2006-07 Winter Whooping Crane Flock

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Greetings all!

The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS
biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator.

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved in and concerned about this wonderful
recovery effort! Each time the next delicate milestone is reached, it
really crystalizes just how effective everyone's role is in helping the
whooping crane rebuild its population. From biologists to educators to the
sneaker net -- every role is important!

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An aerial census on 22 November, 2006 of the Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge and surrounding areas found 182 adults and 42 chicks = 224 total.

Recap of cranes present: (224)

               adults + young
Refuge                57 + 12
Lamar            8 +  3
San Jose      38 +  9
Matagorda     59 + 14
Welder Flats        20 +  4
      Total   182 + 42 = 224

Remarks:  All whooping crane areas were covered during an aerial crane
survey conducted November 22nd.  Conditions were ideal with light winds and
clear skies.

The total of 224 cranes is the highest count ever made at Aransas, with
counts going back to 1938.  In addition to the 224 cranes at Aransas, there
are 8 cranes in migration still being monitored in Kansas, including one
pair with two chicks.  Thus, the current estimate for the size of the
Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock is 232, 12 higher than the peak population of
220 last winter.  The 42 chicks currently at Aransas is an all-time high,
surpassing the previous high of 34 in 2004.  A total of 6 sets of 'twins'
are present, also beating the previous high of 4 sets of twins in 1958.

The total of 224 cranes located is an increase of 13 adults + 3 juveniles =
16 cranes since the last flight on November 15th.  The new cranes are
believed to have arrived with favorable migration conditions at Aransas
November 15-16 and November 19-20.  New arrivals included 3 family groups.
Eleven cranes were located on the Lamar Peninsula including 2 south and 1
north of Holiday Beach close to Copano Bay.  This ties the record for the
most cranes observed on Lamar last set in the 2004-05 winter.  One family
group present last week on North Shell Reef on Matagorda Island was
apparently not located on today's flight and most likely was overlooked.
However, I cannot totally rule out that this family had moved to San Jose
Island or the refuge.  If I can confirm their presence on the next flight,
that will raise the number present to 184 + 43 = 227 at Aransas.

The ideal census conditions allowed us to concentrate on looking for
color-banded whooping cranes.  Eight more banded birds were confirmed
present.  A family group that is stained brown on the legs and bellies that
may have walked into a pond containing an oily substance sometime during
the migration was located on their North Cottonwood Bayou territory on
Matagorda Island.  One of the adults was banded YbY-Y in 1987 and was last
observed on November 7th at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in
northern Oklahoma.  This family was believed present at Aransas on the
November 15th flight, but on that day we were unable to fly low enough to
see the staining on the legs.  Although the discoloration is clearly
evident, it is difficult to see from the air as you're looking down on the
birds.  From my brief look from the air, the family seemed to behave just
like any other cranes.

On today's flight, 3 cranes were sighted at fresh water sources and 4 were
on uplands.  None were on prescribed burns.  Salinities have risen
recently, measured November 20 at 25 ppt in the refuge boat canal and 29
ppt in the adjacent marsh.  The upland use included a family group foraging
on areas uprooted by feral hogs on Matagorda Island.  They were located
very close to the dunes on Matagorda Island, the furthest away from the
salt marsh I have ever seen cranes on Matagorda.  Tides had dropped
noticeably since last week, with 10 cranes observed in open water on
today's flight compared to none last week.  Most of the rest of the cranes
are currently foraging on blue crabs and wolfberries.

Several territorial chases were observed as established pairs defend their
territories and usually are able to keep all other cranes out of their
territory.  There appear to be a few territorial pairs that have not yet
completed the migration, although this involves uncertainties as subadult
duos usually seem to occupy these areas until pushed out.

My thanks again go to Pilot Dr. Tom Taylor who has come out of retirement
to conduct crane flights this fall.  Today's flight was a long day, but
very rewarding!

  Tom Stehn
  Whooping Crane Coordinator
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  Aransas NWR
  P.O. Box 100
  Austwell, TX 77950
  (361) 286-3559 Ext. 221
  fax (361) 286-3722
  E:mail: tom_stehn@fws.gov

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Where applicable, CWS stands for Canadian Wildlife Service; USFWS is US
Fish and Wildlife Service. Crane monitoring involves cooperative efforts
and support by both countries, plus many volunteers and non-profit
organizations along the way.

Anyone wanting to contact Tom about the report or the whooping crane
projects can reach him via email at: tom_stehn@fws.gov. Other information,
including archived copies of these reports, can be found at the Texas
Whooping Crane web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/

Patty Waits Beasley
Corpus Christi, TX
email: patty@ccbirding.com
web:  http://www.ccbirding.com/

For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org