Where Are They Now? April 26, 2007

Whooper Reintroduction Updates

Whooping Crane nest. Photo by Richard Urbanek, USFWS

Current Trip: Spring 2007: Eastern Whooping Crane Migration
Entry April 26

Where Are They Now? April 26, 2007

The estimated size of the eastern migratory Whooping Crane population is 59 birds (34 males and 25 females)--two additional birds are missing and presumed dead.

Approximately 51 cranes have returned to Wisconsin. Distribution of the remaining cranes:

Michigan-2
Florida-approximately 4
New York-1

2006 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) crane #27-06 is currently migrating north. We believe #15-06, the survivor of the Florida storms, might have left Florida and begun his migration north as well. His radio signal was not detected during a search on April 23.

Nesting activity:
Unfortunately, all the Whooping Crane nests at Necedah and within the core reintroduction area were abandoned earlier this week.

The nest of Whooping Crane numbers 9-02 and 16-04 was found abandoned with one fertile broken egg and one intact egg. The intact egg is currently here at ICF being incubated.

The parents of the First Family (#11-02 and #17-02) continued incubating normally on their territory at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge until April 20. On that date the parents left the nest for short periods on several occasions--however, the female returned at dusk and incubated during the night. They discontinued incubation the following morning. Just minutes before the eggs (apparently two) were to be collected, their remains were discovered. The predator which destroyed the eggs was not visible on surveillance videotape.

Numbers 13-02 and 18-02 began incubating at the Necedah NWR on the evening of April 16. On April 20, the incubating parent left the nest and did not return. A single egg was collected and is currently being incubated at ICF.

Whooping Crane numbers 3-03 and 17-03 began incubation on April 19 at the Necedah NWR. The nest was found during an aerial survey. Unfortunately, the pair abandoned their nest on the morning of April 21. The area was difficult to access on the ground, and it was not possible to locate the nest.

All four of the nest desertions occurred during the same short period of time and appeared associated with a warm weather front on April 20 and 21.

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Acting Director of Education. Report provided by Richard Urbanek, USFWS; Tally Love and Stacey Kerley, ICF.

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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