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B. WHOOPING CRANE <br />1. Habitat on the central Platte River should be managed for 100 percent of <br />the recovered Aransas/Wood Buffalo Population (AWP) of whooping cranes (1000 <br />birds). <br />2. From a spacial distribution standpoint, suitable habitat for whooping cranes <br />in each of the 10 bridge segments seems sufficient if it were available. <br />3. The approximately 2900 -acre habitat complex per each of 10 bridge <br />segments (as discussed in the Platte River Management Joint Study and referenced <br />in the Cooperative Agreement) is preferred. However, smaller units may still be <br />beneficial to whooping cranes if they contain suitable whooping crane habitat and <br />are sufficient in number and spacing to be detectable to cranes flying over the Platte <br />River. Therefore, some flexibility in layout and size of the complexes could be <br />accommodated, but these areas should be protected from disturbance and contain <br />certain key habitat parameters. <br />4. The habitat complexes should not be a substitute for maintaining the <br />ecological integrity of the Platte River system. <br />5. There should be more research on what habitat best provides benefits for <br />whooping cranes along the Platte River. <br />6. A more detailed statistical analysis should be completed of the data <br />available, including the number of whooping crane sightings as well as the number <br />of cranes. <br />7. One or more habitat developments could be provided for whooping cranes <br />west of the central Platte River, although the feasibility of such habitat work may be <br />questionable. If it is determined at a future time that some habitat development and <br />management is feasible in the upper Platte River area, a 90:10 split in terms of the <br />proportion of whooping crane use or stopovers could be selected as a revised <br />objective at that time. That is, management should occur for 90 percent of <br />whooping crane stopovers on the central Platte River and for 10 percent of stopovers <br />west of the central Platte River. <br />8. Recognizing that population ratios are difficult to establish and monitor, <br />population ratios should be used as indices of whooping crane use of the Platte River <br />and to estimate the potential changes in use. Separate ratios should be used for fall <br />and spring populations. These population ratios should be successfully tested and <br />endorsed before they are used as standardized means of crane detection. <br />9. A whooping crane use index of bird days on the river as an additional <br />measure of habitat attractiveness should be used. <br />35 <br />