FLORIDA SANDHILL CRANE Grus canadensis pratensis (Meyer) 



Order: GRUIFORMES Family: GRUIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Long legs, neck, and bill. All gray plumage. Bare red 

 skin on crown. Smaller except for length of leg than the greater sandhill crane. Larger 

 than the lesser sandhill crane . 



Present distribution : Permanent resident in wet prairies, particularly Kissimmee Prairie 

 in Florida and extreme southern Georgia (Okefenokee Swamp). About 10 pairs in 

 Everglades National Park. 



Former distribution : Same general region as present, but in more localities. 



Status : Localized and vulnerable. Habitat diminishing, but no indication that they are 

 critically threatened at present. Status possibly improved recently due to fencing of 

 ranches and protecting of cranes on such properties . 



Estimated numbers : Between 2,000 and 3,000 estimated by Bureau of Sport Fisheries 

 and Wildlife in 1964. Sprunt (1942) estimated 2.650. 



Breeding rate in the wild : Two eggs laid each year . Usually no more than one young 

 reared. Annual production rate unknown. 



Reasons for decline : Not known to be declining but increased human populations and 

 conversion of some of wet prairie habitat for agriculture might start a downward trend. 



Protective measures already taken : Protected by Federal and State law . The Okefenokee 

 Swamp breeding area now included in a Federal refuge . Also nests on Loxahatchee 

 National Wildlife Refuge in southern Florida. Reared successfully in captivity in San Diego, 

 California Zoo. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife has a captive rearing program of 

 Florida sandhill cranes . 



Measures proposed : Preservation of some of the Florida wet prairies as refuges . 

 Continue captive rearing program to produce stock for subsequent liberation in 

 suitable habitat. 



Number in captivity : About 50, including eight in Great Bend, Chicago, New York, 

 San Antonio, and San Diego Zoos in 1963 (pair nested at San Diego in 1965); and 

 about 40 at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center . 



Breeding potential in captivity : Good . 



References : 



Walkinshaw, L. H. 1949. The sandhill crane. Cranbook Institute of Science, 



Bull. 29:202 pp. 

 Williams, L. E. , Jr., and R. W. Phillips. 1972. North Florida Sandhill Crane 



Populations . Auk 89: 541-548 . 



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