Report Results

Recovery Plan Ad Hoc Report results

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Entity ID=110

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Document ID=600009

Plan Title	Plan Stage	Plan Lead Region (FWS)	Plan Lead Office (FWS)	Species Common Name	Species Scientific Name	Action Priority	Action Number	Action Description	Action Status	Estimated Initiation Date	Estimated Completion Date	Action Lead Agencies	Responsible Parties	Work Types	Labor Types	Comments	Implementation Activity Number	Implementation Activity Description	Implementation Activity Status	Implementation Activity Estimated Initiation Date	Implementation Activity Estimated Completion Date	Implementation Activity Labor Types	Implementation Activity Work Types	Implementation Activity Comments
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	1.0	Develop population dynamics and minimum viable population models for the Mississippi sandhill crane	Complete	Prior to FY 1995	Prior to FY 1995	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Other Information	Contract
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	1.1	Restoration of the standing population	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2030	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Species Expert, Volunteer	Using Existing Program Funds plus donated labor from our captive propagation cooperators, White Oak Conservation Center and Audubon Institute.	1.1	FY23 Cohort development and release	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	1.1	Restoration of the standing population	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2030	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Species Expert, Volunteer	Using Existing Program Funds plus donated labor from our captive propagation cooperators, White Oak Conservation Center and Audubon Institute.	1.1	FY 24 Cohort releases	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	For the 45th release year, we released two cohorts of captive-reared juvenile cranes for a total of 9. We transferred 6 captive-reared juveniles from ASSC on October 29, acclimated them inside the netted Fontainebleau Pen, and released them 2 weeks later on November 12. We transferred 3 captive-reared juveniles from WOC on October 30, acclimated them inside the netted Headquarters pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 13. Upon arrival, all 9 received a USGS BBL band and a leg mount GPS-GSM transmitter (Ornitela, Vilnius, Lithuania) above the left hock, and a unique combination of 3 plastic legs bands (ELSA, Pfinztal, Germany, distributed by Crane Conservation Germany) above the right hock.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	2.2	Restore Nesting Habitats	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2035	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	U.S. Forest Service, National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation	Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Use Existing Program Funds
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.0	Increase recruitment, reduce mortality, and enhance heterozygosity	Ongoing Current			U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Depredation Control, Management: Population Monitoring	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		3.2.3.1	FY23 Egg Transfer	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	2023 Egg Collections. We transferred 1 wild egg from the Refuge (Ricky Territory, male NV11 and female 337) to the captive population at ASSC to increase genetic heterozygosity.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.0	Increase recruitment, reduce mortality, and enhance heterozygosity	Ongoing Current			U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Depredation Control, Management: Population Monitoring	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		3.2.3.1	FY24 Egg Transfer	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Egg Collections. TAKE. We transferred one wild egg from the Refuge (North Ricky Territory, male NV11 and female 337) to the captive population at ASSC on April 12 to increase genetic heterozygosity. I pulled a nonviable egg from two nests: Little German Savanna and South Brown’s Trail Pond.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.1	Minimize human contact with wild nesting cranes	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Planning, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Other: Regulations	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Species Expert	no cost
