Of the eleven whooping crane pairs that built and incubated nests on the wetlands of the Necedah Wildlife Refuge, WI, all eleven abandoned their nests within a short expanse of time earlier this month. The abandoned nests were reminiscent of the previous year when a similar occurrence happened. Biologists remain puzzled and can only speculate about a number of possibilities.Was it hot spring temperatures that hovered in the low 80’s that week, the density of black flies, or some other subtle environmental signal not yet identified? Is it the inexperience of the young adult birds or the absence of natural parents at an early age that somehow lessens perseverance? Or perhaps an unlearned vocalization between the adult and the chick prior to hatching? (These adult birds were raised in incubators with the sound of the brood call.)
Answers and resolutions are not always up to us. No one really knows how many failed nests occur in the natural population that remains in Wood Buffalo in Canada. And no one knows if we can reverse what is causing this disruption. It is something to watch and to ponder. My guess is (if I can be so bold), barring something environmental that is more widespread, the whooping cranes will work it out by trial and error. They, like all other species, are driven to reproduce. Just how the culture and ecology of this re-introduced group of cranes may have changed because they are captive reared by costumed humans, remains to be seen.It gives pause to the fact that we determine species endangerment by counting species numbers rather than looking at the bigger picture—the culture and ecology of the species.
Your painting and the photos and writing are wonderful. It was so sad reading about the abandoned nests. Does that mean the chicks didn't survive? Such majestic birds! I'm not going to follow the link to the hair raising plastic bottle story just in case it's a sad story about how they've harmed the birds. I saw a little duck who'd drowned by getting his head stuck in a plastic bag in the urban lake near my office and I've been on an antii-plastic bag crusade since then. Thanks for the beautiful images of birds and thanks for the nice comment on my blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Jana,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I enjoyed my visit to your blog and seeing your art.
On the whooping crane nests, in this case, two eggs were rescued by biologists and incubated in captivity. If all goes well the chicks will join the ultralight migration this fall. With no interference, the chicks of eggs in abandoned nests are either predated or perish.
On plastic, I too am rethinking containers. Plastic is cluttering and endangering our world.
Great to have you visit!