Survival of captive, parent-reared Mississippi sandhill cranes released on a refuge

Published source details Zwank P.J. & Wilson C.D. (1987) Survival of captive, parent-reared Mississippi sandhill cranes released on a refuge. Conservation Biology, 1, 165-168.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of cranes Action Link

Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of cranes

A replicated study describing the success of releasing captive-bred Mississippi sandhill cranes Grus canadensis pulla onto a wet pine savanna site in Mississippi, USA (Zwank & Wilson 1987) found that, of 40 birds released between 1979 and 1985, 46% were alive at the end of the study (between one and six years after release). Of the 22 mortalities, 16 (73%) occurred during the first year after release, with three during each of the second and third years. Predation and human-caused mortality were the main causes. Birds were bred in captivity and parent-raised before being rendered temporarily flightless with wing brails and moved to acclimatisation pens. They were between four months and one year old at release.