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The goal of this project is to study crane habitat use at a local and regional scale and use that knowledge to develop a biologically sound conservation strategy that contributes to Greater Sandhill Crane recovery and allows them to persist in the rapidly changing Delta region. Locally, we will collect information on habitat use by feeding and roosting cranes that will provide the basis for developing recommendations to farmers about the suitability of specific crops or agricultural practices for Greater Sandhill Cranes. Data on movements at the landscape level will help develop a regional understanding of how cranes use the Delta and the relative importance of public vs. privately owned lands in meeting the winter habitat requirements of cranes. Our results will and help predict how future landscape changes (e.g., expansion of development, changing agricultural practices, proposals to develop water storage reservoirs as part of the Delta Wetlands Project (California Bay-Delta Authority 2003), the North Delta Flood Control and Ecosystem Restoration Project (California Department of Water Resources 2003) could impact the ability of the Delta to support viable populations of wintering Sandhill Cranes.
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey