This file accompanies spatial data showing predicted use of landscapes by migrant whooping cranes across North Dakota and/or South Dakota.  Files are provided as 1) categories showing ten ranked habitat classes, or deciles, with each representing 10% of the combined area of North Dakota and South Dakota; and 2) relative probability of use across the entirety of North Dakota and South Dakota, from which the ten ranked habitat classes were derived.  

Whooping cranes are infrequently found in the region, and relative probabilities must not be interpreted as actual probabilities.  Using the ten decile habitat classes simplifies interpretation by identifying and ranking areas from most likely to be used to least likely to be used; relative probabilities enable discrimination within classes but are not as readily interpretable.

These models are based in part on remotely sensed landcover data, which contain error.  In addition, land use is subject to change over time.  Consequently, individual sites might vary from what the landcover data and models predict, but overall patterns will generally be accurately represented.  

Models were developed using a circular moving window with a radius of 1,200 m.  Consequently, actions considered for a location should consider the landscape out to 1,200 m, as whooping crane habitat use appears to be affected by the surrounding landscape up to 1,200 m.  Even though the models were developed using data from a large surrounding landscape, output is provided at a resolution of 90 m.  This is somewhat larger than the resolution of the landcover data used in model development, but still allows the output to reflect biological relationships that would be obscured with providing data at a coarser resolution while reducing file size.    

The data show low predicted use of urban areas by whooping cranes, but as of November 2018, we are also including an updated feature class file showing developed lands as identified by NLCD 2011, which can be used to mask urban areas, which have expanded in many areas.  

For more information about the specifics of this data file, including metadata, please view the data layer’s item description in ArcGIS.

Please do not distribute these files, but refer interested parties to the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team in Bismarck, North Dakota to request the data.  

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Habitat and Population Evaluation Team 
3425 Miriam Ave
Bismarck, ND 58501 
701-250-4413 or 701-355-8535

For more information about the models and process used to develop them, refer to Niemuth, N. D., A. J. Ryba, A. T. Pearse, S. M. Kvas, D. A. Brandt, B. Wangler, J. E. Austin, and M. J. Carlisle.  2018.  Opportunistically collected data reveal habitat selection by migrating whooping cranes in the U.S. Northern Plains.  The Condor 120:343-356.



