National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Final Programmatic Report

1 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Final Programmatic Report Project Name and Number Whooping Crane Reintroduction to the South Eastern US (2008- 0045-003) Recipient organization / Agency: Operation Migration USA Inc. Recipient Contact: Joe Duff Recipient E-Mail: [email protected] Recipient Phone: 905 982 1096 Recipient Web Address: www.operationmigration.org 1) Summary In four or five sentences, provide a brief, cumulative summary of the project. Fourteen Whooping crane chicks were conditioned to follow the ultralight aircraft of Operation Migration. They were led 1255 miles from Wisconsin to Florida. A new route was developed to increase safety for the bird and pilots. New wintering grounds were tested by dividing the flock with seven birds wintering at the traditional area and the remainder at a new site. 2) Introduction Describe the original conservation need and objectives. Only 15 Whooping cranes existed in the 1940’s. That number has increased to over 500 however all of these birds use the same nesting area in northern Canada and wintering grounds in Southern United States. They are threatened by the possibility of chemical spills, avian diseases, habitat loss and drought. Together with the other eight agencies within the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, Operation Migration is attempting to reintroduce a population of Whooping cranes that migrate between nesting grounds in Wisconsin and wintering areas in Florida. This discrete flock will augment the only naturally occurring population and help safeguard the species from extinction. In order to make this reintroduced population self-sustaining it must consist of a minimum of 125 individuals including 25 breeding pairs. Currently there are 84 birds in the Eastern Migratory Population. 3) Methods Describe all activities and method. Give a yearly breakdown if this is a multi-year grant. Early training, Patuxent WRC Whooping crane chicks are aggressive to their siblings until they begin to socialize at 2 to 4 weeks old. This aggression means that they must be housed, handled and trained separately during the early stages. One of the primary training methods used to condition the birds is a circle pen. This enclosure is 0.5 meters tall and 12 meters in diameter. The aircraft is taxied around the outside perimeter, while the chick is encouraged to follow from within. The low fence protects the chick from impact with the aircraft. Each training session takes 30 minutes and each chick must be trained daily. There are only so many birds produced each year by the captive flock. Natural attrition limits that number further. Each year we must prepare to accommodate as many birds as we can however the rigors of early development often restrict that number to 15 to 20 birds. In order to produce 24 birds we must begin with 30 or more hatchlings. Rearing and conditioning 30 chicks including daily training is a large undertaking and beyond the capacity of the staff at Patuxent. With the help of the 2 Power of Flight OM provided 5 additional staff to carry out the bulk of the training. OM also provides two training aircraft Summer training at Necedah At PWRC the chicks hatch between May and June with an age range that averages 35 days. As they reach 45 days they were grouped together is social cohorts and transported by air to Necedah. Three shipments were made to accommodate their age range. Over the summer OM individually conditioned the 3 cohorts to follow our fleet of 4 identical aircraft. Each group, of up to 8 birds, were at a different stage of development but must reach a specific endurance level and properly learn to follow the aircraft. This type of group training makes it more difficult to spot problems in the health or conditioning of the birds and required more staff. Migration Using 4 ultralight aircraft the team covered from 50 to 200 miles per day as weather permitted. A ground crew of six move the camp and pens. We used one tracking vehicle and one tracker to locate and retrieve wayward birds. The migration passes through 7 states and took 88 days to complete. Each stop was pre-selected for its isolation and the birds were housed in portable pens for predator protection. We have two custom designed travel pens and trailers. We attempt to leapfrog these pens so one is available at each new site. These travel pens were increased in size to accommodate the birds. Also the trailers were modified to carry the extra weight. A new route was used that took the team south from Wisconsin through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama before entering Georgia and eventually Florida. This safer route was use to avoid flying over the Appalachians Mountains. Wintering To test a new wintering site the flock was divided with sever spending the winter at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and the remained at St Mark National Wildlife Refuge. At both sites birds are housed in a four