A 2024 study, Flood-irrigated agriculture mediates climate-induced wetland scarcity for summering sandhill cranes in western North America, pinpoints key breeding habitat for sandhill cranes in the Intermountain West. The research indicates that cranes rely on riparian corridors and associated flood-irrigated grass hay meadows for breeding and colt-rearing during spring and summer months—areas that are threatened by human development and increasing water scarcity due to climate change.
Donnelly, J.P., Collins, D.P., Knetter, J.M., Gammonley, J.H., Boggie, M.A., Grisham, B.A., Nowack, M.C., and Naugle, D.E. (2024). Flood irrigated agriculture mediates climate-induced wetland scarcity for summering sandhill cranes in western North America.
