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'.o('~ 57 determine optimum techniques for pairing and inducing reproduction of whooping cranes. Pairing attempts for subadult whooping cranes should be initiated when the birds,are one and one half to two years old, and should continue until stable pairs are established. Captive breeding centers should determine optimum techniques for handling, pairing, and inducing crane reproduction. 222. Refine incubation orocedures. Whooping crane eggs have greater hatchability rates when incubated naturally for at least two weeks. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center should examine factors involved in incubating crane eggs, both artificially and naturally, to determine the environment required and to enhance overall egg hatchability and flock productivity. Sandhill cranes are available and desirable for natural incubation. Improved mechanical incubation will allow reduction in the numbers of captive sandhill cranes and a savings in costs and pen space. 223. Refine rearino orocedures. Birds destined for release into the wild should either be parent-reared by whooping cranes or isolation-reared using live whooping cranes as models. Whooping cranes should not be reared by other species. Birds reared for captive breeding would initially be parent-reared or exposed to proper imprint cues to assure reproduction. Captive rearing techniques and procedures should be directed at conditioning the birds for release into the wild. When possible captive-reared birds should be exposed to conditions and situations in captivity that they would be facing after release. 224. Refine veterinarv orocedures. Long-term survival and productivity of the captive populations will require healthy flocks. The captive centers and the National Wildlife Health Research Center should research the diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of ailments in whooping cranes and other cranes in order to ensure flock health and minimize mortality. Routine health practices should be monitored at all times, and modified as necessary. 'Included under this task are the recording of health and postmortem findings, jlnd the long-term storage of preserved tissues. Captive disease research needs include leg problems, eye infections, parasite control, drug use and salmonella. Proposed protocols are described in the report entitled Whooping Crane Health Management Workshop (Anonymous 1992). 225. Exchanoe avicultural information. Staff of captive centers should exchange annual progress reports on propagation activities. Propagation and veterinary personnel should meet periodically to. exchange information and jointly address similar problems, and develop implementation plans and protocol.