Sandhill crane colt survival in Minnesota

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Age-structured population models require reliable estimates of cohort-specific survival rates, yet vital rates of younger age classes are often difficult to estimate because of the logistical challenges of monitoring young animals. As part of a study of sandhill cranes Antigone canadensis in the zone of contact between breeding distributions of the Eastern Population and Midcontinent Population in Minnesota, we monitored first summer survival of 34 sandhill cranes (hereafter colts) by using very-high-frequency and global positioning system–global system for mobile communications transmitters. We estimated daily survival probabilities from 19 to 120 d posthatch by using a generalized linear model accounting for interval censoring, resulting in an estimated period survival rate of 0.52 (90% CI, 0.36–0.71) over summer (100 d). Estimated daily probabilities of survival increased as colts became older and fledged (at 70–75 d posthatch), when they presumably became less vulnerable to predation. Causes of mortality were mostly unknown aside from one case of a collision with a vehicle. There is a scarcity of published colt survival rate estimates for sandhill cranes, and what is available varies widely by study site. Region-specific sandhill crane colt survival rate estimates can inform future management efforts and inform population dynamics research and overall natural history knowledge of sandhill cranes.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sandhill crane colt survival in Minnesota
Series title Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management
DOI 10.3996/jfwm-21-097
Volume 13
Issue 2
Publication Date April 22, 2022
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher Allen Press
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 8 p.
First page 494
Last page 501
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Aitkin County, Becker County, Cass County, Clearwater County, Mahnomen County, Todd County
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