Summary

Description

Sandhill cranes have been recorded on Alaska waterfowl breeding population surveys since 1957. Aerial observations provide mean indexes of 2,200 cranes for sprucemuskeg habitat and 26,600 for tundra habitat, a total of 28,800 for Alaska. These indexes have been expanded with limited visibility correction factors for respective habitats yielding mean populations of 23,100 for sprucemuskeg and 98,400 for tundra, a total of 121,500 for Alaska. Significant positive correlations r .22, p .05 for indexes; r 2 .27: p .01 for visibility corrected indexes result when breeding population survey data is compared with Nebraska sandhill crane spring migration counts. The value of survey results could be increased with additional effort. The data show an increase in the Alaska sandhill crane breeding population 19571980, a 24 year period of consistent standard aerial waterfowl survey effort.