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.2	Maximize heterogeneity and releases of captive-raised cranes	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Propagation, Management: Reintroduction, Research: Taxonomic Studies, Research: Demographic Studies, Research: Propagation, Research: Genetics	Graduate Student, Internal Administrative, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Species Expert	Fish and Wildlife Service captive propagation cooperators include the White Oak Conservation Center and the Audubon Institute. Currently, this task is being accomplished with their constributions and existing FWS program funds.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.3	Enhance Natural Recruitment	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status	Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Research Costs as in 6.0, however currently the task is being accomplished with existing program funds.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.4	Monitor Releases and Other Techniques	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Population Surveys	Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Use Existing Program Funds	3.4	FY23 Cohort Monitoring	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	For the 44th release year 2023, we released two cohorts of captive-reared juvenile cranes for a total of 14. We transferred 7 captive-reared juveniles from WOCC on November 1, acclimated them inside the netted Fontainebleau Pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 15. We transferred 7 captive-reared juveniles from ASSC on November 2, acclimated them inside the netted Headquarters pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 16. Upon arrival, all 14 received a USGS BBL band and a leg mount GSM transmitter above the left hock, and a unique combination of three Fraunhofer plastic legs bands above the right hock. We collected time budget data and conducted a predator challenge for each cohort during acclimation.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.4	Monitor Releases and Other Techniques	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Population Surveys	Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Use Existing Program Funds	3.4	FY24 Cohort Releases	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	For the 45th release year, we released two cohorts of captive-reared juvenile cranes for a total of 9. We transferred 6 captive-reared juveniles from ASSC on October 29, acclimated them inside the netted Fontainebleau Pen, and released them 2 weeks later on November 12. We transferred 3 captive-reared juveniles from WOC on October 30, acclimated them inside the netted Headquarters pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 13. Upon arrival, all 9 received a USGS BBL band and a leg mount GPS-GSM transmitter (Ornitela, Vilnius, Lithuania) above the left hock, and a unique combination of 3 plastic legs bands (ELSA, Pfinztal, Germany, distributed by Crane Conservation Germany) above the right hock.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.4.5	FY24 Juvenile Banding & Transmitters	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	We transferred 6 captive-reared juveniles from ASSC on October 29, acclimated them inside the netted Fontainebleau Pen, and released them 2 weeks later on November 12. We transferred 3 captive-reared juveniles from WOC on October 30, acclimated them inside the netted Headquarters pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 13. Upon arrival, all 9 received a USGS BBL band and a leg mount GPS-GSM transmitter (Ornitela, Vilnius, Lithuania) above the left hock, and a unique combination of 3 plastic legs bands (ELSA, Pfinztal, Germany, distributed by Crane Conservation Germany) above the right hock.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.5.3	FY23 Mortality Determinations	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Mortality. There were 7 confirmed mortalities in 2023. All 6 with known causes were due to trauma, 3 from predation and 3 from vehicle strike. All 3 of the vehicle strike mortalities were breeding birds, 2 had chicks at the time. Crane 2209 was the first crane in this population dying due to likely alligator predation. Crane 1409 had fledged 3 chicks with mate 1603 since 2020. Crane 1408 had fledged 3 chicks with mate 731 from 2019 to 2022. Crane 331 nested in Beasley Pond area since 2007 and had fledged 4 chicks with mate 952.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.5.3	FY24 Mortality Determinations	Not Started			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Mortality. There were 2 confirmed mortalities in 2024 (Table 5). Contract trapper Delancey found 3 feather piles along Longleaf Road at the south end of G06S and we determined that they were the remains of a dead crane. In late October, GPS GSM locations data indicated crane #2101 aka Thunder, a HY21 ASSC-reared male, was likely dead and I found the remains November 1 on the edge of the North Valentine Pond in 8 cm water, probably due to predation. The remains consisted of most of the skeleton and right leg with bands confirming his identity. The left leg with the transmitter was not located after several searches. This was during an extended drought when the pond was low and he was more exposed to predation on the roost. Although the remains of #2006 were found in January 2024, transmitter data indicated that she had died in late December, and she was reported as a 2023 mortality.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.5.4	FY23 Juvenile Banding & Transmitters	Not Started			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	We transferred 7 captive-reared juveniles from ASSC on November 2, 2023, acclimated them inside the netted Headquarters pen, and released them 2 weeks later November 16. Upon arrival, all 14 received a USGS BBL band and a leg mount GSM transmitter above the left hock, and a unique combination of three Fraunhofer plastic legs bands above the right hock.