Small pockets of highly suitable habitat, however, are predicted throughout southern Minnesota. Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Zimmerman, MN) to gather and use the restrooms and then follow staff out to a closed area of the refuge. One of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the United States is the annual congregation of the sandhill cranes. 2017). Final Report. Given that the August roadside count indicates significantly larger populations in east-central Minnesota, the May survey represents only a fraction of the statewide population. Each flyway manages several different populations of cranes, two of which occur in Minnesota: the midcontinent population, which includes northwestern Minnesota and is managed by the Central Flyway, and the eastern population, which includes east-central Minnesota and is managed by the Mississippi Flyway. Found in several scattered areas of North America, Sandhill Cranes reach their peak abundance at migratory stopover points on the Great Plains. The upward trend is even more dramatic in Minnesota, where the birds have increased an average of 9.74% since 1967, and 10.80% since 2005 (Figure 7). Lawrence, Jeffrey S., John H. Giudice, and Robert G. Wright. Overall, the species’ composition of the vegetation is less important than structure. These lowland areas are interspersed with upland wooded ridges, open prairie knolls, oak savannahs and agricultural fields. Sandhill Crane breeding ground survey results in northwestern Minnesota, 2012–2016 (Lawrence et al. Nests placed in shallow waters also are more likely to be inundated when water levels rise due to heavy rain events. The majority of these accounts, however, are descriptions of birds observed during the spring and fall migration, when no doubt tens of thousands of cranes nesting in Canada were passing through and hunters were proud to proclaim their success in securing the highly prized quarry. Partners in Flight (2017) has assigned the Sandhill Crane a moderately low Continental Concern Score of 8/20 while the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (2006) ranked it as a species of Low Concern. Indeed, their numbers have continued to flourish in the Floodwood region of central St. Louis County, where a landscape matrix of large peatlands interspersed with forests and small farms provides ideal habitat. Large, long-legged bird shaped much like a heron. “Possible Sandhill Crane Breeding.”, Drewien, Rod C., Carroll D. Littlefield, Lawrence H. Walkinshaw, and C. E. Brown. The sandhill crane is one of the largest birds in Minnesota, standing at between 4–5 feet tall. Major funding was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Ecologically speaking, cranes employ a "slow" life-history strategy: they are long-lived, defer breeding for several years after fledging, exhibit very low reproductive rates and experience high annual survival. The federal BBS continues to provide a reliable indicator of long-term population trends across North America as well as in Minnesota. Wildlife managers and research biologists all agree that the crane’s future rests entirely on habitat availability. Principal crops affected are wheat, oats, barley and rye. The cost to replant one acre due to crane depredation will exceed the total cost to treat a forty-acre field. A regular breeding resident and migrant; as the breeding population has grown, reports of birds observed during the early months of the winter season are not uncommon, as birds linger before migrating south. Harvest, however, has steadily declined since the season first opened, with 830 birds taken in 2010 and only 212 in 2015 (Dubovsky 2016). 2015. The current population size within the state is unknown, and a monitoring program is needed to track long-term population trends. Nevertheless, adjustments to the hunting season continue to be made to insure that the harvest is primarily focused on migrants and that the local breeding population is managed sustainably. Although many nest sites are isolated, the birds do not appear to be restricted to large wetland basins. Apart from the approximations of statewide estimates provided by biologists in the 1970s and 1980s (e.g., Henderson 1979b; Tacha and Tacha 1985), there has never been an in-depth statewide assessment or survey of Minnesota’s Sandhill Crane population. The problem is particularly troublesome in the spring, when newly planted corn provides a tasty treat to migrating cranes. In his two-volume treatise on the birds of Minnesota, Roberts (1932) includes several accounts from early settlers and travelers during the late 1800s who commented on the species’ abundance. To participate in the Crane Count you first need to contact your