MISSISSIPPI SANDHILL CRANE Grus canadensis pulla (Aldrich) 



Order: GRUIFORMES Family: GRUIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Same size as Florida sandhill crane but plumage darker 

 colored . The darkest colored of all the subspecies of sandhill cranes . 



Present distribution : Jackson County, Mississippi, near Ocean Springs and Fontainbleau 

 between the Pascagoula River on the east and Jackson-Harrison County line on the west; 

 U.S. Highway 90 on the south and Bluff Creek on the north (Valentine and Noble, 1970). 



Former distribution : More extensively distributed in areas of suitable habitat along the 

 Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 



Status : Hearing extinction because of very small and restricted population and deteriorating 

 habitat. 



Estimated numbers : Between 38 and 40 (Valentine and Noble, 1970). 



Breeding rate in the wild : One or two young per pair each year . 



Reasons for decline : Chiefly because of reduction of suitable habitat which is semiopen 

 and wet pine savannah by changing land use including drainage, planting of trees, 

 suburban development and highway building. 



Protective measures already taken ; Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is rearing 

 this species in captivity from eggs taken from wild nests with the intention of establishing 

 new wild populations . 



Measures proposed : Acquisition and restoration of habitat in present range and 

 adjoining areas. Rerouting proposed U.S. Interstate Highway No. 10 in Mississippi. 

 Expand captive rearing program to produce stock for subsequent liberation. 



Number in captivity : Nine at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 



Breeding potential in captivity : Fair . 



References : 



Aldrich, J. W. 1972. A new subspecies of sandhill crane from Mississippi. 



Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 85:63-70. 

 Howell, A. H. 1928. Birds of Alabama (2nd Ed.) U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



Bureau of Biological Survey and Department of Game and Fisheries of Alabama. 



384 pp . 

 Mcllhenny , E . A . 1938. Florida crane a resident of Mississippi . Auk 55: 598-602. 

 . 1943. Major changes in the bird life of southern Louisiana during 



sixty years . Auk 60: 541-549 . 

 Valentine, J. M., Jr., and R. E. Noble. 1970. A colony of sandhill cranes in 



Mississippi. Journal Wildlife Management 34: 761-768. 

 Walkinshaw, L. H. 1949. The sandhill cranes . Cranbrook Institute of Science, 



Bull. 29:202 pp. 



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