Experts monitored 58
breeding pairs of the endangered species in Wisconsin
Almost two thirds got together
before at least one of them was sexually mature
Scientists believe there are
benefits to the birds of long-term monogamy
This includes coordinating
food foraging and protection from predators
PUBLISHED: 17:06, 23
November 2017 | UPDATED: 17:10, 23 November 2017
Rare whooping cranes often have
childhood sweethearts.
Almost two thirds of breeding
pairs get together before at least one of them is sexually mature, a new study
shows.
Experts believe the finding
demonstrates that there must be benefits to the birds of favouring long-term
monogamous relationships.
The Whooping Crane is one of the
rarest North American birds.
It is a long-legged, wading bird
that is related to Rails, a group of small, secretive, marsh birds.
Adult birds are mostly white,
with black extending the length of their outer wing feathers. Their crown is dark red, and a
black 'moustache' extends from the bird's bill to the lower face. Their overall shape is
reminiscent of a heron or egret, but more robust.
Never an abundant species, the
total population had dwindled, due to hunting pressures and habitat loss, to a
low of 16 birds in 1941.
Today, there are only thought to
be 612 captive and wild birds in existence, although their numbers are
increasing.
A team of researchers, led by the
University of Georgia in Athens, tracked a group of endangered whooping
cranes that was reintroduced to the eastern United States in 2001.
Each bird in this Wisconsin based
population is fitted with a transmitter, allowing experts to track their
movements.
As part of their courtship
rituals, the cranes perform loud calls as well as jumping and flapping
their wings.
Of the 58 breeding pairs
monitored, 62 per cent began mixing with each other at least one year before
they mated, according to reports in New Scientist.
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