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.5.7.3	FY23 Predator Management	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	2023 Predator Management: Predation continues to be the number one known cause of mortality in all age classes of cranes. In 2023, the contract trapper Delancey ran (toe-hold) traps during 5 months June-July, October - December to protect nesting and release cranes. Over 4161 trap-nights, he removed 12 coyotes, 4 bobcat, 1 red fox, and 79 raccoons.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	3.5	Reduce Mortality	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control, Management: Land Use, Other: Law Enforcement, Research: Predation	Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Using Existing Funds and contract predator control.	3.5.7.3	FY24 Predator Management	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Predator Management. Predation continues to be the number one known cause of mortality in all age classes of cranes. In 2024, the contract trapper Delancey ran (toe-hold) traps during 8 months January-June, November - December to protect nesting and release cranes. Over 4476 trap-nights, he removed 17 coyotes, one bobcat, two red foxes, and 73 raccoons. TAKE. There was no known take from predator trapping work. No cranes were caught in predator traps.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	5.1	Manage Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge for reestablishment of a crane population	Ongoing Current			U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Reintroduction	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Species Expert
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	1	6.0	Research, as needed.	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Research	Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract	ResponsibiLities and Costs to be Determined.	6.0	Woolley: Understanding differential fledging success of endangered Mississippi sandhill cranes across Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR.	Complete		2023	Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Certain areas of Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge have consistently produced more Mississippi sandhill crane nests and chicks than others, even as the crane pair nesting in those areas changed. Understanding the drivers of this pattern is an important step toward achieving the goal of a self-sustaining wild Mississippi sandhill crane population. By adapting a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for Florida sandhill cranes to Mississippi sandhill cranes we examined whether differential habitat suitability of nest sites explains the historical variation in nesting production across the refuge. Between 1991 – 2022, mean HSI of geolocated nest sites (n = 554, X̅ = 0.52) was significantly higher than that of an equal number of random points across the refuge (X̅ = 0.36). This indicates that our HSI model corresponds to historical nest site choice. However, fledging rate as measured by number of chicks surviving to fledge divided by number of nests did not differ between high and low HSI nest sites, suggesting that factors outside of habitat suitability contribute to chick survival.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	2.0	Restore, improve, and maintain nesting, feeding, and roosting habitats within the Refuge	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995		U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation	Labor type not yet selected		2.0	FY23 Habitat Management	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Fire Management Refuge Complex Fire Management staff conducted 35 prescribed burns on 34 days in 34 compartments, totaling 5437 acres (Figure 3), 2967 acres (54.6%) during the growing season. There were 30 burns on 29 burn days for 4957 acres during the March – July crane nesting season, but there was no known take. Biology and Fire management staff closely coordinated so no burns were conducted in compartments when nests or chicks were present. On April 6, the G-05N burn was stopped when two young chicks were observed within the burn unit. Three or four other areas that have nesting pairs were burned early to avoid potential take, but those treatments during the dormant season are not as effective for habitat management of woody vegetation. There was 1 wildfire on the Refuge for 5 acres. Habitat Management – Mechanical Treatment. We used mechanical methods, by ourselves and others, to treat 1256 acres. A Fire funded contractor mulched 1087 acres in the southeast Ocean Springs Unit, likely one of the largest such projects since 2011. This included most of O09, O11, O12, and O18. The O12 unit includes historic crane nesting territory #13. Fire staff and others used chain saws to cut 9.2 acres of pine in G-07, G-15N, and G-19. Wildlife Interns lopped 160 acres of small pine regen in