Data from: Natal dispersal of whooping cranes in the reintroduced eastern migratory population

Natal dispersal is a key demographic process for evaluating population
rate of change, especially for long-lived, highly mobile species. This
process is largely unknown for reintroduced populations of endangered
avian species. We evaluated natal dispersal distances (NDD) for male and
female Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) introduced into two locations in
central Wisconsin (Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, or NNWR, and the
Eastern Rectangle, or ER) using a series of demographic, spatial, and life
history related covariates. Data were analyzed using Gamma Regression
models with a log-link function and compared using Akaike Information
Criterion corrected for small sample sizes (AICc). Whooping Cranes
released in the ER dispersed 261% further than those released into NNWR,
dispersal distance increased 4% for each additional nesting pair,
decreased about 24% for males as compared to females, increased for 21%
for inexperienced pairs, and decreased 3% for each additional year of age.
Natal philopatry, habitat availability, and competition for breeding
territories may be influencing observed patterns of NDD. Whooping Cranes
released in the ER may exhibit longer NDD due to fragmented habitat or
conspecific attraction to established breeding pairs at NNWR.
Additionally, sex-biased dispersal may be increasing in this population as
there are more individuals from different natal sites forming breeding
pairs. As the population grows and continues to disperse, the drivers of
NDD patterns may evolve.