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44 <br />In January 1993, the first group of 14 whooping cranes was released in Kissimmee Prairie, <br />Florida (Fig. 5). This release was a soft - release managed similarly to previous sandhill crane <br />releases in Mississippi and Florida (Ellis et al. 1992). This population was designated <br />experimental nonessential to increase flexibility of management (Lewis and Finger 1993). <br />The objective of this first release is to evaluate the response of the cranes to the Florida <br />habitat and evaluate release techniques. Five parent- reared birds were released in December <br />of 1993 and 14 isolation- reared birds are expected to be released in February 1994. At <br />regular intervals the released birds will be recaptured and samples taken to evaluate <br />exposure to disease, and parasites. If the results of these initial releases are favorable, <br />releases of 20 or more individuals will occur annually for up to a decade or longer beginning <br />in fall - winter of 1994/1995. <br />Releases of isolation- reared cranes have resulted in high post - release survival both in <br />migratory as well as nonmigratory situations (Norwich 1986, 1989, Archibald and Archibald <br />1992, Ellis at el. 1992, Horwich et al. 1992, Urbanek and Bookhout 1992). These <br />experiments included work at ICF, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and by PWRC in <br />Mississippi. Research on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a potential reintroduction site <br />for whooping cranes (McMillen 1987) led to a study of the isolation- rearing, gentle release <br />method for reintroducing migratory cranes (Urbanek and Bookhout 1992) in 1988 -1990. <br />Thirty -eight fledged greater sandhill crane chicks were released to the wild after being <br />isolation - reared and exposed to natural conditions accompanied by a caretaker in a bird -like <br />costume. (Isolation- rearing refers to rearing the birds separated from visual contact with <br />humans). They were reared at the release site. Wild resident sandhill cranes were baited to <br />a release enclosure where they associated with the captive- reared birds. If the two groups <br />were in association at time of migration, the captive - produced birds accompanied the wild <br />birds and learned the proper migration route and wintering site. Minimum survival 1 year <br />after release was 84 percent, and the minimum return rate to Upper Michigan was 74 <br />percent. The authors noted the need for similar studies on captive- reared whooping cranes <br />to see if they will associate with and learn migration from resident wild sandhill cranes <br />(Urbanek and Bookhout 1992). These studies should occur whenever sufficient funds and <br />whooping crane eggs are available without detracting from other ongoing reintroduction <br />studies. The study site should be part of an approved reintroduction location. <br />L. Research on Reintroduction Techniques For Migratory Populations <br />There is no proven technique for reintroducing whooping cranes into a migratory situation. <br />Such a technique must be identified if recovery goals for downlisting are to be <br />accomplished. Several techniques deserve testing and include the following: <br />1. Release of captive - reared whooping cranes into the nesting or staging areas of wild <br />sandhill cranes with the hope the whooping cranes will learn survival techniques and <br />migration patterns from the sandhills; <br />2. Training captive - reared whooping cranes to follow in flight a truck or an ultra -light <br />aircraft. Use this following behavior to teach the birds an appropriate migration route, <br />stopover sites, and wintering locations, and; <br />