G03NE, G06C, G06N, G07, G05N, G12N, G14N to enhance North Valentine, Ben Williams 4, Headquarters, Kiosk savannas, and Gautier Pen. Interns Power and Wood pulled 0.5 acres of the invasive bag pod (Sesbenia vesicaria) along north Brown’s Trail in the north Gautier Unit. Habitat Management – Chemical. There was a record high 469 acres treated chemically in 2023. We treated 366 acres of the invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), likely the highest acreage ever. ISST project contractor ChemPro sprayed 160 acres of cogongrass in the north Ocean Springs Unit on and near Kestrel and Quail Pastures. Fire funded contractor Back 40 sprayed 170.4 acres of cogongrass in the Gautier Unit and in the Ocean Springs Unit (south of the ISSTarea). Fire staff and volunteers chemically treated another 36 acres of cogongrass in public areas near buildings and along public roads. Utility companies and contractors sprayed 103 acres of pine regen and other woody species along rights-of way; Cooperative energy treated 43 acres and ChemPro treated 70 acres for Mississippi Power. Habitat Management – Pasture/Farming/Mowing. There are 450 acres in 18 agricultural units on the Refuge to provide crane foraging. The objective is to mow them 2-3 times annually. As part of the NRPP, these areas were reclassified as Working Fields or Fields, locally. There are 9 units and 323 acres in the Ocean, 8 units and 124 acres in the Gautier Unit and one 2.5-acre field in the Fontainebleau Unit. Fire Management staff mowed 190 acres, most just once or twice. Most of the former crop units except Woodlake were mowed. Only 50 acres of Kestrel Pasture was mowed and none in Quail Pasture. Fire staff mowed 62 acres around the North Fontainebleau Field, maintaining 64 acres in open grass-dominated condition. In addition to that 190 acres, staff and volunteers also mowed two acres of the Fontainebleau Pen and 1.3 acres in and around the Headquarters Pen. We did no planting in 2023
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	2.0	Restore, improve, and maintain nesting, feeding, and roosting habitats within the Refuge	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995		U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation	Labor type not yet selected		2.0	FY24 Habitat Management	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Fire Management (Courtesy David Stoesz and Sami, Gray, Refuge Fire Management) Refuge Complex Fire Management staff conducted 24 prescribed burns on 23 days in 26 compartments, totaling 5413 acres, 4613 acres (85%) during the growing season. All were doing the during the March – June crane nesting season, but there was no known take. Biology and Fire management staff closely coordinated so no burns were conducted in compartments when nests or chicks were present. Four burns occurred with active nests. There were two wildfires on the Refuge for 224 acres, including 192 acres in G10 SSE of headquarters. Habitat Management – Mechanical Treatment Savanna (Courtesy David Stoesz and Sami, Gray, Refuge Fire Management). Refuge staff used mechanical methods, by ourselves and others, to masticate and chain saw areas to improve savannas. A Fire funded contractor mulched 700 acres in the southeast Ocean Springs Unit, completing 1800 acres in last 2 years in O09, O11, O12, and O18Fire staff disked 120 acres and mowed 46 acres of fireline. Habitat Management – Chemical (Courtesy David Stoesz and Sami, Gray, Refuge Fire Management). Invasive Species Strike Team ‘ISST’ project contractor UFL Vegetation Management sprayed 500 acres of Chinese tallow in the north Ocean Springs Unit, by far the largest tallow treatment in Refuge history. Fire staff and volunteers chemically treated another 2.9 acres of cogongrass in public areas near buildings. Utility companies and contractors sprayed 63 acres of pine regen and other woody species along rights-of way in the Ocean Springs Unit. Habitat Management – Pasture/Farming/Mowing. There are 450 acres in 18 agricultural units on the Refuge to provide crane foraging. The objective is to mow them 2-3 times annually. As part of the National Resource Prioritization Process or ‘NRPP’, these areas were reclassified as Working Fields or Fields. There are 9 Working Fields and 323 acres in the Ocean, 8 Working Fields and 124 acres in the Gautier Unit and one 2.5-acre Working Field in the Fontainebleau Unit. Fire Management staff mowed all 450 acres, most areas twice. In addition, staff and volunteers also mowed two acres of the Fontainebleau Pen and 1.3 acres in and around the Headquarters Pen.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	2.1	Complete acquisition of Refuge lands	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Acquisition: Exchange, Acquisition: Fee Title, Acquisition: Other	Contract	Using existing program funds.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	2.2	Increase and improve active and potential nesting sites	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Predator and Competitor Control	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance	Currently, using existing program funds.