County Coordinator to be assigned a site and receive additional instructions. Minnesota joins a growing list of states that allow some sandhill crane hunting. Status and harvests of sandhill cranes… The earliest fossil of the sandhill crane, estimated at 2.5 million years old, was dug up in Florida in the Macasphalt Shell Pit. “Sandhill Crane (, Grewe, Al. As a result, when the Migratory Bird Treaty was first signed in 1916, hunting seasons were closed in both Canada and the United States. Breeding distribution and relative abundance of the Sandhill Crane in North America based on the federal Breeding Bird Survey, 2011–2015 (Sauer et al. Fish and Wildlife Service provide a significant amount of the habitat currently used by the species. 1992. Herr, Andrea M. 1992. Minnesota, however, delayed until recently, when the first hunting season since 1916 was reopened in 2010. Clearly cranes had increased in abundance since the turn of the century. Omnivorous and an opportunistic feeder that consumes a wide variety of plants and animals from the ground and shallow waters. As successful as the crane’s recovery has been, its current distribution is still believed to be less extensive then it was historically in the early 1800s (Gerber et al. Breeding evidence was gathered in 6.0% (290) of the surveyed blocks (Figures 2 and 3; Table 1). In 1985, a comprehensive assessment of the species’ status and distribution in the state, including contacts with resource managers and wildlife researchers statewide, concluded that the population might indeed be much larger than originally thought, consisting of at least 87 to 109 breeding pairs in the east-central region, and 760 to 1,160 nesting pairs in the northwest (Tacha and Tacha 1985). http://netapp.audubon.org/CBCObservation/Historical/ResultsBySpecies.aspx?1, North American Waterbird Conservation Plan. 2008. As the crane population continues to expand, prevalence and severity of damage, and increased demand for depredation control should be expected. Description. Fort Snelling, MN: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Staging fall migrants feed in agricultural fields, primarily small grains and waste corn. Early records suggest that sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) were common residents south and west of Minnesota's forested region until the mid-1870's. At the heart of the crane’s remarkable recovery have been aggressive efforts to protect and restore shallow wetland habitats since the mid-1900s. A sign of Spring with their return. 2011; Fronczak 2014; Fronczak et al. Wires, Linda R., Stephen J. Lewis, Gregory J. Soulliere, Sumner W. Matteson, D. V. “Chip” Weseloh, Robert P. Russell, and Francesca J. Cuthbert. 2015 Minnesota August Roadside Survey. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Migratory Bird Management Specialist at 612-713-5338 or your DNR Area Wildlife Manager (phone number can be found by contacting the DNR Information Center at 888-646-6367). A platform of plant material constructed of vegetation pulled from the nest site and either floating in shallow water, anchored to emergent vegetation, or placed in uplands immediately adjacent to the wetland. Although one study demonstrated that birds were not found on sites where the water was deeper than 35.7 cm in northwestern Minnesota, depredation occurred significantly more often when nests were placed on sites where the water was less than 9.7 cm deep (Maxson et al. http://pif.birdconservancy.org. Link. https://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/. Since then sandhill crane populations have made a steady, if not rapid, recovery (Status and Distribution of Sandhill Cranes in Minnesota, 1985; Birds of North America No. Ecologically speaking, cranes employ a "slow" life-history strategy: they are long-lived, defer breeding for several years after fledging, exhibit very low reproductive rates and experience high annual survival. Although the cranes nearly disappeared from Minnesota at the turn of the century, visitors can now find these stately birds in a variety of locations in and around the refuge. In northwestern Minnesota, for example, Provost (1991) found birds nesting in wetlands as small as 0.6 ha and as large as 1,862 ha. The Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas Website was a collaborative project led by Audubon Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, Natural Resources Research Institute. Fish and Wildlife Service and state resource agencies, one for each major migratory flyway. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Avian Conservation Assessment Database [Online]. "Early goose season" has the meaning given in part The landcover suitability model prepared for the Sandhill Crane predicts the species’ high abundance in central and northwestern Minnesota east of the intensely cultivated lands of the Red River valley (Figure 4). Long-term, however, the population has definitely increased; in 1975, the North American population estimate was 285,000 to 320,000 birds (Drewien et al. An inhabitant of open landscapes, the Sandhill Crane is most closely associated with large, isolated wetlands that are surrounded by shrublands, woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural fields (Figure 5). Jensen, Jack R. 1959. “Conservation Status of North American Birds in the Face of Future Climate Change.” PLoS One 10: e0135350. Local populations of resident and migrant cranes not only were rebounding but were beginning to cause damage to unharvested grain crops in Canada’s Prairie Provinces and the northern Great Plains (Drewien et al. Several other eastern states are currently considering initiating sandhill crane hunting seasons on Eastern Population cranes, and Mid-continent Population cranes are currently hunted in much of the central U.S. and Canada. To date, field biologists with the Minnesota Biological Survey have reported 633 Sandhill Crane breeding season locations distributed across northern Minnesota and including small pockets in the southeast region. Fronczak, David L., David E. Andersen, Everett E. Hanna, and Thomas R. Cooper. 2008). Cranes will still be observed foraging for waste grain and larval insects (particularly beetle larvae) in treated fields but will not probe for corn. 2014). Visit field(s) frequently (at least once every 30 minutes), and haze birds regularly with cracker shells or similar scaring devices so cranes feel less secure and associate harassment with human presence. Maxson, Stephen J., John R. Fieberg, and Michael R. Riggs. The population has ranged from a high of 4,469 birds in 2012 to a low of 1,952 birds in 2014 (Table 2). 1990. In the interim, we can marvel at the remarkable recovery that Sandhill Cranes have made in the state and work to ensure that their future remains bright. Only a handful of accounts pertain to the species’ breeding status in the state. If growers treat seed themselves, additional planning is necessary. Incubation takes 28-30 days. 1941. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/projects/consgrant_reports/1979/1979_sandhillcrane.pdf, Langham, Gary M., Justin G. Schuetz, Trisha Distler, Candan U. Soykan, and Chad Wilsey. Finally, once the young have hatched, the family forages in the shallow wetlands and in adjacent grasslands and agricultural fields. Green areas on the map are Important Bird Areas where Sandhill Cranes frequent at different times of year. 2015. The powder formulation is placed directly into the seed box at the time of planting, while the liquid form involves treatment of the seed corn prior to planting. This benefits the farmer because waste corn and many types of beetle larvae can later cause problems as the crop matures. The Tallgrass Aspen Parklands Province and counties in the western and southwestern corner of the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, including Clearwater, Todd, Wadena, and Morrison, supported some of the highest numbers of reports. Often in large flocks at migration and wintering concentration points. 2007. These conditions combined with the species’ low annual productivity and delayed sexual maturity slowed the pace of recovery. As a result, crane populations are more vulnerable to exploitation than species exhibiting "faster" life histories. If possible, plant crops other than corn within 1 mile of wet meadows and sedge wetlands; if this isn't possible, avoid planting corn directly adjacent to wetlands. The birds also pioneered farther south, as evidenced by reports from Stevens, Cottonwood, and Houston Counties (Tacha and Tacha 1985). Propane exploders, helium kites, flagging, scarecrows, scare balloons, and pyrotechnic scare devices, if successful, tend to relocate feeding cranes to another location. Upper Mississippi Valley / Great Lakes Waterbird Conservation Plan: A Plan Associated with the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas Initiative. Based on these actual counts, Henderson projected that the statewide population might be as large as 150 to 300 nesting pairs (Henderson 1979a, 1979b). 