Published By US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Issued over 9 years ago
Summary
Description
Sandhill cranes have been recorded on Alaska breeding pair surveys since 1957. Observations have been expanded for area only providing mean indexes of 2,200 for sprucemuskeg habitat, 26,500 for tundra habitat, and 28,800 for Alaska. These indexes have been further expanded with postulated visibility correction factors for respective habitats yielding mean populations of 23,100 for sprucemuskeg, 98,100 for tundra, and 121,700 for Alaska. Significant positive correlations r .22, p .01 for indexes; r 2 .27, p .01 for visibility corrected indexes result when breeding pair survey data is compared with Nebraska sandhill crane spring migration counts. The value of survey results could be increased with additional effort. The data shows an increase in the Alaska sandhill crane breeding population 195780, a 24 year period of consistent standard aerial waterfowl survey effort.