The single observation of this Asian crane in British Columbia is extremely enigmatic. In the winter of 2001-2002, a Demoiselle Crane of unknown origin wintered with a flock of Sandhill Cranes in California’s San Joaquin Valley, subsequently disappearing with the spring departure of this wintering flock. This flock was tracked during its northward migration because one of the Sandhill Cranes had been fitted with a radio-tracking device, and was detected moving through British Columbia. It was later encountered in the Bulkley Valley of northern B.C., at which time the single Demoiselle Crane was again photographed. The Demoiselle Crane then continued migrating north with this flock to breeding grounds in Alaska. Thus, although the initial origin of the Demoiselle Crane was suspect, its migration north with a flock of wild Sandhill Cranes provided at least some support to the possibility of a naturally-occurring bird. Unfortunately, this bird was not banded and was never observed again and any assessment of its origin will always be conjectural.
1.(1) adult; May 2, 2002; Telkwa, southeast of Smithers
Note Authors: Rick Toochin and Jamie Fenneman
