Welfare Effects of Injuries Obtained in the Wild for Non-Releasable Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are native to many parts of North America, including Michigan. Although this species of bird is not bred and maintained in captive populations, individuals may be taken into human care following serious injuries. While some individuals may be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, other birds sustain injuries that would inhibit their survival outside of human care. These birds may end up in the care of accredited institutions like the Detroit Zoo. The Detroit Zoo currently houses four adult male cranes (Hudson, Waco, Macky, and Two-Toe) who cannot be released back into the wild. Hudson and Waco both sustained significant injuries to their left wing that left them unable to fly. Macky and Two-Toe lost portions of their upper and lower bills (respectively) that impacted their ability engage in normal feeding and self-maintenance behaviors. Recently, the Detroit Zoo vet team has been considering whether Macky and Two-Toe might benefit from bill prosthetics. To evaluate whether the birds would benefit, CZAAWE and bird care staff partnered to conduct behavioral observations on all four birds. Using cameras mounted both outdoors and in indoor habitat spaces, CZAAWE staff recorded almost 500 videos between March and July 2023. Staff have been coding these videos, focusing on wing- and bill-specific behaviors. By comparing the two groups against each other, we hope to establish the degree to which the individuals are inhibited by their injuries and assess the extent that individuals may benefit from further veterinary intervention. Should we proceed with prosthetic development, we hope to continue our observations through the application and adjustment periods.