Summer food habits of the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) at Grays Lake, Idaho.
Authors(s): W. H. Mullins, III.
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Publication Date: 0000-00-00
Type: MS
Location: Moscow Idaho
Abstract: Food habits of 20 greater sandhill cranes collected at Grays Lake in June-July, 1972 and 1973 at Grays Lake were evaluated. Results include foods in esophagus, proventriculus, and gizzard; most food was found in the gizzard. Plants comprised 73% of total volume. Timothy corms (Phleum pratense) were the most prevalent food (in 11 cranes; 68% total volume). Other plants consumed (<2% total volume) included grass rachises, horsetail (Equisetum spp.), barley, and seeds of lupine (Lupinus) and broad-fruited burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum). Insects and worms comprised 27% of total volume. The predominant animal food was short-horned grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes; 7 cranes, 11% of total volume). Other frequently found animal foods found were fly larvae (Sarcophagidae; 3 cranes, 6% total volume), cutworms (Agrostis vetusta, 8 cranes, 1% total volume). Other animal foods found in <3 cranes were narrow-winged damselflies (Coenagrionidae), carrion beetles (Silpha ramosa), click beetles (Ctenicera carbo), earthworms (Oligochaeta), robber flies (Cyrtopogon sp.), and ichneumon wasps (Compsocryptus sp.). Observations of foods consumed and foods available to cranes in this and other studies indicate sandhill cranes are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders.
Keywords: Gray's Lake, Idaho, animal, ornithology, bird, Aves, crane, sandhill crane, greater sandhill crane, Grus canadensis tabid, food, forage, insect, entomology, damselfly, narrow-winged damselfly, Coenagrionidae, Diptera, plant, beetle, Coleoptera, carrion beetle, Silpha ramosa, click beetle, Ctenicera carbo, Oligochaeta, fly, robber fly , Cyrtopogon sp., wasp, ichneumon wasp, Compsocryptus sp., hymenoptera, carrion beetle, click beetle, worm, earthworm, cutworm, Agrostis vetusta, fly larvae , Sarcophagidae, grasshopper, short-horned grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes
| BIBLIOGRAPHY ID | 33 |
| REF TYPE | Thesis |
| AUTHORS | W. H. Mullins, III. |
| PUB DATE | 0000-00-00 |
| DATE STR | 0000-00-00 |
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| DOC TITLE | Summer food habits of the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) at Grays Lake, Idaho. |
| PAGE DESC | 12 pp |
| LOCATION | Moscow Idaho |
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| UNIVERSITY | University of Idaho |
| DOC TYPE | MS |
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| KEYWORDS | Gray's Lake, Idaho, animal, ornithology, bird, Aves, crane, sandhill crane, greater sandhill crane, Grus canadensis tabid, food, forage, insect, entomology, damselfly, narrow-winged damselfly, Coenagrionidae, Diptera, plant, beetle, Coleoptera, carrion beetle, Silpha ramosa, click beetle, Ctenicera carbo, Oligochaeta, fly, robber fly , Cyrtopogon sp., wasp, ichneumon wasp, Compsocryptus sp., hymenoptera, carrion beetle, click beetle, worm, earthworm, cutworm, Agrostis vetusta, fly larvae , Sarcophagidae, grasshopper, short-horned grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes |
| ABSTRACT | Food habits of 20 greater sandhill cranes collected at Grays Lake in June-July, 1972 and 1973 at Grays Lake were evaluated. Results include foods in esophagus, proventriculus, and gizzard; most food was found in the gizzard. Plants comprised 73% of total volume. Timothy corms (Phleum pratense) were the most prevalent food (in 11 cranes; 68% total volume). Other plants consumed (<2% total volume) included grass rachises, horsetail (Equisetum spp.), barley, and seeds of lupine (Lupinus) and broad-fruited burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum). Insects and worms comprised 27% of total volume. The predominant animal food was short-horned grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes; 7 cranes, 11% of total volume). Other frequently found animal foods found were fly larvae (Sarcophagidae; 3 cranes, 6% total volume), cutworms (Agrostis vetusta, 8 cranes, 1% total volume). Other animal foods found in <3 cranes were narrow-winged damselflies (Coenagrionidae), carrion beetles (Silpha ramosa), click beetles (Ctenicera carbo), earthworms (Oligochaeta), robber flies (Cyrtopogon sp.), and ichneumon wasps (Compsocryptus sp.). Observations of foods consumed and foods available to cranes in this and other studies indicate sandhill cranes are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. |
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Posted on
Sun, July 31, 2011
by Beringia South