Subject: [Tweeters] Common Crane question
Date: Sun Apr 25 23:59:31 PDT 2021
From: Joshua Glant - josh.n.glant at gmail.com

Despite the existence of captive birds in North America, most common crane records in the ABA Area are generally accepted as being of wild origin, particularly when they are associated with Sandhill Cranes such as on the Platte River in Nebraska and at the Bosque Del Apache NWR in New Mexico. Recent records for common crane exist in California, British Columbia, and Idaho, as well as a long-staying lone bird in Arizona. This definitely would suggest, to me, a definite pattern of vagrancy for western North America.

This Washington common crane currently associates with Canada geese instead, which seems kind of funny, but in all respects this bird seems fine for a wild individual! Who are we to judge which species a lost crane chooses to flock with?

No leg bands, plumage doesn't show any unusual wear -; and the bird was wary of humans, car noises and the barking of a backyard dog. Since the Arizona record of a lone bird was accepted by that state's record committee, and since a pattern of vagrancy does exist for this species in the West specially in migration season, I see no reason to suspect this bird as an escapee at all.

But I'll leave the final verdict up to the WBRC! That's just my 3 cents.

Joshua Glant


> On Apr 25, 2021, at 10:10 PM, Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> 

> Have Common Cranes in the US generally been regarded as escapees or as probably of wild origins?

>

> Any particular reason to suspect the Skagit bird is an escapee?

>

> - Michael Hobbs

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