Whooping Crane Conservation Association

by Whooping Crane Conservation Association based on Aransas NWR report

Aerial surveys of  the whooping crane population wintering on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge were performed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists last week. Refuge biologists have just completed their analysis of the census data and made their findings available. Three aerial surveys were conducted. A survey on January 26th was cut short due to high winds. Surveys conducted on January 27th and 29th were approximately 4 1/2 hours and each systematically searched Matagorda Island, San Jose Island, Blackjack Peninsula, Lamar Peninsula, Dewberry Island, and Welder Flats.  Conditions for surveying were most favorable on January 29th, when observers detected 193 whooping cranes. Of the 193 cranes, 125 were white plumage birds, 23 were juvenile birds, and 3 were undistinguished.

photo by B. Stone

At least 16 additional Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes are currently residing outside of the typical wintering area, as far away as Nebraska. Based on the available data, 209 whoopers have been accounted for. The next survey flight will be scheduled for mid-February.

Approximately 5% of whooping cranes detected on the 27th and 29th were found using man-made freshwater sources, such as stock ponds and windmills. Cranes were using both upland and marsh communities. They are naturally supplementing their own food sources by wintering around freshwater lakes.

Refuge personnel continue to help alleviate the low food resources by adding to the prescribed burn totals. This winter the refuge has burned 8,095 acres of habitat that have recorded whooping crane usage. Biologists observed the whooping cranes eating roasted acorns and are seeing continued use. There are still an additional 6,129 acres planned to be burn for the remaining whooping crane season.

Many people have inquired whether the refuge plans to implement a supplemental feeding program for whooping cranes this winter. At this time, refuge officials are concerned about the negative impacts of supplemental feeding. Previous efforts to supplemental feed were not considered successful as only a small portion of the birds actually fed on the shelled corn.

Whooping cranes are territorial and do not naturally gather together to feed. Encouraging them to do so changes their natural behavior; it also creates greater opportunities to transmit diseases, parasites, and makes them more vulnerable to predators. Furthermore, when left out in warm and moist environments, like coastal marsh areas, corn can grow Aspergillis molds. Aflatoxins, which are produced by the molds, can be lethal to whooping cranes and other wildlife. Where whooping cranes may be present, landowners should be aware of the risks that aflatoxins pose. If corn is being be used for feeding other wildlife in areas where whooping cranes may be present, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists highly recommend purchasing aflatoxin-free corn.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge has received 0.84 inches of precipitation for the month of January. Central Texas has been fortunate to receive some much needed rainfall recently and the water has raised the Guadalupe River to above flood stage levels from Jan 28th- Jan 31st. This river flows into the San Antonio Bay and the flush of freshwater is expected to further decrease salinity levels. Currently, salinity levels are reported to be 23.2 parts per thousand (ppt) compared to 35.3ppt on December 14, 2011.

January 24th data from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicates that samples taken in the San Antonio, East Matagorda, and Espiritu bays were free of red tide. It
is still persisting in some of the surrounding bays but in very low concentrations.

Aransas Refuge officials reported that a second radioed whooping crane chick has died this winter since their last report. The carcass has been sent off for testing and we are awaiting results.

by Chester McConnell, Whooping Crane Conservation Association

Excitement is rampant in many thousands of bird watchers when whooping cranes begin their migration from Buffalo National Park, Canada southward to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Birders get a high when they are lucky enough to spot an endangered whooping crane and add it to their life list of birds observed. To many it is the “crown jewel” of their observations. Such spotting’s are discussed at ornithology meetings, boasted about at cocktail parties and even announced at church. “Really, we are fortunate when blessed with seeing one of the approximate 300 whoopers in the last remaining wild flock” said Dorothy McConnell, Daphne, AL. Dorothy and her husband have traveled all along the 2,500 mile migration route to watch whoopers and other birds.

Many birders take their whooping crane sightings one step more. They report their observations on the Whooping Crane Conservation Association’s web site at https://whoopingcrane.com/report-a-sighting/ . The Association analyzes the reports, plots the sightings on a map and sends the reports to officials in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reports are forwarded to either of two Service offices depending on whether the whoopers were spotted west or east of the Mississippi River. The reports by citizens are used by the Fish and Wildlife Service along with reports from its own team of federal and state spotters.

