Why Fewer Whooping Cranes?
Discussion of Challenge Question #1 “Why are there FEWER whooping cranes in the population this year? What different reasons can you find that explain why the number is so low?” Tom Stehn’s full report described the effect of the drought Texas had last spring and summer. The drought caused a shortage of blue crabs, the cranes’ most nutritious and favorite food. A shortage of fresh water flowing into the bogs changed the salinity, cutting down blue crab reproduction. Not having enough of the highest quality food in their diets may have affected the cranes’ winter health, as well as their abilities to successfully nest. To make the natural drought even worse, human uses took much of the water from the rivers, reducing the water that reached the bogs. It’s a situation that threatens to get worse as more people move to Texas and place more demands on the water supplies.
