QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PAIR FORMATION BEHAVIOR IN CAPTIVE WHOOPING-CRANES (GRUS-AMERICANA)

Instantaneous scan sampling for mean distance and synchronous action p atterns and all-occurrence sampling for unison call, dance, strut, and hoover-up behaviors were conducted for five potential whooping crane pairs at Patuxent Environmental Science Center, Laurel, Maryland. Danc e, strut, and hoover-up differed among pairs, as did total frequency o f social behaviors. It was unclear whether or not total frequency of s ocial behaviors during pair formation can be used as an index for pote ntial breeding success. The relative importance of different action pa tterns should be used as indices of pair compatibility in captive whoo ping cranes. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.