Western sightings are primarily from the Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock with a few from the non-migratory experimental flock in Louisiana. Most the eastern sightings are from the Wisconsin-Florida experimental flock or the non-migratory Florida flock. The Whooping Crane Conservation Association received approximately 150 reports from citizens during the past five months. All of the reports are evaluated and assist the federal officials in their monitoring responsibilities.

Reports start arriving to the Association soon after the whoopers depart from Wood Buffalo NP. Approximately 15 reports were received from Canada during September and October. A month later reports arrived from North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Most of the recent reports have been from Texas. Just this morning Jorjanna Price sent a report of three whoopers in a pasture in  Refugio County, TX. This sighting was near Aransas Refuge, winter home of whooping cranes. Other reports came from Rebecca Alderson of two adult whoopers in south central Kansas; Rob Vinson spotted one adult bird in southeast Missouri; two other reports from Tracy Wisenburg of six whoopers and Byron Stone of three, both in Granger Lake, Texas; eight birds were reported at Thorndale, Texas by Nadine French; Chris Flannigan spotted two adult birds near Seadrift, Texas; and Darren Schlessinger observed three (2 adults and 1 young) north of Austin in Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Texas.

The Association has received some unusual reports. Several birders reported five whooping cranes on private lands near the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheynne Bottoms State Wildlife Area in south central Kansas. These birds have been detected there since December 2011. Dan Severson, Quivira’s Refuge Manager believes that due to the mild winter and plenty of food, these birds may just remain in the area all winter rather that migrating to Aransas Refuge as usual.

The most unusual report that Whooping Crane Conservation Association has received was last week from Bill Riggs, Nebraska. Bill reports that he observed three whooping cranes (two adults and one juvenile) in the Platte River vicinity. Bill told the Association that, “I was driving along and spotted the birds  a little before noon. They were

By:  Chester McConnell, Whooping Crane Conservation Association

Whooping cranes are currently (11/23/2011) continuing to migrate from their nesting habitat in Canada to their winter habitat in the United States. Martha C. Tacha, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Island, NE is responsible compiling records of whooping crane sightings along the migration route. Tacha reports, “There are a still a few whooping cranes in the flyway. A single adult-plumaged bird was spotted at Quivira NWR and another at Salt Plains NWR. Only 43 whoopers have been confirmed north of Kansas since 11/9/2011. Interestingly, two additional single-parent families were detected and photographed. That makes three families with only one parent observed and photographed in the flyway this migration, which is both uncommon and troubling. Unfortunately, one of the GPS-marked juveniles was found dead west
central Kansas and cause of death is unknown at this time.”

Dan Alonso, Refuge Manager, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge estimated 80 percent (240) of the whoopers have now reached the refuge along the Texas coast. Eighteen of the 20 whoopers with GPS monitors attached have also reached the refuge. An aerial census is planned for next week to get a more definite count.

During their 2,400 mile southward migration, the cranes take their time, stopping periodically to feed in agricultural fields and wetlands. The southward migration will soon be completed and the whoopers will settled down for the winter on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Then when the spring season arrives, the birds will migrate back to their nesting habitat in Canada. Whooping cranes have followed this schedule for thousands of years.

The whooping crane’s natural habitats are essential to their survival. Until about the 1400’s, whooping cranes ranged across much of central North America, from as far north as Canada’s Northwest Territories to the southern coast of Texas. Though never believed to be abundant, their numbers were thought to be around 1,500 in the mid-1800. As European’s immigrated to North America in large numbers, their settlement and developments destroyed much of the whoopers nesting and winter habitats. Unregulated hunting also contributed to the whooper population decline. By the 1940s the whooping crane population had dropped to an all-time low of 15 birds. Aided by
protection and habitat management the original wild migratory flock has slowly recovered and now numbers approximately 300.

Currently, however, family units and small groups of juvenile whoopers continue their leisurely southward journey. They are headed to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The wintering habitat of the last remaining wild migratory flock of whooping cranes in the world is located in on Aransas Refuge on the central coast of Texas, USA.
Aransas was originally established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 as a “refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife… and to conserve fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered or threatened species…”

The Aransas Refuge complex is comprised of over 115,000 acres including the Blackjack Peninsula (Aransas proper), Matagorda Island, and the Myrtle Foester Whitmire, Tatton, and Lamar units. These areas provide essential wintering habitat for the endangered whooping cranes in addition to vital resting, feeding, wintering, and nesting grounds for a wide assortment of migratory birds and native Texas wildlife.

