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' 1 <br />PART I. INTRODUCTION <br />If one had to choose a species or subspecies currently on the United States' endangered <br />species list to symbolize the endangered species program, the whooping crane ( a r = <br />americ�a)) would be a prime candidate. This crane's annual travels <br />ave endangered wi diife and its <br />story dramatic. It is also a symbol of international efforts t <br />During the last 50 years, many people have become involved in the sometimes frustrating <br />attempts to save whooping cranes for future generations to enjoy. <br />Management actions in the United States and Canada have resulted in a gradual increase in <br />their number from a low in 1941 when only 15 or 16 remained in the flock wintering in <br />Texas. In December 1993, there were about 261916 cranes, including both <br />8 l and <br />captive populations. The Endangered Species Ac t of 1973 <br />Stat. 884), which resulted in establishing the Whooping Crane Recovery Team and <br />developing this Plan, facilitated further actions on behalf of the species. 2, Number <br />was listed as threatened with extinction in 1967 5 . B . Vol. l. October 4 <br />March 11) and as endangered in 1970 (W. —�• May October <br />Recovery <br />Critical habitat was designated in 1978 (id. �• Vol. 43,Number 94, <br />is implemented cooperatively by Canada and tFe United States (Lewis 1991). <br />A. Description , <br />The whooping crane is in the Family Gruidae, Order Gruiformes. The closest taxonomic the smiths <br />relatives in continental North America are five races of sandhill crane Q. g <br />lesser Q. Q. canadensis), Canadian Q. 4• rowan:), greater tC�. &• a), Florida Q. �• <br />raten ' ), and Mississippi Q. g. ull (the last also listed as en angered). The common <br />name "whooping crane" probably gi aaaerd from the loud, single -note vocalization given <br />repeatedly by the birds when they are <br />The whooping crane is the tallest North American bird; males approach 1.5 m when <br />are <br />standing erect, and exceed the greater sandhill kg, <br />a d fema es 6.4 kgMSeasonal <br />generally larger than females. captive <br />weight variation is considerable, with a from preserved spec mens ha eabeen minimum <br />in July and August. External measurements <br />summarized by Walkinshaw (1973:166). In appearance, whooping cranes are sexually <br />monomorphic. However, the guard call vocalization is sexually distinct (98.8 percent <br />accurate, Carlson 1991) and the vocalization s not accurate visual is t components te 164. percent) <br />to sexually distinct (Archibald 1975). Vocal analysis <br />to identify individual birds (Carlson 1991). <br />Adult plumage is snowy white except for black primaries, black or grayish alulae, sparse <br />black bristly feathers on the carmine crown and malar region, and a dark gray -black varies <br />wedge- shaped patch on the nape. The size dfalulae are not visible b patch <br />the w in arebly <br />between individuals. The black primaries a <br />folded back, and the plumed, decurved tertials ordinarily conceal the short tail. The strong <br />bill is a dark olive -gray, which becomes lighter during the breeding season. The area at the <br />