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	2.3	Increase and improve feeding and roosting habitats	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995		U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation	Internal Field Assistance		2.3	Foraging and Roosting Management	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Fire Management Refuge Complex Fire Management staff conducted 35 prescribed burns on 34 days in 34 compartments, totaling 5437 acres (Figure 3), 2967 acres (54.6%) during the growing season. There were 30 burns on 29 burn days for 4957 acres during the March – July crane nesting season, but there was no known take. Biology and Fire management staff closely coordinated so no burns were conducted in compartments when nests or chicks were present. On April 6, the G-05N burn was stopped when two young chicks were observed within the burn unit. Three or four other areas that have nesting pairs were burned early to avoid potential take, but those treatments during the dormant season are not as effective for habitat management of woody vegetation. There was 1 wildfire on the Refuge for 5 acres. Habitat Management – Mechanical Treatment. We used mechanical methods, by ourselves and others, to treat 1256 acres. A Fire funded contractor mulched 1087 acres in the southeast Ocean Springs Unit, likely one of the largest such projects since 2011. This included most of O09, O11, O12, and O18. The O12 unit includes historic crane nesting territory #13. Fire staff and others used chain saws to cut 9.2 acres of pine in G-07, G-15N, and G-19. Wildlife Interns lopped 160 acres of small pine regen in G03NE, G06C, G06N, G07, G05N, G12N, G14N to enhance North Valentine, Ben Williams 4, Headquarters, Kiosk savannas, and Gautier Pen. Interns Power and Wood pulled 0.5 acres of the invasive bag pod (Sesbenia vesicaria) along north Brown’s Trail in the north Gautier Unit. Habitat Management – Chemical. There was a record high 469 acres treated chemically in 2023. We treated 366 acres of the invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), likely the highest acreage ever. ISST project contractor ChemPro sprayed 160 acres of cogongrass in the north Ocean Springs Unit on and near Kestrel and Quail Pastures. Fire funded contractor Back 40 sprayed 170.4 acres of cogongrass in the Gautier Unit and in the Ocean Springs Unit (south of the ISSTarea). Fire staff and volunteers chemically treated another 36 acres of cogongrass in public areas near buildings and along public roads. Utility companies and contractors sprayed 103 acres of pine regen and other woody species along rights-of way; Cooperative energy treated 43 acres and ChemPro treated 70 acres for Mississippi Power. Habitat Management – Pasture/Farming/Mowing. There are 450 acres in 18 agricultural units on the Refuge to provide crane foraging. The objective is to mow them 2-3 times annually. As part of the NRPP, these areas were reclassified as Working Fields or Fields, locally. There are 9 units and 323 acres in the Ocean, 8 units and 124 acres in the Gautier Unit and one 2.5-acre field in the Fontainebleau Unit. Fire Management staff mowed 190 acres, most just once or twice. Most of the former crop units except Woodlake were mowed. Only 50 acres of Kestrel Pasture was mowed and none in Quail Pasture. Fire staff mowed 62 acres around the North Fontainebleau Field, maintaining 64 acres in open grass-dominated condition. In addition to that 190 acres, staff and volunteers also mowed two acres of the Fontainebleau Pen and 1.3 acres in and around the Headquarters Pen. We did no planting in 2023.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.0	Monitor the response of wild cranes to habitat management actions	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Population Assessment, Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Planning, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Management Techniques, Research: Demographic Studies, Management: Population Monitoring	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Volunteer	Use Existing Program Funds	4.0	FY23 Monitoring	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	‘Base’ monitoring ‘Base’ monitoring is considered the minimum to assess survival, locations, social grouping and includes visual surveys from observation blinds and vehicles, radio tracking from vehicles, and use of camera traps. We collected information for date, time, location, UTM coordinates, observation type, identification, and behavior and entered those data in a MS Access database. In 2023, we conducted year-round ‘base’ monitoring including visual observations on 245 days: 335 days including camera trap observations. We used camera traps at 35 locations. About 70% of the population was color-marked. This was the first year since 1980 that no crane had a working VHF transmitter. By the end of the year, there were 42 cranes equipped with a leg-mounted GSM transmitter that collected one location per hour. Crane Nest Census was conducted on 82 days between February 8 and September 22, a 226-day span, likely a record. That included 94 ground searches/visits, 0 boat, and 0 aerial (UAS) surveys. The ground searches were in 30 different areas, 25 on the Refuge. There were 3 new areas: G14SE, G18SE, Benedict Cousins SW. There were 91 area visits, 43 active nest/chick visits, and only 8 chick handling events, all for banding. We tested the use of elevated nest structures from TEL Conservation in 3 nest ponds hoping those pairs would adopt them for nesting, reducing egg loss to flooding. Away from the nest we conducted 51 road surveys, 14 call surveys, and 13 early blind surveys. We used camera traps at 35 locations, all but one was at feeders/foraging areas away from nests. One camera was placed in Vickers swamp edge before nesting to determine if that pair would use a nest structure; nesting was not thought to have been disturbed by the camera.