2017. Swanson (1940) compiled additional observations from published reports and newspaper stories of the same period. Use the search tool to explore sightings in other areas in North America. “Sandhill Cranes on the Roseau River Refuge and Public Hunting Grounds, Roseau, Minnesota.”, Maxson, Stephen J., Jodie L. Provost, and George H. Davis. Officially listed as a Special Concern Species in Minnesota in 1984 but delisted in 1996. Sandhill crane season opens Saturday, Sept. 19, in both North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. In addition, hunters can pursue sandhill cranes in portions of Mexico, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan. DiMatteo, Jon J. “Sandhill Cranes in Roseau County.”, Johnson, Jay M. 1976. Drought conditions in the 1930s coupled with continued intensification of agricultural practices left few opportunities for this majestic bird to make a comeback, despite the closure of hunting seasons in 1916 under the newly signed Migratory Bird Treaty (Gerber et al. These include variability in the arrival of resident nonbreeding birds and variable habitat conditions from year to year. 2016). Therefore, regardless of scale, treatment of seed is a cost-effective means of mitigating spring losses of a corn crop to cranes. Tacha and Tacha (1985) summarized suitable breeding habitat as comprising “any large, shallow, relatively open, isolated wetland adjacent to open, upland foraging areas.” Wetlands owned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. “Sandhill Cranes in Morrison County.”, Henderson, Carroll L. 2016. As Henderson (2016) recently pointed out, the Sandhill Crane is a resilient bird that has adapted well to a landscape that has changed in countless ways in the past 100 to 125 years. Three together and they all started walking while I took their photo. In October the Sandhill crane migration takes place where thousands of cranes gather in numbers to roost in the wetlands at night and feed in the upland fields in preparation for migrating to Florida. Cranes generally return to their breeding areas from late-March through mid-April, and depart on their fall migration in early-September through mid-November. Cutright, Noel, Bettie R. Harriman, and Robert W. Howe, eds. 1975). Survey-wide, since 1966 cranes have demonstrated a statistically significant annual increase of 4.74% per year; since 2005 the rate of increase has been even steeper, at 7.23% per year (Sauer et al. Sandhill Cranes stand nearly 1.5 meters tall. “The Resilience of Sandhill Cranes.”. 1985. 2006. Sandhill Cranes rural Norman Co., Mn. Over the three-year period, the results indicated there were approximately 15 to 25 nesting pairs in east-central Minnesota, and 50 to 68 pairs in the northwest (Henderson 1979b). “Sandhill Crane Nest Habitat Selection and Factors Affecting Nest Success in Northwestern Minnesota.” In Proceedings of the Tenth North American Crane Workshop, Feb. 7-10, 2006, Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico, edited by Martin J. The Sandhill Crane was a common species during the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (MNBBA). For information on the state’s response, visit the Minnesota COVID response webpage. Their accounts led Roberts to declare that “while definite records of nests are largely lacking, there is every reason to believe that the Sandhill Crane nested commonly throughout Minnesota, south and west of the more heavily wooded areas, until about 1875 or 1880.”, But the intense subsistence and market hunting pressure on such a large and conspicuous bird, followed by widespread conversion of the prairie sod to agricultural cropland led to a dramatic decline in numbers. “Assessing Spatial Patterns of Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting Habitat using GIS and Remote Sensing.” MS thesis, University of Minnesota. 1975). William H. Keating’s account of the Long Expedition up the Minnesota and Red River valleys in 1823 included an account of mistaken identity when a large flock of Sandhill Cranes seen along the Minnesota River was initially mistaken for a herd of elk. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/publications/wildlife/population2015/1-farmland-wildlife.pdf. “Last Call for Cranes?” Minnesota Conservation Volunteer 42(May/June): 48–57. The season continues through Sunday, Nov. 15, in North Dakota and Sunday, Oct. 25, in northwest Minnesota. Success, however, always begets both opportunities and challenges. One of the most notable inhabitants of the refuge is the greater sandhill crane. Cranes were particularly abundant in the northwest Tallgrass Aspen Parklands Province and throughout central and east-central Minnesota, stretching from the northern outskirts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, north to Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing Counties, and west to Kandiyohi County and eastern Pope, Douglas, and Otter Tail Counties. “Conservation Status and Distribution of Solitary-Nesting Waterbird Species [A Species-level Categorization Relative to All Waterbirds and Derived within the Spatial Context of the NAWCP Area]. