2011 Annual Report of NWT Wildlife Research Permits and Western ...

Wildlife Species Research:
Birds
METHODS:
Aerial surveys over the whooping crane summer range
in and around Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP),
NWT. Breeding pair surveys between May 1-30;
pre-fledge chick capture and chick survival surveys
August 1-10.
Breeding pair counts by fixed-wing aircraft and / or
helicopter between May 1-30 of each year:
´ ´ plot locations on aerial photographs
´ ´ record GPS coordinates for nests
´ ´ record band colours
´ ´ determination egg laying dates and clutch size
Rotary wing aircraft surveys in August were used
to capture and band pre-fledge chicks. We will trap
hatch-year birds before fledgling age with the use
of a helicopter. From 1977-1988, CWS banded 134
juveniles in WBNP, and we will capture birds using
the same techniques. The capture crew will consist
of three personnel; a veterinarian, handler, and bander.
The crane will be cornered and either hand-grabbed
or a long-handled net will be placed over the bird
to subdue it. The handler will control the crane while
the veterinarian and bander collect samples, take
measurements, and attach leg bands. We will attach
GPS Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs), a federal leg
band, and a unique combination of coloured leg bands.
Surveys were conducted slightly differently this season.
A Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter was used for the majority
of the nest searching to increase safety and visibility.
Helicopter surveys were conducted May 14-17 for a total
of 17.7 hours. An additional 7.2 hours of fixed wing flying
in a Cessna 210 was done May 18 and 19. The fixed wing
flying searched whooping crane territories where no pairs
were yet seen and answered questions about pair
identities. Breeding pair surveys were conducted by
Mark Bidwell (CWS) and Kathy St. Laurent (CWS).
On August 2, Mark Bidwell and Felipe Chavez-Ramirez
(Gulf Coast Bird Observatory) flew for 4.8 hours in the
Bell 206 to locate family groups suitable for capture.
It was decided that families with twins were not eligible
for capture because it would be too great a disturbance
to the family group splitting up both young and parents.
Fifteen attempts were needed to capture twelve chicks
on August 3 and 4. The ground capture crew consisted
of Mark Bidwell, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, Dave Brandt
(USGS), and Barry Hartup (DVM with the International
Crane Foundation) with Rhona Kindopp (Parks Canada)
guiding activities from the helicopter. Jim Dewitte from
Wood Buffalo Helicopters was our pilot. A total of 10.4
hours were spent in the helicopter.
Once families were located, the helicopter circled and
found a suitable landing spot where the ground crew
was dropped off (typically 200-300 meters from the
family group). The helicopter then hovered and
positioned itself between the family and ground crew,
giving the crew an aerial target to walk towards in the
dense, high vegetation. Radio contact between the
helicopter and ground crew allowed for better
coordination and took advantage of the aerial view of the
chicks' movements and location. Families did not appear
stressed from the presence of the helicopter and walked
slowly away from it, stopping to preen or feed. Once the
ground crew was visible to the adults they typically flew
away. Chicks appeared to have one of two responses to
the ground disturbance; they made their way to cover or
they fled and were impossible to round up and capture. It
became obvious how the chick was going to respond
within the first few moments of the adults flying away
leaving the chick.
Blood, feather and cloacal swab samples were taken from
all chicks but no feces were collected as the birds did not
defecate. It was felt that all chicks were in optimal
condition based on the veterinarian’s health inspection.
Chicks were estimated to be one to two weeks from flying
31