BIOLOGICAL DATA AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Grus canadensis | Sandhill Crane 



TIMING OF MAJOR LIFE HISTORY EVENTS : 
Migration - to nesting grounds begins in late February to mid-March;
            arrive at nesting grounds in April through May; to wintering
            grounds begins in late August through mid-October; arrive at
            wintering grounds in mid September to November
Sexual Maturity - typically pair at age 5 to 6 years but can pair at age 3
                  years; mate for life
Eggs - one to three eggs laid 2 to 3 days apart; in Florida laid January
       through May; in northern U.S. and Canada laid April through May;
       in Alaska and northern Canada laid May through July
Incubation - 28 to 30 days
Fledge - 90 days
Life span - up to 24 years in captivity
[1,7,14,15]


PREFERRED HABITAT : 
The lesser sandhill crane breeds in lowland tundra areas, marshes, sedge
meadows, grassy slopes, moss muskegs, and the shores of rivers and
lakes.  The Canadian sandhill crane breeds in bulrush marshes and
muskegs.  The greater sandhill crane breeds in open mountain meadows,
coniferous forests, freshwater marshes, and sagebrush areas.  The Forida
sandhill crane inhabits wooded hammocks, marshes and ponds with thick
emergent plant species, cypress swamps, and wet meadow areas surrounded
by oak (Quercus spp.), southern pine (Pinus spp.), and cabbage palm
(Sabal palmetto).  The Mississippi sandhill crane prefers swamps and
prairielike savannahs with pine uplands.  The Cuban sandhill crane
inhabits arid lands scattered with shrubs and pine [7,15].  Sandhill
cranes fly from their roosting grounds to their feeding grounds at
sunrise and return to roost at sunset [7].


COVER REQUIREMENTS : 
Sandhill cranes need swampy, marshy wetlands for breeding and wintering
[15].  They need adequate emergent vegetation to build their 4 to 5 foot
diameter nests on mounds that rise above the water [11].  Sandhill
cranes depend on agricultural lands for the bulk of their food on
migration routes; therefore pastures and crop fields interspersed with
wetlands can provide ideal habitat [6,12].  In Florida, good sandhill
crane habitat consists of shrubby uplands surrounding permanent emergent
wetlands mixed with agricultural land [12].


FOOD HABITS : 
Sandhill cranes feed on a variety of plant species, eating roots,
tubers, seeds, grains, and berries during the summer.  During winter
they depend on stubble fields of wheat, corn, and sorghum [15].
Sandhill cranes also eat worms, snails, moths, snakes, lizards, frogs,
beetles, crickets, and crustaceans [13].


PREDATORS : 
Predators of sandhill crane include man, feral dogs, wolves, and coyotes
(Canidae), crows and ravens (Corvidae), hawks and eagles (Accipitridae),
jaegers (Stercorarius spp.), raccoon (Procyon lotor), alligator
(Alligator mississippiens), bobcat (Felis rufus), black bear (Ursus
americanus), river otter (Lutra canadensis), and snakes [1,7].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Sandhill crane pairs are used as foster parents to raise endangered
whooping crane young [11].  Sandhill cranes are susceptible to many
avian diseases including botulism, cholera, toxins (from moldy corn),
and tuberculosis.  They also are killed by hailstorms, by lightning, and
collisions with powerlines [18].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Grus canadensis | Sandhill Crane