Lea Craig-Moore, Canadian Wildlife Service reports that, ” The June chick surveys were conducted June 16-20 in Wood Buffalo National park by Jim Bredy and Tom Stehn from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Lea Craig-Moore from the Canadian Wildlife Service. A total of 52 chicks were seen from 62 nests (61 nests had been found in May, and one additional family was found in June). Two chicks were seen at ten nests, one chick at 32 nests and 18 nests had no young. Two nests were still being incubated on the last day of surveys. This year’s June production is 0.84 chicks per nest which is on target with the long term average of 0.8 chicks/nest.”
Lea also advised that, “Water conditions were excellent in May but have dropped over the month due to negligible precipitation. August surveys are scheduled to begin about the 18th.”
I flew for 2.3 hours on June 30th and did NOT find any whooping cranes at Aransas.
Surveys done June 16-20 in Wood Buffalo National Park documented 52 chicks, including 10 sets of twins, hatching from the 62 nests.
During the last census report from Aransas National Refuge in Texas, several
whooping cranes were still there. Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator,U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service recently reported that, “I flew for 2.3 hours on June 30th
and did NOT find any whooping cranes at
Aransas.”