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.0	Monitor the response of wild cranes to habitat management actions	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Population Assessment, Management: Identify/Protect Foraging, Breeding and Mig Habitats, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Planning, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Management Techniques, Research: Demographic Studies, Management: Population Monitoring	Contract, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance, Volunteer	Use Existing Program Funds	4.0	FY24 Monitoring	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	‘Base’ monitoring ‘Base’ monitoring is considered the minimum to assess survival, locations, social grouping and includes visual surveys from observation blinds and vehicles, radio tracking from vehicles, and use of camera traps. We collected information for date, time, location, UTM coordinates, observation type, identification, and behavior and entered those data in a MS Access database. In 2024, we conducted year-round ‘base’ monitoring including visual observations on 244 days: 341 days including camera trap observation. We used camera traps at 32 locations. About 70% of the population was color marked. By the end of the year, there were 49 cranes equipped with a leg-mounted GSM transmitter that collected one location per hour. Crane Nest Survey. We conducted on 77 days between February 14 and September 13, a 212-day span. That included 132 ground searches/visits for 132 staff hours, 2 boat surveys, and 0 aerial (UAS) surveys. The ground searches were in 43 different areas, 38 on the Refuge. There were 4 new areas: SW Beasley S, Pylate/Antioch, McGinnis, and NW JCUA. Away from the nest we conducted 52 road surveys, 12 call surveys, and 4 early blind surveys. We used camera traps at 31 locations, all but one was at feeders/foraging areas away from nests. TAKE. There were 134 total area visits. 44 active nest/chick visits, and only 8 chick handling events. There was no known take from the nest visits and chick handling by me and interns. I could not document any abandonment from this activity. Locations. We recorded 2071 crane observation records, including 784 visual and 7 aural. There were 2 roost observations at North Valentine Pond. Of the 10,000s of camera trap images, we used 1280 for observation records. There were 1832 observations or 88% on the refuge, 72.1% of non-camera observations were on the refuge (Figure 3). I calculated the range of these observations as 100,425 acres. This does not include locations for the GSM transmitter-equipped cranes. Analysis of 10,000s of GPS GSM transmitter locations is incomplete, but we did document large movements of 3 cranes east from the Refuge to Grand Bay NWR to almost Mobile Bay. Nesting. There were a record 46 pairs and 21 renests for a total of 67 nests. A record four pairs (731/1804, 1315/FT17, NV11/337, WC18/UB) nested 3 times. The first nest, HQ1/1603 in Rock Hill area off Refuge, likely initiated around February 19. The last one was the third week in June in the Ocean Springs Pen by the unbanded pair. There were 34 nests where the clutch size was known, a total of 59 eggs, for an average clutch size of 1.73. Thirty-one were found (Figure 4), 16 using GSM tag data. There were another 27 inferred by adult behavioral evidence, 7 from adult behavioral evidence and a chick(s), 2 from chick/juvenile, and 2 from GSM tag data alone. An egg was found in a structure on private property that was believed laid elsewhere. Twenty-one nests hatched at least one egg, 36 did not hatch, and hatching was unknown in 12 others. Nine nests were known to be predated and another 8 were lost to flooding. At least two chicks died on the nest, one from flooding Thirteen chicks fledged, tied for the second highest ever (Figure 17): (HQ1/1603, 1402/1510, 541/W41, 831/UB, 434/825, WC10/1101, W25/UB, BWB/UB, BE17/1309) including a record 4 sets of twins. Of the 13, 4 were from the Gautier Unit, one from the Ocean Springs Unit, and 8 off Refuge, including 3 sets of twins. A recent trend of most of the recruitment coming from off the Refuge continued. This was the first fledging from pairs BWB/UB and BE17/1309 and the Fox Run territory. Post-release survival. Thirteen of the 14 released in November 2023 survived one year after release, a 93% post-release survival. This is well above the 44-year average of 72% (Figure 18).
