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FAQs: Whooping Crane Releases in Florida |
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Why did the FWC decide to discontinue the release of whooping cranes into the wild?Scientists decided to stop releasing cranes into the non-migratory flock for a variety of reasons, including problems with survival and reproduction, both of which have been complicated by drought, shorter-than-expected life spans, scarcity of birds for release, project costs and the loss of habitat from development. Will it still be possible to see whooping cranes in the wild in Florida?Yes. The FWC is also part of a project to reintroduce a migratory whooping crane flock in the eastern United States. Each year since 2001, whooping cranes have been led by ultra-light aircraft from Wisconsin to Florida. Currently there are 68 birds in this flock, with an additional 20 birds to be released this coming year. Once these birds are taught the migration route from north to south, they subsequently migrate on their own. For more information on that flock, visit www.bringbackthecranes.org/index.htm. Also, currently 31 birds remain in the non-migratory flock. Will the FWC continue to research non-migratory whooping cranes? Are there any future projects?Yes. The FWC is studying the behavior of the birds, especially during the breeding season, to determine if they are performing the correct behaviors in order to successfully incubate eggs, hatch chicks and raise chicks until they are old enough to fend for themselves. What partner agencies were involved with this reintroduction?Major partners included FWC and the following: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine, Canadian Wildlife Service, International Crane Foundation, Windway Capital Corporation, Calgary Zoo, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, San Antonio Zoo, Audubon Zoo Species Survival Center and private landowners in Central Florida. What happened to the flock of whooping cranes that was in Florida in the 1930s?There is some evidence to suggest that whooping cranes wintered in Florida in the 20th century. We have no nesting records, but there is ample evidence of whooping cranes elsewhere in the Southeast. Why are biologists continuing to establish a migrating whooping crane population in Florida, when the non-migrating flock was unsuccessful?The habitat requirements of a wintering flock are different from those of a stationary flock. Migratory flocks are mobile and can seek and use optimal habitat. Non-migratory flocks tend to stay in the same territories year-round, waiting for habitat conditions to improve. Why did the Whooping Crane Recovery Team decide to introduce a non-migratory population, when the only self-sustaining population is migratory?A non-migratory flock was selected because it would not be as vulnerable to power line collisions. Power line collisions are the greatest source of mortality for migratory whooping cranes in the West. There was a naturally-occurring, non-migratory population in Louisiana until the 1950s. What does this mean for the survival of the non-migratory flock?The flock has continually declined since we stopped releasing whooping cranes four years ago, and this decline can be expected to continue. Without drastic changes in the flock’s ability to survive and reproduce, it will eventually die out completely. |
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