The third and final cohort of whooping cranes for this year’s ultralight-led migration arrived July 10 at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.  The cranes arrived by Windway Capital Corp. aircraft from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. 

The birds were given a health exam by Patuxent staff before departure and another checkup by ICF veterinarian staff upon arrival.  There are currently 23 chicks at Necedah NWR training behind Operation Migration’s ultralight aircraft in preparation for their fall journey south. 

There are potentially 11 whooping crane chicks for this year’s DAR (Direct Autumn Release) program.  The chicks are currently being raised in ICF’s isolation rearing facility and will be transferred to Necedah NWR around July 21.  The DAR cranes will be housed in a separate area of the refuge from the ultralight-led birds. 

Including the wild-hatched chick, #W1-09, there could possibly be 35 whooping crane chicks winging their way south this fall!    

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Education Outreach Coordinator/WCEP Communications & Outreach Co-chair. DAR chick photos by ICF.