Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) of the Central and North coast of BC

Sandhill cranes are a blue-listed (vulnerable) species in BC, requiring special management of their habitat. Very little is known about the coastal population of cranes or their habitat requirements in BC. The intern will work with the BC Ministry of Environment to conduct an inventory to locate Sandhill cranes and their nests on the central and north coast. Nesting and foraging sites will be characterized in field studies using variables relevant to the biology of the species and to forest management. As the size of this population is currently unknown and the species has a very low reproductive rate, the intern will also study nest success and predation to get information on population status and the impact of predation on eggs and chicks. Scat will be collected and analyzed for dietary components as an indication of the types of source habitats that are used for foraging, including inter-tidal areas, estuaries, forests, and bogs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Dan Smith

Student:

Krista Roessingh

Partner:

BC Ministry of Environment

Discipline:

Geography / Geology / Earth science

Sector:

Fisheries and wildlife

University:

University of Victoria