. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1999 Burnett: Chapter 9: Endangered Species 141. Trumpeter Swans were one of the first species at risk to attract the attention and care of the Wildlife Service. Here, biologist Ron Mackay examines an immature bird on nesting grounds near Grande Prairie, Alberta (Photo credit: CWS). Superintendent of Forestry for Wood Buffalo National Park, and Don Landells, helicopter pilot, had spotted four Whooping Cranes. Three were adults, white with striking red caps, but one was unmistak- ably a juvenile in cinnamon brown plumage. The birds were in wetlands near the Sass
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1999 Burnett: Chapter 9: Endangered Species 141. Trumpeter Swans were one of the first species at risk to attract the attention and care of the Wildlife Service. Here, biologist Ron Mackay examines an immature bird on nesting grounds near Grande Prairie, Alberta (Photo credit: CWS). Superintendent of Forestry for Wood Buffalo National Park, and Don Landells, helicopter pilot, had spotted four Whooping Cranes. Three were adults, white with striking red caps, but one was unmistak- ably a juvenile in cinnamon brown plumage. The birds were in wetlands near the Sass River in the northern part of the park. Fuller himself went out the following day and confirmed that the nesting area of one of the world's rarest birds had been found. In 1955, further investigations of the site led to observation from the air of a number of nests. Initial steps were taken, at both administrative and field levels, to develop a protective strategy for the birds. The following year, David Munro, by then Chief Ornithologist of CWS, was appointed to an International Whooping Crane Advisory Group.^ In 1956, too, Bill Fuller transferred to Whitehorse. His successor in the CWS office at Fort Smith was Nick Novakowski. In addition to extensive duties in rela- tion to Bison (see Chapter 4), Beaver, and boreal ecology in general, Novakowski served as guardian and godfather to the Whooping Cranes for the next nine years. He soon appreciated why it had taken so long to find their breeding grounds. On my first flyover I discovered that it was a strange area — almost like a waterlogged savannah. There were lots of little ponds but hardly any identifiable landmarks to orient yourself by. For the cranes it was an ideally protected summer habitat. You might occasionally see a predator in the area, like a wolf, for example, but you knew that wolf would get awfully wet before he ever got close enough to attempt to catch a bird.^ Novakowski's successor, Ernie Kuyt, described t
Size: 1943px × 1286px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorottawafi, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1919