The nesting habitat of the last remaining wild migratory flock of whooping cranes is located in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada. Approximately 11 million acres (17,300 sq. mi.) in size, Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park and one of the largest parks in the world. The park was established in 1922 to protect the
free-roaming bison herds of the area. Now the park also focuses on supporting and protecting many unique natural and cultural resources, from diverse ecosystems and rare species like whooping cranes to the traditional activities of Aboriginal residents. During the 2011 nesting season wildlife biologist recorded 75 whooping crane nests on Wood Buffalo.  Approximately 37 chicks fledged from the record 75 nests in August 2011. Due to this successful nesting season, the flock size may reach record levels of around 300 this fall.

By Chester McConnell, Whooping Crane Conservation Association

Wildlife conservationist reported sighting whooping cranes at 61 locations stretching from North Dakota to Texas during the past week. Martha Tacha, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Island, Nebraska advised that, “As you might expect, many sightings have been confirmed since my last report. Although it would seem from the confirmed sightings that the migration has drifted southward, location information from the radio-tagged whoopers shows that there were still whooping cranes in North Dakota as recently as yesterday, 11/15.”

Tacha’s report shows a total of 277 whooping cranes were spotted, including 26 on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Two hundred and fifty-one were adults and 32 were juveniles. The 26 whoopers on Aransas Refuge were not identified by age. The total whooper population still migrating towards Aransas NWR is expected to number 300. This would be a record number that has grown from a low of 15 birds in the 1950s.

Twenty-one whoopers have active Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers attached to their bodies. The GPS is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. The GPS receivers provide a means to track the movements of whooping cranes. Twelve of the 21 whooping cranes with active GPS receivers have reached the south Texas coast, with many confirmed sightings on and off Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (26 whoopers are occupying the Blackjack Peninsula on Aransas Refuge as of 11-15-2011). With daily high temps forecast below freezing as far south as Pierre, SD, perhaps the cranes will move south to find open water.

By Chester McConnell, Whooping Crane Conservation Association

Whooping crane numbers are increasing  rapidly on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge each day. While no official census will be made until later this month, refuge official report seeing growing numbers of the endangered birds. Dan Alonso, Refuge Manager told the Whooping Crane Conservation Association that “26 whooping cranes had been observed on the refuge along Shore Road”. More whoopers are likely on the refuge in areas where they are more difficult to spot.

Manager Alonso also advised that, “8 of the 20 radio marked whooping cranes have arrived on the refuge according to the U.S. Geological Survey monitoring team.” Radio equipment was placed on 20 whoopers to track their migration path from their nesting grounds on Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada to their winter habitat on Aransas Refuge, Texas. Biologists in Canada and the United States have studied whooping cranes for many years but still do not know all the bird’s secrets.  Due to increasing developments along the cranes migration route, biologists and development interests need to know more about whooping crane movements to help protect the birds.

“Aransas Refuge is still in the midst of a severe drought” according to Refuge Manager Alonso. “The refuge and entire state of Texas is in serious need of rain”, he said. Weather reports are predicting rain for parts of Texas within the next few days and hopefully Aransas will get a good soaking.

Alonso explained that, “a second growing problem is the red tide in waters off shore of the refuge.” He stated that while, “red tide is always an issue, the current red tide is one of the worst ever recorded. The situation is monitored regularly by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists.” He warned that “whooping cranes can die or become sickened by eating red tide infected mollusk.” He does not know if red tide has ever killed a whooping crane because dead cranes are often eaten by predators.
The last seriously bad red tide, similar to the current situation, was during 1995, according to manager Alonso.

We asked manager Alonso about the effect of crab trapping in the vicinity of Aransas Refuge. He explained that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had searched for traps near Aransas refuge and had located none within 300 feet of the refuge shore. He reiterated that the reason for apparent absence of traps is that the waters near the refuge are too shallow for crabbing.

