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53 <br />may be more disturbing, and cranes are particularly sensitive to humans on foot. <br />Crane displacement results in short-term or long -term loss of habitat and social <br />,disruption of the flock. Unnecessary human activities should be prohibited or <br />regulated wherever they cause problems for the cranes. <br />14. Identifv orotect manage and create habitat. <br />Protecting and enhancing whooping crane habitat is a major concern due to increasing <br />demands being placed upon such habitat. The historically -used area along the Texas <br />coast, including the Aransas NWR and Matagorda Island, is essential to the needs of <br />the whooping crane, and has been declared critical habitat under the Endangered <br />Species Act. Several areas on the migration route have been identified as essential or <br />critical habitat. Although radio tracking migrating cranes and an analysis of sighting <br />data indicate that some areas may receive periodic use, additional efforts are needed to <br />identify areas which are consistently used, and to determine why these areas are <br />selected by whooping cranes. Important migration stopover areas should be protected. <br />141. Identify essential habitat. <br />Suitable stopover habitat is necessary for the birds to complete their migration in <br />good condition. There has been considerable alteration and destruction of natural <br />wetlands, rivers, and streams, some of which have served as potential roosting <br />and feeding sites for migrating cranes. There may be areas along the migration <br />route that need to be delineated and protected. Additional study is needed to <br />delineate areas that are important to migrating whooping cranes. The unique <br />characteristics of such habitat should be identified and described. Solicit reports <br />and sightings of whooping cranes. Sightings should be verified by qualified <br />observers. Records should be cataloged and stored in computer data banks in <br />Region 6 of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Identify food and water requirements of <br />an expanding crane population in the winter habitat. Spatial needs of all wintering <br />crane groupings (adult pairs, family groups, subadult groups) must be investigated <br />to understand behavioral factors that influence habitat use. Identify nutritive <br />requirements of the cranes and the nutritional composition of their principal winter <br />foods. The biomass of the food base should be documented. <br />142. Protect habitat. <br />Various measures are needed to ensure long -term protection of migration stopover <br />and wintering habitat required to accommodate an expanding population. <br />Whooping cranes make extensive use of wintering habitat on lands without Federal <br />or State refuge protection. Much of this land is in private ownership. The threat of <br />increasing human activity and development, which would be detrimental to the <br />cranes and their habitat, makes it highly desirable to protect these areas. In most <br />instances, this action would not significantly alter current uses. Where non - refuge <br />lands are involved, work with owners /managers to ensure that habitat remains <br />suitable for cranes. In some situations it may be necessary to lease or purchase a <br />site to preserve its value for whooping cranes. <br />