The Status of the Sandhill Crane in Northern Ontario

Abstract

Sandhill cranes are widely distributed in the post-glacial, marine submerged area of the Hudson Bay lowlands in northern Ontario. In the mid-1600's large numbers of cranes were reported migrating through the sourthern Georgian Bay area of Lake Huron by the missionary Sagard. The northern Ontario breeding population of sandhill cranes in referable to the race G.c. rowani. There is a summering population in the area south of the Lake of the Woods, but as yet no evidence of nesting. There birds may be referable to the race G.c. tabida. The little brown crane G.c. canadensis has occurred on migration in Ontario but does not breed in this province.