Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Summary Students explre the histry f Whping Crane restratin effrts and the imprtance f imprinting by watching a DVD, creating a timeline, and writing a fictinal stry. Objectives Students will be able t: Define imprinting and understand hw it relates t Whping Cranes. Explain hw Whping Cranes behavir evlves thrugh adaptatin t its envirnment Explre the imprtance f cstume-rearing chicks Describe a Whping Crane s life cycle Write a fictinal stry depicting a crane s life Create a timeline depicting the histry f Whping Crane management ver the past century Standards Science F.8.7 Art and Design B.8.1 Envirnmental Educatin B.8.24 Materials Needed: WCEP DVD (in trunk) Cpies f Crsswrd Puzzle Whping Crane cstume (in trunk) Cpies f Whping Crane Timeline Backgrund: Whping Cranes were histrically fund acrss the nrthern United States and suthern Canada in their breeding grunds. In the 1800s, they wuld spend the winter alng the east cast f the United States, the Gulf Cast, and parts f Mexic. As a result f habitat lss and unregulated hunting, by 1950, there was nly ne small ppulatin f apprximately fifteen Whping Cranes left that migrated between Texas and Canada. The Whping Crane was n the brink f extinctin, and cnservatinists realized that ambitius recvery effrts were needed t save the species. Prjects t prtect the wild ppulatin and t create new ppulatins were put in mtin and began the Whping Crane s lng jurney t recvery. A clutch is the number f eggs that a bird lays at a time. Whping Cranes lay tw eggs per clutch. Hwever, they usually nly raise a single chick. In rder t cllect eggs fr restring the ppulatin, scientists believed that ne egg culd be remved frm each new nest withut decreasing the prductivity f the wild ppulatin. Egg cllectin began in 1967. In 1975, the U.S. Gelgical Survey s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland began successfully breeding Whping Cranes in captivity, and these eggs became the fundatin fr future release prgrams in Nrth America. Slwly, the ppulatin f Whping Cranes was being rebuilt as birds were bred in captivity. Hwever, with nly ne ppulatin f Whping Cranes remaining in the wrld, scientists feared that any catastrphic event such as a natural disaster (e.g. a hurricane) r disease utbreak, culd eliminate the entire ppulatin f birds. They determined that additinal ppulatins f Whping Cranes needed t be established. Paper and writing utensils In 1993, bilgists experimented with reestablishing an extirpated ppulatin f Whping Cranes in Flrida. This Whping Cranes usually lay tw eggs per clutch, but usually nly ne survives. Pht: Internatinal Crane Captive breeding f Whping Cranes allwed fr restratin prjects. Pht: U.S.G.S. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 52
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time ppulatin wuld be nn-migratry. Birds were released int the Flrida Nn-Migratry Ppulatin fr 13 years. Unfrtunately, nesting success by the intrduced birds was pr, and nly a few chicks have survived past the juvenile stage. Overall mrtality rates have been high, primarily due t predatin. N birds have been released int the Flrida ppulatin since 2004 and nly abut 10 birds remain. In 1999, the Whping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) was frmed when nine gvernment agencies and nn-prfit rganizatins jined tgether with a similar gal: restring a secnd migratry ppulatin f Whping Cranes t eastern Nrth America, called the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin. Restring a secnd migratry ppulatin in anther part f the cuntry helped safeguard the species frm extinctin; if smething catastrphic happened t ne ppulatin, the ther ppulatin may be unaffected, ensuring survival fr the species. WCEP s gal is t establish a self-sustaining ppulatin f Whping Cranes with a minimum f 120 birds and 30 breeding pairs that hatch and raise ffspring n a regular basis. A self-sustaining ppulatin means that the Whping Cranes in the wild are laying enugh eggs and raising enugh chicks that grw up and reprduce t keep the ppulatin size stable r grwing. Eggs laid and hatched in captivity wuld n lnger be needed t supplement the number f birds in the ppulatin. Raising chicks in captivity requires a lt f hard wrk and special attentin. Scientists need be especially attentive when the chicks are very yung because during this time they underg imprinting (a phenmenn exhibited by many species, but especially birds, in which after chicks hatch, they becme scially attached t the first mving bject they see). This bnding then influences hw they chse a mate later in life. In a famus study, bilgist Knrad Lrenz fund that if he tk n the rle f mther gse by feeding and caring fr the gslings, then the gslings mistakenly thught he was their mther and fllwed him everywhere he went. Because Whping Cranes are susceptible t imprinting, precautins need t be taken when humans wrk with yung chicks. Crane cstumes are wrn by scientists and pilts s that when the cranes are released int the wild, they are nt accustmed t humans. Wearing cstumes masked the human face and figure s that chicks wuld nt imprint upn humans. Bilgists wear crane cstumes when interacting with yung cranes t prevent them frm imprinting n humans. Pht: U.S.G.S. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center In 2011, a new effrt t establish a nn-migratry ppulatin in Luisiana began. This reintrductin has been a cllabrative effrt between the Luisiana Department f Wildlife and Fisheries, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the US Gelgical Survey, the Internatinal Crane Fundatin and the LA Cperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Histrically, the Gulf Cast f Luisiana had a nn-migratry ppulatin f Whping Cranes until 1950. In 2016, a Whping Crane chick hatched in the wild in Luisiana fr the Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 53