acre, open topped, pen that is protected by electrified wire. Regular visits by costumed handlers and a constant supply of food ensure that they return to this pen to roost in water every night where they are protected from nocturnal predators. Results: a) Outputs i) Using the logic framework model presented with your application (Fig 1) enter in the actual values of the short term outputs. Enter in any additional indicators not included in the full proposal and used n the analysis. If your application did not include a logic framework, describe the project outputs, any realized post-projects outcomes and qualify the results using indicators and baselines. ii) Attach any supplemental graphs, maps, photos and other types of analytical output for the project evaluation. iii) Identify and briefly explain discrepancies between what actually happened compared to what was predicted to happen in the grant proposal using information presented above. Discussion: There are 5 captive breeding facilities for Whooping cranes in North America. The number of offspring produced each year by the captive flock is dependant on several factors. These include the number of breeding pairs producing, survival of the chicks post hatch and the number of losses due to parasites, diseases, developmental problems. Additionally some birds are held back each season to become breeders and supplement the captive flock. Each year we must prepare to 3 accommodate as many birds as we can however the rigors of early development often restrict that number to 15 to 20 birds. During the 2008 season 20 birds were imprinted, conditioned to follow our aircraft and prepared for transport to Necedah NWR in Wisconsin. Due to injury, a pre-existing respiratory condition, and damage to flight feathers that number was reduced to 14. All 14 birds were led on a 1250 mile migration and all 14 survived the winter at St Marks NWR they began their return unassisted migration on March 30 2009. Fig. 1: Logic framework table with indicators. 1) Activities Reassign and/or hire up to five additional staff members. One experienced bird handler, one experienced pilot/ trainer and 3 interns Project Output: 5 OM project personnel assisted the Crane Ecology Team at Patuxent WRC to conduct early imprinting and condition the birds to follow the OM aircraft. Post Project Output: 20 birds were imprinted and prepared for transport to the Necedah NW. Indicator Number of birds (above the 7 year average) that are prepared for transport to Necedah Baseline Value An average of 17 birds are prepared annually Predicted value of project output An additional 6 to 7 birds will be prepared Actual value or project output 20 birds were conditioned to follow our aircraft and prepared for transport to Wisconsin. 2) Activity: Recruit addition staff to assist in the summer training and bird care at Necedah NWR. Project Output: Three interns were trained to assist the existing training team members to rear and condition more birds. Post Project Output: 14 birds were prepared for their first migration. Indicator Number of birds that are prepared for migration annually Baseline Value Approximately 16 birds begin the migration each year. Predicted value of project output Up to 24 birds could be prepared for migration Actual Value of Project Output 14 birds were added to the population bring the total of the Eastern Migratory Population to 86 3) Activity: Recruit addition staff to assist in the monitoring of birds on the wintering grounds at St Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Project Output: Two experienced OM team members monitored the birds over the winter at St Marks Post Project Output: 14 birds were released into the wild use a gentle release protocol. Indicator Number of birds to survive the winter and make the return migration Baseline Value On average of 12 birds survive the winter Predicted value of project output Up to 24 birds could survive the winter Predicted value of post project outcome Up to a 100% increase in annual releases Actual Value of Project Output 14 birds survived the winter with no loses 4) Activity: Make modifications to the two custom built travel pens and trailers used on migration. Project Output: Two travel pens and trailers were modified to accommodate more birds 4 Post Project Output: Increase the number of birds that can be taught migratory behaviour. Indicator The numbers of birds that can be accommodated on migrate. Baseline Value Travel pens now house 17 to 18 birds. Predicted value of project output 24 birds could be accommodated on migration Predicted value of post project outcome 30% more birds released annually Actual Value of Project Outputs: Travel pens were increased in size to accommodate up to 24 birds. 5) Activity: A new migration route was developed avoiding the Appalachian Mountains Project Output Increase the safety for he birds and pilots Post Project Outputs Fewer dropout birds would increase their ability to return to the introduction site.

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