Use of surrogate parental models and age periods in a successful release of hand‐reared sandhill cranes

Abstract Ten sandhill crane chicks were reared in isolation from humans to prepare them for an experimental wild release. They were imprinted on realistic models using crane brooding calls and were fed by crane‐like puppets. Six of the chicks were simultaneously imprinted on a human in a crane costume. The other four chicks were introduced to this surrogate parent at 5–7 days of age. The chicks were fed natural foods by the parent at two wild sites, one of which, the release site, was a staging area for migratory cranes. Observations were made on their behavioral development, including the time spent close to the model or costumed parent and the percentage of time spent foraging. The chicks spent the initial month close to the surrogate parent but moved away more to forage during the second month. The chicks regressed to again spend a great deal of time near the parent during the third and fourth months. They were released during this regressive period by removing the surrogate parent. All five of the released chicks showed increased interest in wild cranes within days of the release and formed a continuous association with wild cranes within 30 days. Four of the five were relocated by telemetry the following spring back in Wisconsin. These young juvenile cranes were excellent candidates for release due to their adaptable nature and their level of social development. The artificial stimuli of the surrogate parent helped the chicks to generalize their attachment to wild cranes. Once with wild cranes they quickly learned additional survival skills.