FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 129 



Family GRUIDAE 



Grus canadensis: Sandhill Crane 

 Grus canadensis canadensis 



This sandhill crane nests on practically the entire length of 

 Alaska Peninsula, so it is not surprising that Friedmann (1935) 

 includes this species in the avifauna of Kodiak Island also, on the 

 basis of a reported specimen as well as on bones found in middens. 



On May 26, 1936, a crane was heard calling on the tundra at 

 Snag Point, Nushagak River; cranes were heard several times on 

 the flats about Ugashik River, and, on May 27, one was observed 

 flying high in the air. On May 29, there was a pair and a group 

 of three, on the tide flats. Curiously enough, 1 bird in this group 

 of 3 appeared to be much larger than the others, giving the ap- 

 pearance of an adult with 2 immature birds. It is believed that 

 cranes nest on the flats along Ugashik River. 



A local trapper said that cranes commonly nest upriver from 

 Nelson Lagoon, and Gabrielson received reports of cranes in the 

 Cold Bay district. 



In 1925, I found cranes on Unimak Island and adjacent parts 

 of Alaska Peninsula, and, on May 1, 1925, two cranes were seen 

 at Urilia Bay. On May 21 and 22, 1925, at Moffet Cove, on 

 Izembek Bay, a pair, or a group of 3, were noted on several 

 occasions, and on June 14, 1925, Donald Stevenson saw 1 bird. 

 This bird (seen by Stevenson) was very fearless, and we thought 

 that its mate probably was on a nest not far away. On July 18, 

 on a marsh in another part of Moffet Cove, a pair of cranes tried 

 to decoy us away — evidently they had their young nearby. 



Thus, it is clear that the crane nests in suitable areas along the 

 Alaska Peninsula, probably also at Urilia Bay, Unimak Island. 

 If it nests at Unimak Island, this point probably is the western 

 limit of its breeding range. 



On August 24, 1937, I found the decomposed remains of a 

 crane (evidently a migrant straggler) on the beach of Bogoslof 

 Island. Turner (1886) states that the natives reported killing 

 a crane on Attu in October. In Turner's opinion, this bird was a 

 storm-driven straggler. 



But Austin H. Clark (1910) gives us a more significant ob- 

 servation when he says — 



On the morning of June 8 while ashore on Agattu Island I encountered a 

 pair of these birds, but could not succeed in getting anywhere near them. 

 On being flushed, they never flew for any great distance, but always alighted 

 far out in the open pasture-like areas, out of reach from any rocks or other 

 suitable cover. 



