Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month, Whooping Cranes have left Wisconsin and many have reached their wintering locations, while many birds are still on the move! A huge thank-you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Natural Resources, the International Crane Foundation, and all of the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 101 (45 F, 53 M, 3 U). As of 27 November, approximately 19 Whooping Cranes are in Illinois, 33 are in Indiana, 1 may still be in Michigan, 7 are in Kentucky, 5 are in Tennessee, 11 are in Alabama, and 1 is in Georgia. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month or they have left Wisconsin but haven’t yet been confirmed further south. See map below.
Confirmed Whooping Crane locations as of 27 November 2018.
Wild-hatched birds
As of 27 November, five wild-hatched chicks are still alive, all of which have left Wisconsin with their parents.
W1_18 (F) is in Knox Co, IN with her parents.
W3_18 (F) is likely in Hopkins Co, KY with her parents but we have not yet confirmed IDs.
W5_18 (M) is still with his parents in Greene Co, IN.
W6_18 (M) is now with his parents in Lawrence Co, IL.
W10_18 (U) is with parents in Greene Co, IN.
2018 Releases
16_11 (M), 73_18 (F), and 74_18 (M) have left Wisconsin and are currently in Jasper Co, IN.
77_18 (M) left Wisconsin with Sandhill Cranes and is currently in Lowndes Co, GA.
2017 Wild-hatched chicks
W3_17 (F) migrated south with 11_15 (M) and is now at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL.
W7_17 (F) is still at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL.
Parent-Reared 2017 Cohort
19_17 (M) and 25_17 (M) migrated to Jackson Co, AL, where they wintered last year.
28_17 (M) left WI and is now in Jasper Co, IN.
24_17 (M) was in Greene Co, IN, but has left and is now in Lawrence Co, IL.
72_17 (M) left MI and is now in Jay Co, IN.
36_17 (F) migrated with females 2_15 and 28_05 from Wisconsin to Kentucky, where the remains of 36_17 were found on 21 November. The other two females are now in Meigs Co, TN. The cause of death is not yet known.
38_17 (F) migrated with 63-15 (M) to Randolph Co, IL.
39_17 (F) is in Jasper Co, IN and has been seen associating with other Whooping Cranes as well as Sandhill Cranes.
Costume-Reared 2017 Cohort
7_17 (F) migrated to Cumberland Co, IL, presumably with 4_14 (M).
3_17 (M) was last seen with 30_16 (M), 5_12 (M), and 67_15 (F) in Green Lake Co, WI. The group has not been seen in WI recently, but have not yet been confirmed further south.
4_17 (M) and 6_17 (F) are now in Alexander Co, IL.
1_17 (M), 2_17 (F) were in LaSalle Co, IL, with 10_15 (F) and 4_13 (M) but then left and are now in Marshall Co, KY. It appears they are still on the move.
8_17 was last seen in Sangamon Co, IL in May, and then showed up at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL, during November.
Mortality
The carcass of 36_17 (F) was collected on 21 November in Kentucky, but the cause of death is not yet known (see above).
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.