The sixth aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted March 1, 2011 in
a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS
observers Tom Stehn and Brad Strobel. All portions of the crane range were covered in the 6-
hour census. Flight conditions were excellent, though late afternoon sun made it difficult to find
cranes when flying towards the sun.

Sighted on the flight were 216 adults and 41 juveniles = 257 total whooping cranes. The
expanded range of the cranes on upland areas and movements to fresh water made it harder to
find all the cranes. At least five additional family groups and pairs (14 cranes) and 7 subadults
were estimated to have been overlooked.

Observations on today’s flight confirmed the loss of two additional whooping cranes so that
winter mortality in 2010-11 has totaled 4 cranes (3 adults and 1 juvenile). No carcasses have
been found, and cause of the deaths is unknown. On today’s flight, one group of 1 adult with 1
chick was observed on the G1 prescribed burn on Matagorda Island with no other cranes around.
Also, for the third flight in a row, the East Spalding Lake juvenile was not found, with just the
adult pair seen on the territory. With this mortality, the current flock size is estimated at 279.
The peak size of the Aransas flock this winter was 283.

On March 1st, one whooping crane was confirmed present in a flock of > 10,000 sandhills cranes
near Pampa, (north of Abilene) in the Texas Panhandle. It’s likely that what might have been
the same crane seen in January and February in Texas near Electra and Anson never wintered
at Aransas, but instead elected to remain with sandhill cranes in north Texas and has started its
migration north with sandhills.

Crane habitat use observed on the census flight (n=257):
160 of the cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat
40 were in shallow open bay habitat
21 were on prescribed burns
20 were at fresh water sources
9 were on uplands areas
7 were at game feeders

The continuing moderate use of prescribed burns and heavy use of open bay habitat is notable,
although cranes are finding low numbers of blue crabs in the marsh. Low tides are continuing
with over 70% of San Jose Island consisting of dry mudflats. Cranes are continuing to seek out
freshwater to drink because of high marsh salinities.

The fourth aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted February 11, 2011 in a Cessna
210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS observers Tom Stehn and
Brad Strobel. Flight conditions and visibility were excellent throughout the 6-hour flight.

Sighted on the flight were 238 adults and 42 juveniles = 280 total whooping cranes. With the addition of a
confirmed report on February 8th of a single whooping crane in north Texas east of Dallas in Jones County, the
flock size is estimated at 281. This breaks the previous high of 270 reached in the fall, 2008. The flock of 281
consists of 236 white-plumaged and 45 juveniles = 281 total.

Cranes observed:

* All-time high for Welder Flats, breaking previous high of 32 set in December, 2010.
** Although only 42 chicks were observed, an estimated 3 others may not have been identified due to their
whiter plumage this time of the winter, or else were not picked out in large groups on prescribed burns.

Crane habitat use observed on the census flight (n=280):
111 of the cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat
71 were on prescribed burns
73 were in shallow open bay habitat
22 were on uplands areas
3 were at a game feeder
0 were at fresh water sources

The 73 whooping cranes in shallow bay habitat and the 65 cranes on prescribed burns were both notable.
The prescribed burns have changed the distribution of cranes on the winter range, with many cranes moving to
the 2 refuge burns from different parts of the wintering area. 

The low tides present on today’s flight contributed to the amount of open bay use observed. Much of San Jose
Island consisted of dry mudflats. This is normally a tougher time of the winter for whooping cranes to find
adequate food resources, and this winter is no exception as evidenced by increased use of uplands, burns, and
open bay habitat during the flight. However, observations continue of cranes catching a few blue crabs.

Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

The third aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted January 19, 2011 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn.

The flight only covered 2/3’s of the crane area due to limited flight time.  Flight conditions and visibility were good throughout the 4-hour flight, although clouds made it a harder to find cranes during mid-portions of the census.  A follow-up flight the next day had to be cancelled due to fog and low ceilings.   

Sighted on the flight were 175 adults and 36 juveniles = 211 total whooping cranes.  The only recent confirmed report I have of whooping cranes not at Aransas was one white-plumaged whooping crane in north Texas near Electra on January 2nd.

Assuming numbers had remained the same from the previous flight in the areas not covered, the numbers represent an increase of 3 cranes above the previous record-tying count of 270.  However, although I fully expect flock size to be more than the 270 previously tallied, it will take several more flights before I can establish a better estimate of flock size.