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. When picking a location to go hunting for waterfowl it is important to choose a guide that knows the area well and understands how local conditions can change the habits of the migrating birds. Wood, 13–20. Resident cranes are impossible to differentiate from non-resident cranes during migration periods. The data set is still too short to determine if there is impact to the local breeding population from the fall harvest, but Lawrence and his colleagues point to several factors that may be influencing annual variations. Eastern population cranes that breed in Minnesota winter in north and central Florida, and mid-continent cranes from northwestern Minnesota winter along the Gulf-coast of Texas. The early spring gathering of Sandhills on the Platte River in Nebraska is among the greatest wildlife spectacles on the continent, with over a quarter of a million birds present at one time. 31, 1992). 2015). Waukesha: Wisconsin Society of Ornithology, Inc. Davros, Nicole M. 2015. Two sandhill cranes walk together through a marshy area Thursday, Aug. 13, near Common Goods thrift store in Baxter. A combination of scare and harassment techniques along with lure crops may provide some temporary relief, and success often requires significant effort (sometimes annually if cropping patterns remain unchanged) since cranes become easily habituated to hazing. 2017. Once common, the sandhill crane was considered rare by 1900 and it has been estimated that only 10-25 pairs were nesting in Minnesota in the mid-1940's. T. Cooper and D.P. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the sandhill crane season will begin Sept. 4 … The expanding populations witnessed in the latter half of the 20th century have continued to grow both in distribution and abundance. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966–2015. Henderson expects the cranes to remain at Carlos Avery for quite a while, giving the … Given the long-standing interest in the species, when the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launched the Nongame Wildlife Program in 1977, one of its first projects was to assess the statewide status of the Sandhill Crane. The species’ recovery in Minnesota has played out in other regions of its breeding range as well. 2010). Cost of Avipel® treatment is about $5.00/acre and is expected to drop in the coming years. The Sandhill Crane Natural Area is comprised of 533 acres of biologically significant lands which are unique to the Twin Cities metropolitan region and also notable to the state of Minnesota. Do the following if cranes are observed on site during 2 week seedling emergence period: Use multiple propane exploders, move daily and set to explode at random intervals. Studies are now underway to examine these populations more closely. Sauer, John R., Daniel K. Niven, James E. Hines, David J. Ziolkowski Jr., Keith L. Pardieck, Jane E. Fallon, and William A. Adults have red crown. Similar to most birds, sandhill cranes have hollow bones adapted for flying long distances. In flight, neck is outstretched, unlike herons with tucked necks. These preliminary assessments unleashed a myriad of technical assessments and field studies of Minnesota’s Sandhill Cranes, which continue to this day. The Sandhill Crane Natural Area is located in north central Anoka County, within the City of East Bethel. Despite the lack of nesting evidence, a few observers commented on the species’ abundance during the breeding season, including in central Minnesota, in the vicinity of Heron Lake in Jackson County, and throughout the Red River valley. Beginning in the 1950s, the number of reports of nesting birds in the northwest began to increase with accounts from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources field staff and the birding public (e.g., Magnus 1955; Jensen 1959; Bremer 1966). A recent modeling exercise by National Audubon predicted that climate change could have a significant impact on the crane’s coastal wintering habitats, of which 58% are predicted to be lost by the year 2080 (Langham et al. For about a month each March, more than 500,000 sandhill cranes converge on the Platte River basin in Nebraska to rest and eat before they finish their migration to their northern breeding grounds. Transcribed and edited by Nancy Hertzel, Anthony X. Hertzel, and Carroll L. Henderson. By 1944, Walkinshaw (1949) estimated that only 10 to 25 nesting pairs remained in the wetlands and grasslands of Minnesota’s remote northwestern counties. 