PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP

Title:
COMPARISONS OF MIGRATION PATTERNS BETWEEN PARENT-REARED AND COSTUME-REARED WHOOPING CRANES IN THE EASTERN MIGRATORY POPULATION, 2012-2023

Date: 2025

Authors:
MARY ANDERSON, USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center
GLENN H. OLSEN, USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center
SUSIE DUNHAM, Oregon State University
HILLARY L. THOMPSON, International Crane Foundation
MARIANNE M. WELLINGTON, International Crane Foundation

DOWNLOAD

Citation:
Anderson, M., G. H. Olsen, S. Dunham, H. L. Thompson, and M. M. Wellington, 2025. Comparisons of migration patterns between parent-reared and costume-reared whooping cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population, 2012-2023. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 16:182-194.

Abstract:
Whooping cranes (Grus americana) have been raised and released into the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) since 2001. Cranes either were costume-reared and learned their migration route by following an ultralight aircraft, were costume-reared and released in fall near adult cranes (known as direct autumn release), or were parent-reared by captive adult whooping crane pairs and released in the fall near adult whooping cranes. Compared to costume-rearing, parent-rearing encourages conspecific learning prior to release, but needs further research to understand how it may influence post-release behaviors including migration. This study compared the migratory timing and length of parent-reared whooping cranes and ultralight-led, costume-reared whooping cranes in the EMP during 2012-2023. Using GPS data from satellite transmitters, we determined when cranes were migrating or stationary and categorized movements as summering, stopover (2 or more relocations in an area that spanned overnight hours), migratory, or wintering. No differences in timing, distances, or duration of migration were detected during the spring between parent-reared cranes and costume-reared cranes. However, parent-reared cranes migrated shorter distances (W = 65, P = 0.02), migrated shorter durations (W = 61, P = 0.04), and completed migration earlier in the year during the fall (W = 65, P = 0.02). These results were expected given that costume-reared-cranes were taught specific routes with numerous stopovers to Florida during ultralight-led migrations while parent-reared cranes experienced a greater variety of wintering locations and migratory routes from other cranes. Individual cranes from both rearing groups (parent and costume-reared) sometimes followed different migration routes from year to year. These results suggest that rearing and release techniques have some effects on post-release selection of migratory routes but not the timing of migratory initiation. Future work should include comparisons with direct autumn release costume-reared cranes.

The North American Crane Working Group provides free and open access to articles in Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop. No additional permission is required for unrestricted use, distribution, or reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work here is properly cited. Complete Proceedings are also available for download or purchase.

© 2025 North American Crane Working Group