The species I chose is a bird known as the Sandhill Crane or
Grus Canadensis. The Sandhill Crane was listed as an endangered species in the state of Washington in 1981, and remains endangered today. However, it is not on the federal Endangered Species act because there was a recovery plan that was implemented and completed in 2002. One of the main threats to the Sandhill Crane is the destruction of areas that used to provide breeding and wintering grounds for the cranes. This is mainly due to human expansion and developments in rural areas. A majority of the problems lead back to human disturbance. According to Stinson's report, the population of Sandhill Cranes has grown from a population of 10 in 1994 to roughly 98 in 2016! Sandhill cranes are vulnerable to changes in their access to hydrology. This is related to global climate change due to wetlands drying quicker in the summer, leaving less places for the crane to reside. Sandhill Cranes reproduce at a small rate, however they can live up to 40 years! Another stage of vulnerability is when chicks are developing during the summer. Due to climate change and drought, it may leave the chicks vulnerable to starvation or predation (Stinson). The State of Washington has addressed this issue by restoring healthy breeding areas for the Sandhill Cranes throughout the state, providing more grounds during migration. I picked this organism because we often see Cranes in the puget sound, and I did not think that this species would've been considered endangered until now.
Resources:
Littlefield, C. D., and G. L. Ivey. 2002. Washington State Recovery Plan for the Sandhill Crane. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 71 pages.
Stinson, D. W. 2017. Periodic status review for the Sandhill Crane. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 22 + iii pp.
“Sandhill Crane Facts.” Audubon, rowe.audubon.org/sites/g/files/amh536/f/styles/bean_wysiwyg_full_width/public/_asc1169_sandhill_crane.jpg?itok=-S9F4bU0.
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