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time first time in ver 75 years. Scientists cntinue t release captive-raised cranes int that ppulatin. The Luisiana Nn-Migratry Ppulatin currently has abut 50 birds. As f 2017, nly the Whping Cranes released int the Luisiana Nn-Migratry Ppulatin are raised by cstumed caretakers. Whping Cranes in the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin are nw being raised by a methd called parent-rearing. This is where the chicks are raised by adult Whping Cranes. Parent-rearing ensures that the chicks are prperly imprinted and may teach the chicks cues that humans cannt. While it is a mre natural methd, fewer chicks can be raised each year at the facilities participating in the rearing and release prgram. Since the Whping Cranes in the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin have relatively high numbers, bilgists in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have mandated a switch t the mre natural parent-rearing methd. In the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin, anther challenge scientists in WCEP had t vercme was hw t teach juvenile Whping Cranes t migrate. Chicks that hatched in captivity had n parents t teach them hw t migrate. The three methds f teaching chicks the migratin rute were: ultralight cnditining, Direct Autumn Release (DAR), and Parent-rearing (PR). As f 2018 parent-rearing is the nly methd that is cntinued t be used fr birds in the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin. Ultralight cnditining invlved training the chicks t fllw ultralight aircraft flwn by pilts in crane cstumes n a 1,200-mile jurney frm Wiscnsin t the sutheastern United States. Direct Autumn Release birds were chicks that were released int grups f lder Whping r Sandhill Cranes and learned the migratin rute frm these experienced birds that have made the migratin in previus years. The Whping Cranes that were released with these tw methds were raised by cstumed caretakers. Parent-reared birds are released int the wild near pairs f cranes t learn the migratin frm them. Parentrearing is similar t Direct Autumn Release, except the juveniles f the parent-rearing methd are raised by Whping Cranes and nt cstumed caretakers. The juvenile Whping Cranes and their surrgate parents are clsely mnitred t make sure the yung are accepted by the lder pair. Prcedure: A cstumed bilgist feeds Whping Crane chicks that are attending flight schl, where chicks are cnditined t fllw ultralight aircraft in rder t learn the migratin rute frm Wiscnsin t Flrida. Pht: Operatin Migratin 1) Hand ut cpies f the Whping Crane Crsswrd Puzzle and let students lk them ver. Shw students the Bringing Back the Cranes DVD t intrduce them t Whping Crane histry, the specifics f the restratin prject, the visual ftage f the cranes and the habitats they use, and the techniques used in ultralight migratin cnditining. Have students fill ut the crsswrd puzzle as they watch the DVD. 2) Have the students try n the crane cstume. The cstume is meant t mask the human frm, and the crane chicks imprint n the puppet head. Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 54
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time 3) Have students create a timeline illustrating the histry f Whping Cranes since the 1800s and the management effrts that have been undertaken t restre the Whping Cranes. Students can create their wn timeline r use the wrksheet prvided. 4) Students shuld be able t explain sme f the risks taken when Whping Crane chicks are raised in captivity by humans. What are the advantages and disadvantages t having adult Whping Cranes raise them, like in parent-rearing? Have students address the fllwing issues in small grups r individually t understand hw Whping Crane behavir is influenced by the envirnment in which cranes mature: a) When cnsidering the ptential effects f imprinting, explain why it is imprtant fr the scientists wh raise the chicks t wear cstumes. S that Whping Crane chicks will seek ther Whping Cranes as mates, rather than assciate with peple. b) What are sme behavirs that can evlve in Whping Cranes raised in captivity when they are nt expsed t certain elements f a wild envirnment while they are maturing? Cnsider the pssible differences in behavir between birds that are raised in the wild and birds that d nt have t hunt their wn fd r wrry abut fleeing