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Date: 2025
Authors:
EVA K. SZYSZKOSKI, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
SARA E. ZIMORSKI, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
HILLARY L. THOMPSON, International Crane Foundation
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Citation:
Szyszkoski, E. K., S. E. Zimorski, and H. L. Thompson. 2025. Thirteen-year status of the Louisiana nonmigratory whooping crane reintroduction. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 16:133-145.
Abstract:
During 2011-2023, 167 captive-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) were released in the Louisiana Nonmigratory Population: 157 were costume-reared and 10 were parent-reared. There were 5 additional whooping cranes translocated to Louisiana from the Florida Nonmigratory Population. Approximately 68.7% of released cranes survived 1 year post-release and 51.3% survived 3 years following release. During 2011-2017, large cohorts of captive-reared cranes were released and the population size increased rapidly. The population grew more slowly during 2018-2023 when cohort sizes were smaller but there were more wild-hatched cranes that fledged. There were 114 mortalities, and of the 85 where remains were recovered, the leading confirmed or suspected cause of death was trauma (27.1% of cases), followed by predation (21.2%), and gunshot (16.5%). The population primarily resided in southwestern Louisiana, with some consistent use of southeastern Texas. Forty-one pairs of whooping cranes have nested and laid eggs, resulting in 67 wild-hatched chicks, 25 of which survived to fledging through 2023. As of 1 January 2024, the estimated population size was 83 individuals (39 males, 35 females, and 9 of unknown sex), 20 of which hatched in the wild.
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© 2025 North American Crane Working Group
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