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50 <br />The Calgary Zoo facility likely will be producing young by 1996, and along with chicks <br />reared from eggs from the AWP, should be able to start a second migratory population in <br />Canada late this decade (see Canadian Recovery Plan). The first priorities for use of <br />captive - reared chicks in the next few years are for completion of stocking the Calgary Zoo <br />facility and continuing releases in Florida. Calgary Zoo should be fully stocked by the close <br />of 1994. Chicks from AWP wild - collected eggs will be available for use in guide bird <br />experiments in 1993 and 1994. The Service anticipates research continuing through the <br />1990's on methods of introducing whooping cranes in a migratory situation. Further <br />experimentation with the RMP will depend upon the results of the first two years of guide <br />bird research, approval by the principal involved parties, and availability of funds and <br />whooping cranes surplus to higher priority recovery needs. If the reintroduction in Florida is <br />successful, other nonmigratory populations might be considered for the 21 st Century. <br />As noted previously, this Plan describes only the recovery actions and costs required for <br />birds and habitat within the United States. Recovery actions to be taken in Canada are <br />described in the Canadian Whooping Crane Recovery Plan. It is the goal of the United <br />States recovery team that the second migratory population in Canada be discrete from the <br />existing migratory population so they will not winter, nest, or migrate through the same <br />areas. The CWS in 1993 began identifying historical whooping crane nesting habitat in <br />southern Canada which might provide suitable reintroduction sites. CWS proposes to begin <br />in 1994 radio telemetry studies of sandhill migration pathways which will help identify the <br />migration pathways which might be taken by whooping cranes reintroduced in the potential <br />reintroduction sites. <br />B. Narrative Outline For Recovery Actions Addressing Threats <br />1. Increase the AWP. <br />This task is directed at reducing mortality during migration and at wintering areas and <br />removing habitat constraints which might limit population recovery. The present winter <br />habitat has the potential to support substantially more than 40 nesting pairs and the <br />associated subadults and young -of- the -year (pers. comm., T. Stehn). As the population <br />increases, the threat of extirpation due to some natural stochastic event (hurricane, disease <br />epizootic, contaminant spill) diminishes, thereby increasing species security. Annual aerial <br />population census on the wintering area will be required as a part of management of this <br />population. <br />11. Monitor movements. <br />The spring and fall migration monitoring coordinated by Region 6 of the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service should be continued. This project, headquartered at Grand Island, <br />Nebraska, coordinates and records sighting data pertinent to identifying migration <br />stopover habitat and reducing mortality from disease'and shooting. Of particular <br />importance is the analysis of sightings of marked cranes and identification of traditional <br />migration use areas. <br />