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SUMMARY <br />This report is a comprehensive analysis of existing observational data (1943 -99) and site <br />luation data (1977 -99) for locations used by migrant whooping cranes (Gros americana) through the <br />eva <br />United States portion of the Wood Buffalo — Aransas flyway. The apparent migration path, as outlined by <br />the distribution of whooping crane observations, is very similar to that delineated in earlier publications, <br />followin g a relatively straight line north - northwest from Aransas NWR to central North Dakota then <br />curving northwest along the Missouri Coteau to the North Dakota — Saskatchewan border. The distribution <br />of s ring and fall observations were relatively similar, except for the higher frequency of fall obsery ations <br />p <br />Che enne Bottoms SWA, and Salt Plains NWR, and in Texas. Timing of spring and <br />on Quivira NWR, Y <br />fall migrations also appears similar to that described earlier and shows no changes in timing over the 57 <br />son, most sightings included 1 -3 whooping cranes, but groups with as <br />years of data. Regardless of sea <br />many as 14 and 19 cranes were sighted in spring and fall, respectively. <br />The complete site evaluation database contained 1060 observations. We examined characteristics <br />of 3 t es of stopover habitats: 1) roost sites, 2) feeding sites, and 3) dual -use sites (where cranes were <br />Yp <br />observed using a site for both roosting and feeding). Characteristics of sites examined included: wetland <br />classification (system, class, and regime), wetland size, river width, water depth, water quality, substrate, <br />wetland shoreline slope, dominant emergent vegetation, distribution of emergent vegetation, primary <br />adjacent habitat, similar habitat within 10 miles, site descriptions, distance to feeding sites, primary <br />potential food sources, observed foods consumed, distance to human development or to utility lines, <br />visibility, other species present, site ownership, and site security. Highlights noted here indicate general <br />patterns observed for all site uses unless otherwise noted. <br />Results revealed some new insight to whooping crane habitat use. Palustrine wetlands accounted <br />