| BIRDS -INFO -1 |
| Status: U.S. Wildlife officials counted 149 whooping cranes in November 1995, the most since the American government began taking censuses in the 1930s.In the late 1800s, there were about 1,500 birds in the aspen parkland and prairie regions of Western Canada and the U.S. As human settlement spread westward, the world population dropped to a low of 14-16 in the 1940s.Conservation efforts since 1938 have resulted in a slow increase. Including those in captivity, and 25 cranes in two other wild populations, there are now 320 whooping cranes in the world. Habitat: In late April, cranes arrive at their breeding area in Wood Buffalo National Park, which extends into northeast Alberta from the N.W.T. By the end of September, the whoopers leave for the 4,000 km flightsouth to the Aransas National Wildlife Range in Texas. By gliding on wind currents, they can stay aloft for 10 hours and cover up to 750 km. Size: Whoopers are the tallest of all birds in North America. An adult male stands 1.5 m tall, weighs as much as 7.5 kg, and has a wingspan up to 2.5 m wide. Despite their size, cranes average a flight speed of about 45km-h. Food: Cranes eat snails, larval insects, leeches, frogs, minnows, small rodents, and berries. They may scavenge dead ducks, marsh birds or muskrats. During migration, they stop to eat aquatic animals, roots of plants and waste grain in stubble fields. In Texas, they eat shellfish, snakes, acorns, small fish and wild fruit. Breeding: Whooping cranes mate for life. In early spring, adults display elaborate courtship rituals, bobbing, weaving, jumping and calling with their mates. The female lays two large eggs and both adults incubate them for the next month. The eggs hatch at different times and the second chick is often pushed out of the nest or starved. Chicks can swim as soon as they hatch. They can fly within 80-90 days. Lifespan: Up to 24 years in the wild. Risk factors: The number one cause of death of adult cranes is collisions with power lines during migration. Other factors include industrial, agricultural and recreational developments which encroach on wintering and migration rest areas. |
| Status: In the late 1970s there were about 2,100 breeding pairs left in Canada. By 1987, the population had dropped by half, with 700 pairs remaining in Alberta.After continued decline, burrowing owl status was upgraded from threatened to endangered this year. Behavior: Burrowing owls only spend the summer in Alberta. It's not known exactly where they winter, but they probably migrate to the southwestern United States or Mexico.Unlike most owls, these ones live in burrows in the ground, are active during the day and prefer toeat insects. In some populations, breeding pairs live close together in colonies. They take over and modify abandoned burrows of badgers, gophers or foxes. Appearance: Burrowing owls look like short, fat owls on stilts. They often stand upright on long, thin legs to see farther over the prairie.Food: Mainly insects, some rodents, toads, small birds, dead animals. Breeding: Courtship displays include flashing white markings, cooing, bowing, scratching, nipping and repeated short flights.The male prepares the burrow by lining it with dried plants, feathers and cow dung. The female then lays 6-12 eggs and stays underground to incubate them for about four weeks. The young birds begin to hunt for themselves after seven to eight weeks. Risk factors: Cultivation and development have significantly reduced the owls' habitat. Burrowing owls require open areaswithlow ground cover, existing burrows and abundant food -- all of which are threatened on the prairies. Owls rely entirely on burrowing animals for their nests, and many of these animals are exterminated as pests.Burrowing owls have also been killed accidentally as a result of poison programs aimed at pests and insects. |
| Status: Endangered throughout Canada. Populations in southern Canada were established with captive-bred young and remain small. Twenty years ago there were no breeding pairs in southern Alberta. Nowthere are 30 pairs across the province. Appearance: Slim birds with a small head and long, thin, pointed wings. Similar in size to crows. Food: Peregrines can reach speeds close to 320 km-h in a downward dive. They use their speed and agility to catch birds in mid-air. Their prey range in size from sparrows to large waterfowl such as ducks. Breeding: In Alberta, they nest on ledges on steep cliff faces or high office towers. A male will fly complex courtship flights for his mate. In mid-May females usually lay four eggs. Both adults help incubate the eggs which hatch in mid-June. The young birds begin to fly 35-45 days later. Due to their inexperience flying and hunting, over 60 per cent will die before the next spring. Lifespan: Up to 13 years. A falcon named Arrow nested and bred in Edmonton's AGT Tower for 11 years. Risk factors: Agricultural and industrial use of pesticides has caused a worldwide decline of peregrine falcons. Pesticide use is closely regulated in Canada and the U.S. but not in Latin America where peregrines winter. The Peregrine Falcon is a magnificent bird of prey that was dramatically affected by persistent pesticides, particularly DDT, which causes eggshell thinning. In the second half of the twentieth century, Peregrine Falcon numbers declined rapidly; the bird almost disappeared from parts of Canada and the United States. Now, thanks to conservation efforts, in particular the reduced use of persistent pesticides and the reintroduction of captive-bred young, the Peregrine Falcon is making a comeback in North America. The subspecies at greatest risk, the anatum Peregrine Falcon, was bred in captivity. More than 1 600 birds were raised at a facility in Wainwright, Alberta, operated by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Birds from this breeding facility were released into the wild across southern Canada by provincial and territorial governments, federal agencies and public interest organizations. Thanks to the success of the program, captive breeding is no longer necessary, and the facility closed in 1996. In 1999, with more the 320 pairs breeding in the wild in Canada, COSEWIC moved the subspecies from the endangered to the threatened category to reflect the improved status of the birds. In 2000, it was estimated that close to 600 pairs of anatum Peregrine Falcon were breeding in Canada. The other two subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon that breed in North America - pealei on the West coast and tundrius in the Arctic - are classified as species of special concern. |
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| Whooping Cranes |
| Burrowing Owls |
| Peregrines |
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