Cranes at the Pensite, January 28, 2007

Whooper Reintroduction Updates

Photo by Marianne Wellington

Current Trip: Winter 2007: Monitoring the Whooping Cranes
Entry January 28

Cranes at the Pensite, January 28, 2007

Friday afternoon, Marianne Wellington called to give me an update on the 18 juvenile cranes at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge pensite. On Thursday Marianne and Bev Paulan, Operation Migration, let the cranes out of the top-netted pen for a while so the birds could fly around a little and take a bath. Marianne said the birds needed it--many of them were quite filthy with mud.

They let the cranes out again on Friday, as none of the previous years’ cranes were present at the pensite. While the cranes were flying around, Marianne took the opportunity to patch some holes in the fence. The water was very low, so it made it much easier to fix the fence. While she was making repairs, Marianne also noticed raccoon tracks in the mud--another important role of the monitoring team is to check for signs of predators. Luckily, only tracks were observed.

Marianne told me over the phone that they were planning to leave the chicks outside the top-netted pen that night since there were no older birds around. No sooner had Marianne finished her sentence when a couple adult Whooping Cranes showed up. The juveniles will have to wait another day for their big night out.

Update by Joan Garland, Acting Director of Education. Report provided by Marianne Wellington, Aviculturist.

This email is generated by the International Crane Foundation located at E11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo, WI. 53913. Visit our website

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