Capturing whooping cranes and sandhill cranes by night-lighting.

Authors(s): R. C. Drewien and K. R. Klegg

Publication: Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

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Abstract: Greater sandhill cranes at Grays Lake were captured during 1981-91 using night-lighting techniques to band and color-mark them for research studies. These techniques were also used to capture adult whooping cranes in Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico. At Grays Lake, 157 adult sandhill cranes and 93 juvenile sandhill cranes were captured using a portable generator mounted on an aluminum backpack frame, a 12- or 28-V spotlight mounted on a helmet, and a large, long-handled fish landing net. Capture success was influenced by presence of other avian species, habitat type, weather, and nocturnal conditions (e.g., moon phase, amount of starlight). Success was greatest when cranes were roosting with few other cranes or other aquatic birds and during overcast or inclement nights. Although safe and effective, it is a strenuous technique to capture cranes.

Keywords: Gray's Lake, Idaho, animal, bird, Aves, ornithology, habitat, nest, nesting, population, mortality, crane, sandhill crane, greater sandhill crane, banding, color mark, management, whooping crane, Grus americana, Grus canadensis