STATE OF WASHINGTON June 2002 SandhillSandhill CraneCrane RecoveryRecovery PlanPlan by Carroll D. Littlefield and Gary L. Ivey Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE Wildlife Program Wildlife Diversity Division WDFW 735 Washington State Recovery Plan for the Sandhill Crane Prepared by: Carroll D. Littlefield, P.O. Box 44, Rodeo, NM 88056 Gary L. Ivey, P.O. Box 6953, Bend, OR 97708 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Program 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091 June 2002 Approved: __________________________________________________ __________________________ Director, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Date In 1990, the Washington Wildlife Commission adopted procedures for listing and de-listing species as endangered, threatened, or sensitive and for writing recovery and management plans for listed species (WAC 232-12-297, Appendix A). The procedures, developed by a group of citizens, interest groups, and state and federal agencies, require preparation of recovery plans for species listed as threatened or endangered. Recovery, as defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is “the process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats to its survival are neutralized, so that its long-term survival in nature can be ensured.” This document summarizes the historic and current distribution and abundance of sandhill cranes in Washington and describes factors affecting the population and its habitat. It prescribes strategies to recover the species, such as protecting the population, evaluating and managing habitat, and initiating research and education programs. Target population objectives and other criteria for reclassification are identified and an implementation schedule is presented. The draft state recovery plan for the sandhill crane was reviewed by researchers and state and federal agencies. This review was followed by a 90-day public comment period. All comments received were considered in preparation of this the final recovery plan. For additional information about sandhill cranes or other state listed species, contact: Endangered Species Section Manager Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA 98501-1091 This report should be cited as: Littlefield, C. D., and G. L. Ivey. 2002. Washington State Recovery Plan for the Sandhill Crane. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 71 pages. Cover design and illustration by Darrell Pruett. Crane photo courtesy of Northwest Trek TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .............................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................... vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................... vii PART ONE: BACKGROUND ..................................................1 TAXONOMY ................................................................1 DESCRIPTION...............................................................1 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION..............................................2 North America..........................................................2 Washington ............................................................4 NATURAL HISTORY .........................................................6 Reproduction ...........................................................6 Chronology .......................................................6 Pair bonding ......................................................6 Territories........................................................6 Nest building, eggs, and incubation....................................6 Brood rearing and fledging ..........................................7 Nesting success and recruitment ......................................7 Longevity and Mortality ...................................................7 Chick mortality ...................................................7 Adult predation ...................................................8 Powerline collisions ................................................8 Fences ..........................................................9 Disease..........................................................9 Illegal shooting....................................................9 Other factors......................................................9 Migration and Dispersal...................................................9 Spring migration ..................................................9 Autumn migration ................................................10 Winter .........................................................10 Foraging and Food......................................................12 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ..................................................13 Breeding..............................................................13 Territories.......................................................13 Nesting habitat...................................................13 June 2002ii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Nest vegetation...................................................14 Water depths at nest sites...........................................14 Roost sites ......................................................14 Wintering and Staging Areas..............................................14 Foraging habitats.................................................14 Night roosts and loafing areas.......................................15 POPULATION STATUS ......................................................15 Past..................................................................15 North America...................................................15 Washington .....................................................16 Other Central Valley Population range ................................17 Present...............................................................18 North America...................................................18 Washington .....................................................18 Other Central Valley Population range ................................20 HABITAT STATUS ..........................................................20 Breeding Habitat .......................................................20 Staging and Wintering Habitat.............................................21 Lower Columbia bottomlands.......................................21 Eastern Washington...............................................22 Other Central Valley Population Range ......................................22 Breeding habitat..................................................22 Staging and wintering habitat .......................................22 CONSERVATION STATUS ...................................................22 Washington ...........................................................22 Other Central Valley Population Range ......................................23 Oregon.........................................................23 California.......................................................23 Nevada.........................................................23 British Columbia .................................................23 FACTORS AFFECTING CONTINUED EXISTENCE ...............................23 Breeding Areas.........................................................23 Predation .......................................................23 Grazing and haying ...............................................24 Water availability .................................................24 Habitat loss......................................................24 Staging and Wintering Areas..............................................24 Habitat loss......................................................24 Changes in farming practices........................................25 Waterfowl enhancement and mitigation practices ........................25 June 2002iii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Human disturbance ...............................................25 CONCLUSION ..............................................................25 PART TWO: RECOVERY ....................................................27 RECOVERY GOAL ..........................................................27 RECOVERY OBJECTIVES....................................................27 Rationale .............................................................28 RECOVERY STRATEGIES AND TASKS ........................................29 REFERENCES CITED........................................................42 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE ..............................................48 Appendix A. Washington Administration Code 232-12-297 ...........................52 Appendix B. Migrant sandhill cranes counted in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Sauvie Island area, 1991-2001 .............................................56 Appendix C. Sandhill cranes counted during aerial surveys on lower Columbia bottomlands, 1994-2000. ............................................................57 Appendix D. Sandhill crane records for eastern Washington in migration, 1955-2001 .......58 Appendix E. Sandhill crane records for western Washington ...........................66 Appendix F. Responses to written public comments received on the Draft Recovery Plan ....69 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1. Anatomical dimensions (mm) of greater, Canadian, and lesser sandhill crane subspecies ......................................................................3 Table 2. Recent breeding-season sightings of greater sandhill cranes in Washington