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.1	Estimate the wild population, including sex and age components	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Population Monitoring	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		4.1	FY23 Population Dynamics	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	2023 Year-end Population. The year-end population was another record high of 174 cranes. That exceeds the high end of the 130-170 population objective in the 1991 recovery plan. The last 4 years saw the population top 140, 150, 160, and now 170 (Figure 20). This chart shows a steady population increase, especially since 2007. There were 121 banded and 53 unbanded cranes. There 67 males, 72 females, and 35 of unknown sex. There were 108 (62%) in the Gautier or eastern area, 53 (30%) in the Ocean Springs or western area, and 13 (7%) in the Fontainebleau or southern area. Eighty-two (47%) are wild-hatched and 92 (53%) are captive hatched with 62 from the ASSC and 30 from WOCC. The oldest marked crane is #718 who is 27 years old in 2024.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.1	Estimate the wild population, including sex and age components	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Population Monitoring	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		4.1.3	FY23 Nest Searches	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	There were 44 pairs and 25 renests for a total of 69 nests, all record highs going back to 1965. Two pairs (UB male/1703 female, 1115/2011) nested 3 times. The first nest, 436/433, likely initiated around February 8, probably at MDOT Pond. The last one was in early June by NV11/337. There were 29 nests where the clutch size was known, a total of 54 eggs, for an average clutch size of 1.86. Twenty-six nests were found, 13 using GSM tag data, and 8 where chick(s) were observed but the nest was not found. There were another 33 inferred by behavioral evidence and 2 from GSM tag data alone. Twenty-six nests hatched at least one egg, 24 did not hatch, and hatching was unknown in 19 others. Eight nests were known to be predated and at least 2 were flooded. There were 17 (66%) nests in ponds, 7 (24%) in savanna, 3 (8%) in hydric swamp strand, and 1(1%) in scrub. None of the 3 elevated nest structures were used.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.1	Estimate the wild population, including sex and age components	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Population Monitoring	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		4.1.3	FY24 Nest Searches	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Crane Nest Survey. We conducted on 77 days between February 14 and September 13, a 212-day span. That included 132 ground searches/visits for 132 staff hours, 2 boat surveys, and 0 aerial (UAS) surveys. The ground searches were in 43 different areas, 38 on the Refuge. There were 4 new areas: SW Beasley S, Pylate/Antioch, McGinnis, and NW JCUA. Away from the nest we conducted 52 road surveys, 12 call surveys, and 4 early blind surveys. We used camera traps at 31 locations, all but one was at feeders/foraging areas away from nests. TAKE. There were 134 total area visits. 44 active nest/chick visits, and only 8 chick handling events. There was no known take from the nest visits and chick handling by me and interns. I could not document any abandonment from this activity.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.1	Estimate the wild population, including sex and age components	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Population Monitoring	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		4.1.5	FY23 Mark and Release of Adult Wild Cranes	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	2023 Crane Captures. We continue to attempt to capture cranes for marking. Current targets included wild HY juveniles for leg bands (USGS BBL metal, and plastic color combination of 3 German click bands) and to attach an Ornitela GPS GSM transmitter to one member of breeding pairs with an unknown nesting area. In 2023, there were 62 trap sessions in 11 months at 14 sites on 58 days, with 351.3 staff hours. This did not include travel or set-up time, nor the hundreds of hours that interns serviced feeders, viewed 10,000s of images and entered key observations. There were at least two people at each session. We used just two techniques in 2023: hand grab and bownet. From 18 capture attempts (29% of sessions), we caught 16 cranes, all of them targets. That 16 was the highest number since 2008. We caught 8 using hand grab (6 chicks and 2 captive-reared juveniles inside acclimation pen) and 8 using the bownet. The hand grab total of 8 was the highest annual total ever, going back to 1984. The 6 chicks caught ties the highest ever from 2001. All hand grab attempts were successful. This was the second year using the bownet and it was the only technique we used for flight capable cranes. Unfortunately, there were 4 bownet failures (50% success) with 5 cranes escaping as we learned to adapt it for crane capture. There were no injuries during capture and restraint and all 16 were released safely.