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Breeding Range. (Fig. 55). Records of nests and young birds indicate that breeding Whooping Cranes formerly were of local occurrence on the Northeastern, Southern, and Northwestern Drift Plains. Records of adults during the breeding season also were recorded in the Agassiz Lake Plain Region and on the Coteau Slope.

Breeding-season records of the Whooping Crane in North Dakota are listed in chronological order as follows:

1862--On July 20, Dr. William D. Dibb shot two white cranes from a group of three or four on the edge of a pond [in Ward County], located northwest of Dog Den Butte near the edge of the Missouri Coteau, southwest of the Mouse River (White 1966).

1871--On June 3, Delos Hatch collected one egg (Specimen No. 5541, Chicago Natural History Museum) near Ina in Rolette County (Allen 1952).

1873--"White cranes were frequently observed in the Mouse River area in August, September and October. There is no reason to doubt that they bred in this section." (Coues 1878).

1874--On June 2, a set of two eggs was collected in the "Dakotas" by J. Krider. Since there is no indication that this species has been found nesting in South Dakota the collection locality probably was in North Dakota.

1874--Recorded in June near Fort Stevenson in McLean County (Coues 1874b).

1879--On July 6, a group of three was observed at Pembina (Abbott 1880).

1883--On August 2, Mr. E. S. Gaylord observed a pair of adults accompanied by two young birds on the prairie some 40 or 50 miles south of Jamestown (Roberts 1932).

1891--In June, a specimen (No. 1746 in New York State Museum) was collected near Mandan.

1894--On May 18, this species was recorded (nesting?) near Larimore in Grand Forks County (A. Eastgate).

1908--Alfred Eastgate reported that Whooping Cranes were nesting commonly in Nelson County (near Lakota?) until 1908 (Wood 1923).

1909--On May 18, F. Vejtasa found a nest with one egg in Walsh County, 9 miles south of Adams (Hibbard 1956). This nest also contained one egg on May 28, but by June 15 the egg had hatched, and the young bird was observed with its parents. The adults and young bird were still present on September 9, and at this time the young bird seemed to be as large as its parents.

1915--Four pairs were found nesting in a meadow near Towner in McHenry County; during July 20 to August 8, the remains of four nests were observed (R. Kellogg).

1921--On June 24, a flock of seven was recorded just east of Medina in Stutsman County (Wood 1923).

? year--Reported to nest formerly at Rush Lake in Cavalier County (Aus 1969).

Breeding Habitat. The nest found in Walsh County in 1909 was located on a slough of about 30 acres containing cattails and bulrushes; this nest was a heap of rushes and cattails built over water that was 10 inches deep (Hibbard 1956).

Figure 55. Breeding Range of Whopping Crane.