H3 Tel: 1-819-953-1410 On-line: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/publications/plans/whocra_e.cfm i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The principal compilers of this document were Brian Johns and Tom Stehn, co-chairmen of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team, along with retired co-chairman Dr. James Lewis. Biologists who provided updated material and reviewed sections of the document include Dr. George Archibald, Doug Bergeson, Mark Bradley, Joe Duff, Dr. David Ellis, Marty Folk, Dr. George Gee, Wally Jobman, Ken Jones, Dwight Knapik, Julie Langenberg VMD, Claire Mirande, Steve Nesbitt, Debbie Nordstrom, Dr. Glenn Olsen, Dr. Mike Putnam, Scott Swengel, Dr. Richard Urbanek, and Earl Wiltse. Wendy Brown, Stuart Leon, and Tracy Melbihess provided agency review of the document for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Dave Duncan and Mary Rothfels for the Canadian Wildlife Service. The 5 Canadian and 5 U.S. members currently serving on the Recovery Team provided overall recovery objectives and strategies. Members in March, 2006, were Dr. George Archibald, Sandie Black DVM, Stuart Macmillan, Anne Riemer, Dr. John French, Brian Johns, Deborah Johnson, Marty Folk, Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, and Tom Stehn. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DISCLAIMER/LITERATURE CITATION ................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES.............................................................................................. vi GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS................................................................................................... viii PREFACE........................................................................................................................................x EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... xi PART I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 SPECIES INFORMATION.............................................................................................................2 Status....................................................................................................................................2 Description...........................................................................................................................2 Life Span..............................................................................................................................3 Mortality – Documented Losses ..........................................................................................3 Breeding Ecology.................................................................................................................5 Migratory Behavior..............................................................................................................7 Winter Ecology....................................................................................................................7 Diet.......................................................................................................................................8 DISTRIBUTION..............................................................................................................................9 Historical Distribution and Numbers...................................................................................9 Current Distribution and Abundance.................................................................................13 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................15 Breeding Habitat................................................................................................................15 Migration Habitat...............................................................................................................17 Wintering Habitat...............................................................................................................18 RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH ..........................................................................................18 THREATS AND REASONS FOR LISTING ...............................................................................20 Human Settlement..............................................................................................................20 Freshwater Inflows.............................................................................................................20 Shooting .............................................................................................................................21 Disturbance ........................................................................................................................22 Disease/Parasites................................................................................................................23 Predation ............................................................................................................................24 Life History........................................................................................................................24 Food Availability/Sibling Aggression ...............................................................................25 Climatic Factors.................................................................................................................25 Loss of Genetic Diversity ..................................................................................................26 Red Tide.............................................................................................................................26 Chemical Spills..................................................................................................................27 Collisions with Power Lines, Fences and Other Structures...............................................28 Collisions with Aircraft......................................................................................................29 Pesticides............................................................................................................................29 CONSERVATION MEASURES ..................................................................................................29 Critical Habitat – United States .........................................................................................31 Wintering Grounds.................................................................................................31 iii Migration – United States......................................................................................31 Potential Critical Habitat – Canada....................................................................................31 Breeding Grounds ..................................................................................................31 Migration – Saskatchewan Staging Area...............................................................32 Summary............................................................................................................................33