Seasonal Movements of Sandhill Cranes Radiomarked in Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Abstract

We radiomarked 9 (1 ad. 8 juv) greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadeusis tabida) in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and Jackson Hole (JH). Wyoming, during summers 1984-86 to assess seasonal movements and survival and to identify important use areas. We relocated marked cranes on 872 occasions through June 1989. Mean transmitter life was 32 months (13.0-45.5), and 8 cranes were alive when transmitters failed Mean annual survival rate was 0.97 (SE = 0.16). All movements were within the known geographic range of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of greater sandhill cranes. In September, cranes departed summer areas and moved up to 140 km (x = 85) to a fall premigration staging area in Teton Basin in eastern Idaho. All cranes used the RMP autumn and spring staging area in the San Luis Valley (SLV) in southcentral Colorado, and S wintered in the Middle Rio Grande Valley (MRGV). New Mexico, ≤1,450 km from YNP. The winter location of 1 crane was undetermined. Juveniles separated from parents during spri migration when ± 10 months old and summered 4 -62 km from natal areas. During their third summer, 3 subadults occupied the same summer sites used as yearlings and 3 occupied new sites 3-47 km from natal sites. All 9 cranes exhibited area fidelity and used the same general locations in the SLV and winter areas during successive years; juveniles apparently learned traditional use areas from parents Repeated animal use of the same seasonal locations reflected habitat stability and probably enhanced survival. The welfare of YNP, JH, and other RMP cranes depends on long-term habitat protection at key federal and state management areas and private lands throughout their geographic range.