Crane habitat use observed on the census flight (n=211):

              74 of the cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat

              82 were on prescribed burns

              21 were in shallow open bay habitat

              31 were on uplands areas

                3 were at fresh water sources

The 82 whooping cranes on prescribed burns was notably very high.

Burn Location     Unit Number        # of Cranes Observed

San Jose Island            –                                3

Matagorda Island         G1                            6

Aransas Refuge          C4/C5                       21

Aransas Refuge          C8/C9                       52

The prescribed burns have changed the distribution of cranes on the winter range, with many cranes moving to the two refuge burns from different parts of the wintering area.  For example, two of the radioed cranes have left Lamar and are staying on the refuge burns and adjacent salt marsh.  One adult female crane was captured on Lamar and radioed on January 8^th by biologists organized by The Crane Trust, Wood River, Nebraska.  They set out a snare attached to a long twine, and when the bird stepped in the snare, they yanked on a fishing pole and tightened the snare, ran out from blinds and grabbed the bird.

This is normally a tougher time for whooping cranes to find adequate food resources, and this winter is no exception as evidenced by increased use of uplands, burns, and open bay habitat during the flight.  A crab count conducted January 7th had found only 6 blue crabs in an hour of walking the marsh, but compared to some winters, this was not too bad.  No wolfberry fruits or flowers had been found, with the crop over for the year.

Salinities are currently 19 ppt in San Antonio bay just north of the refuge.  Several inches of rain that fell

January 15-16^th has provided additional drinking water for the cranes in various areas of standing water next to the salt marsh and eased access to drinking water for the cranes.

A severe hail storm that crossed the Texas coast in the early morning hours of January 9^th apparently killed over 1,000 birds in a narrow area on San Jose Island stretching over 15 miles.  Initially reported by a waterfowl hunter, a reconnaissance by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimated at least 1,000 birds had been killed.  Species found dead included sandhill crane, white pelican, roseate spoonbill, black skimmer, ducks, plovers, and terns.  Sixteen specimens were necropsied by the National Wildlife Health Center, but I do not yet have the results.  During the reconnaissance, TPWD had observed 8 whooping cranes that looked fine.  Additional searches in other parts of the crane range had not find any dead birds.  On today’s census flight, there was no evidence of hail-killed birds or missing whooping cranes on San Jose Island.  I think the whooping cranes dodged nature’s bullet, though we’ll probably never know for sure if a few whooping cranes perished.  Tornados and wind gusts > 60 mph associated with the storm had also damaged buildings in various locations in the Coastal Bend.

       Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Aransas: December 9th, 2010

Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge reports: “The second aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted December 9, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS observers Tom Stehn and Brad Strobel.”

Sighted on the flight were 223 adults and 45 juveniles = 268 total whooping cranes.

Photograph by Vickie Henderson

This was an increase of 31 cranes since the previous flight conducted December 1st.  Flight conditions and visibility were excellent throughout the flight.  A low pressure system that had brought howling north winds on December 8th had moved off the coast, followed by clear skies and moderate southeast winds.  With nearly complete flight coverage of the crane area, the 268 cranes counted represents an accurate estimate of the number of cranes present.

One additional whooping crane is known present near Cherokee in northern Oklahoma.  Thus, flock size is at least 269.  Although there have been no additional recent migration reports, as many as 15-20 more whooping cranes are hoped to still be in migration.  Recent reports of whooping cranes at Aransas possibly not located on today’s flight include a group of 9 seen flying over the refuge’s back gate road on December 7, and a single that was observed roosting at Heron Flats Marsh on December 1 and 6 and followed sandhills to forage on pasture land and/or farm fields north of the refuge.

To date, 45 of the 46 juveniles found in mid-August on the nesting grounds have made it safely to Aransas.  The 45 chicks at Aransas include five sets of “twin” chicks, (adult pairs that have brought two chicks each). Five pairs with two chicks each had been sighted in Canada in August. This is the second highest total of “twin” families at Aransas, exceeded only by the 7 sets of “twins” present at Aransas in the 2006 winter.  The two new twin families found on today’s flight were located on Matagorda Island and Welder Flats.

