Principal food crops grown in the area include varieties of grain sorghums 
upon which the cranes feed extensively. Shallow alkaline las preferred 
for roosting sites are scattered throughout the region. 
The census data included in Table 1 are the result of coordinated 
ground counts conducted at each of the major crane roosting sites on the 
dates shown. Note that a mjor population shift out of the New Mexico 
hunting area occurred between the December 31 and January 15 counts. 
Observations of January 8 indicate that at least a major portion and 
perhaps all of these birds moved into the west Texas area where they were 
safe from the harassment of hunters. 
Table 1.--Sandhil] Crane Counts - New Mexico and Texas (1960-61) 



Area Dates 
Nov. 30- 
NEW MEXICO _Decs1 Dec. 14815 Dec.31_ Jan. 13 Jan. 30 Feb.15-17 
Pecos River 1,500 379 38 987 865 1,350 
(Ft. Sumner) 
Lewiston Lake 11,415 14,815 14,935 48 ) 53 
Salt Lake (Arch) 5,452 6,722 5,900 ) ) 0 
Bitter Lake Refuge 8,340 2,300 4,596 350 245 600 
Bottomless Lakes 4,000 2,500 1,950 0 0 oO 
Dexter Slough 1,100 1,135 965 ) ) 4) 
Salt Lakes 3,266 6,791 _2,718 73 _ 1,000 __—i161 
Subtotals 35,073 34,642 31, 102 1,458 2,110 2,164 
TEXAS Zz 
Rich Lake 9,500 2,300 = ( ( 10, 300 
Mound Lake 22,000 23,600 © (. ( 23,000 
Double Lakes 11,200 8,900 i ( 42,100 ( 48,000 10,000 
Cedar Lake 5,200 4, 300 o ( ( 7,000 
Coyote Lake 22,400 18,000 5 20,000 26,000 12,000 
Baileyboro Lake 8,500 - 16,000 27,000 5,200 
(No Name) Lake 8,800 500 - - 6,500 
-Muleshoe Refuge 12,000 42,000 44,000 39,000 16,000 
Subtotals 99,600 99,600 118,600 122,100 140,000 90,000 
TOTALS - 
(N.Mex. & Texas) 134,673 134,242 149,702 123,558 142,110 92,164 
