What agricultural products form the primary intake for Whooping Cranes utilizing farmlands during migration?
Answer
Waste grain (corn, wheat, rice) and root crops
A significant adaptation of the modern Whooping Crane population involves exploiting agricultural lands. The primary components drawn from these farming operations are classified into two categories: waste grain, which consists of spilled corn, wheat, or rice left after harvest, and tubers or root crops like potatoes and carrots that remain in the field. These starchy foods are often favored because they are exceptionally easy to acquire, requiring less physical exertion than digging for buried clams or crayfish. This shift allows the cranes to rapidly refuel while traversing drier, agricultural landscapes.
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