Crane habitat use observed on the census flight:       

• 209 of the 268 cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat.
• 10 were in shallow open bay habitat.
• 8 were on uplands in areas rooted up by feral hogs on Matagorda Island.
• 26 were on uplands with no sign of hog rooting.
• 4 were at a game feeder at Welder Flats.
• 11 were at fresh water sources.

Habitat use by the whooping cranes has changed some over the past week.  A total of 78.0% of the cranes were in salt marsh, whereas the previous week it had been 89.0%.  Upland use observed totaled 34 cranes compared to eight last week, and freshwater use is starting to occur (11 cranes compared to zero last week).  The salinity at a gauge in San Antonio Bay north of Mustang Lake is currently 14.5 parts per thousand (ppt).  Refuge salinities measured on December 6 ranged from 17 to 20 ppt, levels where crane use of fresh water sources starts to be observed.  Blue crabs are still readily available, with 101 crabs counted on a 1,000 meter transect on December 6.  However, the wolfberry crop is nearing an end with only 7 berries and no flowers observed on transects run on December 6.  Tides were also considerably lower this week with exposed mud flats observed on San Jose.  A string of about 100 commercial blue crab traps were noted in the bay edge off of Matagorda Island between Twin lakes and Power Lake.

Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

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The first aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted December 1, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS observers Tom Stehn and Brad Strobel. Sighted on the flight were 199 adults and 38 juveniles = 237 total whooping cranes.

December 1 – Recap of whooping cranes (237) found at Aransas:

Flight conditions and visibility were excellent throughout the flight as a low pressure system that had brought howling north winds on November 30 had moved off the coast, followed by clear skies and light southeast winds. With nearly complete coverage of the crane area during the flight, the 237 cranes counted represent an accurate estimate of the number of cranes present.

To date, 38 of the 46 juveniles found in mid-August on the nesting grounds have made it safely to Aransas. The 38 chicks include three sets of “twin” chicks, (adult pairs that have brought two chicks each). Five pairs with two chicks each had been sighted in Canada in August. The third set of “twin” chicks to make it to Aransas had spent 21 days (October 29 – November 18) in Brown County, South Dakota observed nearly daily by Jay Peterson, USFWS District Manager of the Sand Lake Wetland Management District. Jay writes:

“What a treat it was for me to see the birds each time, but it was more rewarding for me to be associated with the folks I took with or gave directions to, who did not have whoopers on their life bird list.”

The last 3 of the 10 radioed whooping cranes completed the migration on November 26th, missing their Thanksgiving feast of blue crabs by one day. All 10 radioed cranes are now at Aransas. With no recent sightings reported north of Oklahoma (as of November 29th), it appears the migration is nearing completion. I have my fingers crossed that 50 more whooping cranes will still arrive since I’m hoping for a peak count greater than 285 this winter.

Crane habitat use observed on the census flight:

211 of the 237 cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat.

18 were in shallow open bay habitat.

5 were on uplands in areas rooted up by feral hogs on Matagorda Island.

3 were on grazed pasture oak savannah uplands at Welder Flats.

The cranes are feeding heavily on blue crabs and wolfberries this fall with both of those food items abundant in November. It is possible that the 18 whooping cranes observed in open bay habitat could also have been foraging on blue crab. The largest group size observed during the census was nine birds seen on refuge salt flats just north of the Pipeline. No cranes were observed at freshwater sources since salinities in San Antonio Bay are 14 parts per thousand, low enough for the cranes to drink water directly from the marsh. However, salinities have been rising (they were 9 ppt one week ago) and the area could use rain. Tides were high on today’s flight with all the tidal flats covered with water on San Jose Island. No commercial blue crab traps were found in the crane marshes or within 100 yards of shore. Only a few abandoned traps were seen in the crane marshes that will be targeted for removal during the annual crab trap pickup in February.

The observed proliferation of black mangrove in the crane marshes on Matagorda Island and at Welder Flats is very disturbing. The mangrove completely replaces the former salt marsh vegetation and excludes forage items used by the whooping cranes including Carolina wolfberry and fiddler crab populations. Many acres of marsh have become completely covered with this native species that is moving north as climate change reduces the number of hard freezes. In the past, hard freezes over multiple days limited the northward spread of mangrove since mangrove can only tolerate short spells of freezing temperatures. The last extended extremely hard freeze at Aransas occurred in 1989.

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