2008; Herr 1992; Provost 1991; DiMatteo 1992). Favors marshes and agricultural fields where they eat primarily grains. Since then, as populations continued to increase and interest in hunting the popular game bird was rekindled, hunting opportunities have continued to expand. Add powder formulation of Avipel® to hopper at the time of planting if not using liquid formulation. Finally, like so many wetland-dependent species, the influence of warming temperatures on current populations is a growing concern. Listen for far-carrying bugling call. 1.1 Department of Natural Resources 1.2 Adopted Expedited Emergency Game and Fish Rules: 2020 Hunting for Waterfowl 1.3 and Sandhill Crane; Game Refuges; Lac qui Parle WMA; and Feeding and Resting 1.4 Areas 1.5 6230.0100DEFINITIONS. 1a.Early goose season. Based upon initial planting investment (typically at least $200/acre for corn), and relatively high corn prices, this level of treatment cost is well worth the investment to ensure crane depredation is eliminated. Cranes depend on wind and warm air currents for attaining the right height and length of their flight. Yet, despite such concerns, the species continued to prosper, and the crane was delisted in 1996. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, for a month, one of the cranes is sitting on the eggs. Avipel® has an active ingredient of 9,10 Anthraquinone (AQ), a naturally occurring substance used by plants to deter bird foraging on seeds and fruits, and is marketed in liquid and powder forms. 2006. States west of Minnesota that support migrant birds from the midcontinent population reinstated hunting seasons many years ago. 2017). 2015; National Audubon Society 2016). As of 1998, Hertzel and Janssen had delineated 18 counties where nesting had been confirmed since 1970, ranging from Houston County in the southeast corner to Kittson County in the far northwest. Jerry Carlson. Although permitted under the eastern population plan, at present hunting is not open on Minnesota’s portion of the eastern population. “Biology of Sandhill Cranes on Breeding and Fall Staging Areas in Northwestern Minnesota.” MS thesis, University of Minnesota. For more information on the availability of Avipel®, growers should check with their current seed retailer, seed distributor, or call the Avipel® help line at 1-800-468-6324 (www.arkionls.com). Since the surveys began, the number of cranes seen statewide has averaged 10 birds per 160 km. Birds in eastern Minnesota migrate southeast to Georgia and Florida; birds in northwestern Minnesota migrate south to the Gulf coast of Texas. It was over 30 years ago when I saw a pair of sandhill cranes in a field north of Little Falls. To visit the cranes is a sight to be seen and the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge puts on a guided crane bird watching tour in October. It winters in the southern United States and northern Mexico. The state’s first atlas, conducted from 1995 to 2000, confirmed breeding in 68 of the state’s 72 counties (Cutright et al. Habitat profile for the Sandhill Crane based on habitats within 200 m of point counts where the species was present during the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (2009-2013). North American Crane Working Group. sandhill crane hunting programs and especially the distribution of crane hunting permits and assistance in conducting of annual cooperative surveys. However, hazing is essentially the only practical option for growers in emergency situations. 2008). Use the liquid form of Avipel® (obtain pre-treated seed corn if available to ensure proper treatment rate). Powder treatment is more variable, particularly if other slicking agents are used during planting, but can be expected to reduce damage by 50-70%. The birds eat corn from the grain fields and then sleep on the sandbars. But did you know there are thousands of sandhill cranes passing through Minnesota right now? Some crane species may travel as far as 500 miles (804 km) a day when seeking food. Fronczak, David L. 2014. Minnesota’s Endangered Flora and Fauna. This means that adult sandhill cranes weigh surprisingly little for their height—just 5–8 pounds! Many seasons are limited and require a special permit. Suitable breeding habitat can include any shallow, flow-through or isolated wetland adjacent to open, upland foraging areas. Once rare, the sandhill crane is now common in Minnesota. As a result, some have expressed concern regarding the hunting season’s potential impact to the local breeding population. © 2021 Minnesota DNR | Equal opportunity employer |, Call 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367), Wildlife Damage Management Program material assistance, University of Minnesota Extension Service tips. “Fall Migration of Sandhill Cranes in Northwestern Minnesota, 1988–89.”, Nord, W. H., and Walter John Breckenridge. 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