• Tara Bozick •
• Originally published January 14, 2009 at 11:22 p.m., updated January 14, 2009 at 11:22 p.m.

AUSTWELL - The estimated flock count of endangered whooping cranes continues to hover around 270.

Biologists with the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge surveyed the area around and on the refuge by air on Jan. 8, according to a news release.

But one couple of cranes that hasn't been counted in two surveys may be dead, said Tom Stehn, whooping crane coordinator, in the release.

A young adult crane had already died in December.

The food shortage caused by a lack of freshwater entering the bays and estuaries has left the cranes searching for food elsewhere.

Tourists continue to report crane sightings in unusual locations, like the former fish farm impoundment south of Austwell. During the aerial survey, biologists spotted six cranes next to wild game feeders on the Lamar Peninsula. One chick was even seen feeding at the side of a paved road.

Stehn also predicts the cranes have switched from eating blue crab to razor clams from the open bay. Razor clams won't provide as much protein.

"The increased amount of crane use in open bay habitat on the flight is indicative of the food stress the population is facing," Stehn said in the release.

• The endangered whooping crane species reached a low of 16 birds in 1941.

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

    Share on FaceBook

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• Post a Comment
• •
• Favorite
• •
• Report error
  • Thank you for your submission.
    Error report or correction

    Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  

    
  • Close
• •