A recent article in the Houston Chronicle recounts the experience of journalist Shannon Tompkins, who, in the company of two scientists, set out to collect data on Sandhill cranes. The knowledge garnered through this research project about their closely related Sandhill cousins will be used to help improve Whooping crane survival.
Because Sandhills and Whoopers share, “much of the same physiology, travel the same migration routes, and spend time in the same habitat, it follows that whatever parasites or other potential disease-causing or health-impacting diseases affect one species could mirror those found in the other,” states the article.
Read more on this study and its unique cooperative effort with hunters, here.
A second article on how, “Sandhill Cranes may help solve the puzzle of dwindling whooping crane population” authored by David Sikes appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller.
I have definitely mixed feelings about the “use” of sandhills, even for the potential sake of whoopers. While I do understand that whoopers are rare and that sandhills are relatively “common”, I do believe that every individual sandhill crane is every bit as precious as every individual whooping crane.