The first whooping crane of the season has arrived in Wisconsin!  Direct Autumn Release (DAR) crane #28-05, from the Class of 2005, is the first confirmed whooping crane to arrive in Wisconsin.  She was observed with sandhill cranes in Dodge County by residents Jack and Sandra Saunders on the morning of March 8--she likely arrived in Dodge County on March 7.  Number 28-05’s arrival in Wisconsin is a week earlier than last year’s first arrival which occurred on March 14.  After a long, cold Wisconsin winter, it appears that spring has finally arrived!

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Education Outreach Coordinator. Report provided by Sara Zimorski, ICF Aviculturist. Photos courtesy of Jack Bartholmai.