Sandhill Cranes Nest at Old Fort Bayou Mitigation Bank

Male Sandhill Crane on Nest at Old Fort Bayou
© Scott Hereford / USFWS

One of the major objectives for establishing the Old Fort Bayou Mitigation Bank was to create habitat suitable for the Mississippi sandhill crane. The crane is critically endangered with only 110 individuals left in the wild and prefers an open pine savanna. Less than 3 percent of this habitat remains from its original range across the Gulf Coastal Plain.

This spring marks the first time that a pair of sandhill cranes has nested on Old Fort Bayou since the Conservancy acquired the property in 1997. The cranes, a 27-year-old male and an 8-year-old captive bred female have produced one egg. The nest is approximately 4 feet in diameter and is raised about 1 foot above the surrounding swamp. The cranes built the nest in standing water for protection from predators. One crane will sit on the nest while the other forages for food. We expect the ongoing restoration and stewardship practices at the Old Fort Bayou Mitigation Bank will continue to attract the cranes.

Highlights of the Mississippi Stewardship Program include the planting of more than 50,000 hardwood trees and 20,000 longleaf pines over four Conservancy preserves in southeast Mississippi. We have recently completed eradication of the invasive Chinese tallow tree from the Lakeshore Savanna Preserve in Hancock County and have an ongoing cogongrass control program across all the preserves.

For more information on the Stewardship Program, please contact Rebecca Stowe, Director of Stewardship.

The Nature Conservancy

Mississippi Stewardship Program
138 Main Street Merrill
Lucedale, MS 39452
(601) 947-3111