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Double Your Gift Challenge Opportunity!
A Message from George Archibald, Co-founder of ICF:
July 2010
Dear Friends,
To call the Gulf Coast environmental disaster profoundly sobering is a dramatic understatement. In a region still recovering from hurricanes and years of wetland degradation, the full impacts of this new tragedy will take years to unfold. While we witness the immediate tolls on human communities, birds and marine life that depend on these ecosystems, I am touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of questions and concerns for our fragile cranes.
As you may know, the world’s last natural flock of Whooping Cranes, scores of Sandhill Cranes and the experimental population of Whooping Cranes that the International Crane Foundation (ICF) and partners are working to reintroduce all depend on wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico during winter. Oil has been found at crane areas in Florida, and we remain vigilant for oil at their winter homes in Texas. Due to the feeding and roosting habits of cranes, we are extremely concerned for the long-term ramifications of the spill and ripple effects to the marine food chain upon which the cranes rely, but we do not expect to find oiled birds this winter.
Even before the oil, the gulf marshes of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas vital to endangered Whooping Cranes were threatened. Drought and diversions of fresh water have increased salinity levels in the wetlands where cranes feed on blue crabs. With “whooping” duets that carry miles and dramatic “charge threats” (pictured), the birds at Aransas defend hundreds of acres of personal real estate and the resources found within. Steadily, along with the fresh water, suitable habitats for the crabs and cranes have dwindled. Despite these challenges, there is hope for the species. Like the Whooping Crane in these images, with your help, ICF and partners are charging ahead on multiple fronts to save these birds and the delicate ecosystems in which they are found, vital to wildlife and people.
As a member of The Aransas Project, ICF supports a last-resort federal lawsuit aimed at assuring flows of fresh water from the Guadalupe River basin sufficient to sustain the blue crab population and the coastal marshes of great significance to our fisheries, economy, environment and Whooping Cranes.
In Texas and along the flyway north, we are using radio and satellite transmitters together with field observations to gain a better understanding of the movement patterns, unique habitat requirements, and specific threats facing Whooping Cranes. We remain dedicated to the protection and recovery of the cranes and the interconnected ecosystems that sustain them throughout their migration north.
Because of the extreme vulnerability of Whooping Cranes – existing in this one small self-sustaining population – ICF also continues strategic efforts with eight conservation partners to reintroduce a second, distinct population to reduce the likelihood of extinction for the species.
Over the last decade, we’ve made remarkable progress establishing the new flock, a goal of the Bi-National Species Recovery Plan created by the United States and Canada. It gives me great pride to share news that approximately 100 cranes now successfully migrate between the upper Midwest and southeastern states, and each year we observe increased pairing and breeding activity within the flock, a critical next milestone in the ultimate success of this reintroduction.
This spring the world celebrated as we witnessed the wild hatching of seven Whooping Crane chicks at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin, including the first-ever chick hatched by a crane released directly into the wild (without the use of aircraft). This second-stage Direct Autumn Release (DAR) approach was launched in 2005 once a sufficient migratory population had been established. DAR chicks are hatched and raised in captivity and then released into the wild to learn the migration route following older cranes.
The hatchings were extremely encouraging results for the future of this population, and our biologists expect to see increasing successes as more birds reach breeding age and gain nesting experience. In complement to closely monitoring these wild birds, ICF recently delivered 11 captive-breed Whooping Crane chicks to Necedah for full release this fall.
And we are checking our work. With a desire for continuous improvement, and to ensure the success of this reintroduction, ICF and partners are participating in a conservation “peer review” similar to those physicians or research teams undergo before publication in medical journals. As a result, ICF is leading development of an improved database for the reintroduction partners and refining research techniques to employ best practices and latest innovations.
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I am optimistic that together – through partnership, on-the-ground science and your continued support – we can secure a future and national heritage graced by Whooping Cranes and healthy wetlands for future generations.
I invite you to make a special gift now to support these efforts and more, keeping us Charging Ahead for Whooping Cranes. Additionally, I hope you consider joining me by becoming a Whooper Keeper with a gift or pledge of $1,000 or more. To thank you for your gift at this level, your name or personalized tribute will be publically acknowledged on a recognition plate attached to a bench within ICF’s celebrated Whooping Crane exhibit.
Double Your Gift for Whooping Cranes!
Now, thanks to an anonymous individual donor, for a limited time, International Crane Foundation will earn dollar-for-dollar (100%) matches of your gifts to help Whooping Cranes until we reach our challenge goal of $50,000! Please act now to double your impact to save these endangered birds!
Thank you for joining me in doing all we can to save Whooping Cranes. We hope you will visit us soon to see our resident Whoopers, explore our new Spirit of Africa exhibit, and to experience the world’s 15 species of cranes.
In the spirit of hope and recovery,
George Archibald
Co-founder, Senior Conservationist |
