The Charisma of Cranes

By Jim Hook, ICF President

Feb 2010

The two cohorts of Whooping Cranes in the Class of 2009 have successfully concluded their ultralight-led migration to Florida, with ten birds now at St Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Florida’s panhandle and the remaining ten birds at Chassahowitzka NWR, a few hours south in Citrus County. But the first 2009 Whooping Crane to reach Florida was Direct Autumn Release (DAR) #42-09 who arrived the old fashioned way, with an adult bird on January 7, 2010. With the remaining 85 adults and DAR birds at various southern parts of the flyway, we are thrilled to see the overall reintroduced flock has reached a population of approximately 105.

ICF’s Dr. Tran Triet, representing the Phu My Lepironia Wetland Conservation Project in Vietnam, has been invited by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to participate in a panel discussion at the North American launch of the International Year of Biodiversity on February 10 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The panel includes prominent UN leaders, heads of international conservation organizations, high profile economists and local community representatives. A reception follows including statements from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. We are proud of Triet and the ongoing well deserved recognition for his work at Phu My and are pleased that he can participate in this prestigious event. 

In January, we hosted a visit by Rod Nilsestuen, the Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and our Representative to the Wisconsin House of Representatives, Fred Clark. Their visit to ICF was prompted by our new, energy efficient Africa Crowned Crane holding building which serves as a leading edge example for green building practices in Wisconsin. Secretary Nilsestuen and Representative Clark led us in a discussion of the prospective Clean Energy Jobs Act, Governor Jim Doyle’s recently announced initiative to establish a new clean energy economy for Wisconsin. The bill will articulate clear objectives for curbing our dependence on imported fossil fuels, generating new jobs, cutting pollution and cleaning up the air. Our guests urged us to follow this legislation closely as it moves ahead.

As the current issue of The ICF Bugle attests, ICF continues strong field programs in numerous parts of the world, with creative activities that have broad significance beyond cranes. We are very grateful for the strong support of our members. The charisma of cranes continues to make investment in their welfare highly effective at promoting a vision we share... where diverse people work together to find solutions that maintain natural balances, promote human welfare, and safeguard the beauty of cranes and of the wild.