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.1	Estimate the wild population, including sex and age components	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Population Monitoring	Internal Field Assistance, Internal Technical Assistance		4.1.5	FY24 Mark and Release of Adult Wild Cranes	Ongoing Current			Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	Crane Captures. We continue to attempt to capture cranes for marking. Current targets included wild HY juveniles for leg bands (USGS BBL metal, and plastic color combination of 3 ELSA bands and to attach an Ornitela GPS GSM transmitter to one member of breeding pairs with an unknown nesting area. In 2024, there were 58 trap sessions in 11 months at 15 sites on 55 days, with 289 staff hours. This did not include travel or set-up time, nor the hundreds of hours that interns serviced feeders, viewed 10,000s of images and entered key observations. There were at least two people at each session. We used 4 techniques in 2024: hand grab, Indian toe nooses, bownet and soft coffin. From 20 capture attempts (34% of sessions), we caught 11 cranes (55% success), all of them targets. We caught 8 chicks using hand grab and 3 banded AHY cranes, one with the soft coffin and 2 with nooses. The hand grab total of 8 chicks was the highest annual total ever, going back to 1984. All hand grab attempts for chicks were successful. We attempted to catch 2 injured cranes, 2305 with a broken mandible and the Jordan juvenile with a wounded foot. We caught 2305 with toe nooses, transported him for ASSC for treatment, and returned him to release at the capture site on private land east of the south Gautier Unit. We made 9 attempts but were unable to catch the flighted Jordan juvenile. For flighted cranes, 3 captures was about average since 2013. However, the 55% captured per attempt was one of the lowest. The flighted Jordan juvenile narrowly escaped two hand grab attempts. This was the third year using the bownet and it was unsuccessful in 5 attempts. We learned that the bownet using a heavy net was too slow in closing. One crane whose foot was caught in a toe noose pulled the noose from the line and escaped, the first time has happened since we started using them in 1998. Camera images showed the noose was not on the crane when it reappeared back at the feeder.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	4.2	Alabama Cranes Survey	Complete	Prior to FY 1995	FY 1995 - FY 1999	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Alabama Natural Heritage Program , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status	Contract	Funded
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	2	5.0	Establish Other Viable Populations	Not Started			U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Louisiana Natural Heritage Program , National Wildlife Refuge , Alabama Natural Heritage Program , Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Work type not yet selected	Labor type not yet selected		5.0	Grand Bay Reintroduction Planning Meeting	Planned	2024		Labor type not yet selected	Work type not yet selected	On July 22-23, 2024 species lead (Kelly Morris) hosted a meeting at Grand Bay NWR/NERR to facilitate the development of a Reintroduction Plan for the MS Sandhill Crane at Grand Bay NWR/NERR. A priority recovery action for the MS Sandhill Crane, as outlined in the Recovery Plan, is to review the potential for reestablishing a breeding population at Grand Bay NWR, located in Moss Point, MS. As part of this process, we intend to develop a Reintroduction Plan for the species to help facilitate this action. Primary objectives of the Reintroduction Plan are to: 1) Reintroduce a wild MS Sandhill Crane population in a manner that stabilizes and grows the wild population through captive rearing, genetic management of captive and wild populations, and the release of captive-reared individuals in an adaptive management context and; 2) Restore and maintain optimal conditions in suitable habitat through continued use of land management practices, such as prescribed fire, mechanical treatments. Primary partners: FWS: MS ESFO, MS Sandhill Crane NWR, Grand Bay NWR State: MS Dept. of Marine Resources, MS Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks NOAA: Grand Bay NERR Cooperative Breeding Facilities: Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, White Oak Conservation Center
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	3	2.4	Increase and Improve Winter Foraging Habitats	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation	Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Use Existing Program Funds
Mississippi Sandhill Crane	RF(3)	4	Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (601) 965-4900	Mississippi sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis pulla	3	3.2	Improve Avicultural Techniques	Ongoing Current	Prior to FY 1995	FY 2050	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	National Wildlife Refuge	Research: Propagation	Volunteer, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance	Funding is provided by our captive propagation cooperators.