frm predatrs because they are raised in captivity. They may nt knw hw t find their wn fd; they will nt knw hw t migrate; they may nt be familiar with ptential predatrs. c) Describe hw scientists are able t cnditin the chicks t learn the migratin rute by fllwing the ultralight aircraft. Scientists play the sund f the ultralight engines and Whping Crane calls while the eggs are incubating and t the newly hatched chicks; they wear Whping Crane cstumes and never speak in frnt f the cranes t minimize expsure f the chicks t the sund f a human vice and the frm f a human bdy; chicks are expsed t the ultralight aircraft when they are nly a few days ld; recrding f crane calls are played frm the ultralight aircraft; nce the Whping Cranes learn the rute ne time, they are familiar with it and can navigate it withut the assistance f the ultralight aircraft. Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 55
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Fllwing ultralight aircraft is ne way that yung Whping Cranes that hatch in captivity have learned the migratin rute. Pht: Operatin Migratin 5) Adpt a Crane - Students shuld track the life f a typical Whping Crane. Have students adpt a crane by writing a stry abut the life f a Whping Crane in the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin r Luisiana Nn-Migratry Ppulatin. Students shuld d sme research (using peridicals and internet infrmatin) t track sme f the current events invlving Whping Cranes ver recent years. The stry can be fictinal but shuld als reflect sme f the actual events. Students can visit a variety f rganizatinal websites fr infrmatin, including the Internatinal Crane Fundatin, Operatin Migratin, and Jurney Nrth websites. The stry can be illustrated as well. Have students draw their crane as a chick and as an adult. Stries shuld answer the fllwing questins: a) Where did the bird hatch? In captivity? In the wild? In what state did the chick hatch? b) What was its first year f life like? Was it hard t learn t fly? T learn t find fd? c) Hw did the chick learn t migrate? Frm the ultralight aircraft, ther wild cranes, r its parents in the wild? d) Where did the chick spend its first winter? In Flrida? Gergia? Tennessee? What was it like? e) What is the bird s diet like? What des it like t eat and where des it find fd mst ften? f) Where is the crane s favrite place t spend time and why? At a marsh? In a wetland n a wildlife refuge? At a farm with a small pnd? g) Des it like t interact with ther Whping Cranes? Why r why nt? Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 56
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Example f Whping Crane Timeline The Whping Crane Eastern Partnership is frmed. The histric Whping Crane range included large swaths f Canada, alng the east cast f the United States, and parts f Mexic. Aransas Natinal Wildlife Refuge established fr the prtectin f the Whping Crane wintering grunds. Peple realize dramatic recvery effrts are needed t save the Whping Crane frm extinctin. Egg cllectin begins. Captive breeding begins. First Whping Crane chick hatches in the wild in Wiscnsin in ver 100 years. First Whping Crane chick hatches in the wild in Luisiana in ver 75 years. 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Wetland destructin, excessive hunting and feather and egg cllectin result in dramatic ppulatin declines. There are nly abut 20 Whping Cranes remaining. Aransas-Wd Buffal Ppulatin f Whping Cranes begins slwly rebuilding. First successful migratin f chicks in the Eastern Migratry Ppulatin Beginning f reintrductin f experimental nn-migratry ppulatin in Luisiana Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 57
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Name: 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 58
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Whping Crane Crsswrd Puzzle Acrss 4) Whping Crane chicks raised in captivity were cnditined t fllw this type f aircraft until 2016 5) The clr f an adult Whping Crane 8) A primary fd surce fr Whping Cranes in Texas during the winter 9) Cllisins with these structures have killed dzens f Whping Cranes ver the years 10) Whping Cranes declined because f habitat lss, egg cllectin, and this activity 11) By 1941, there was nly 1 remaining Whping Crane flck in the wrld with this estimated number f birds. 12) Birds lay these Dwn 1) The first step in reintrducing a secnd migratry ppulatin f Whping Cranes was establishing a migratry 2) When birds travel suth fr the winter 3) When a species disappears frever; the Endangered Species Act was created t prevent this. 6) Whping Cranes ppulatins declined when this Nrth American ecsystem began t disappear 7) Bilgists track Whping Crane chicks n their return migratin using radi transmitters and this Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 59
Activity 7: A Jurney Thrugh Time Whping Crane Crsswrd Puzzle Answer Key Acrss 4) Ultralight 5) White 8) Blue Crab 9) Pwer Lines 10) Hunting Dwn 1) Rute 2) Migratin 3) Extinctin 6) Wetlands 7) Satellite 11) Fifteen 12) Eggs Prduced under a 2006-2007 grant frm the Wiscnsin Envirnmental Educatin Bard 60