The first wild whooping cranes of the spring season have returned to the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin.  According to information received from a refuge data logger, by March 17, six cranes had arrived on the refuge.  Yesterday afternoon, Sara Zimorski, ICF Aviculturist confirmed that 11 whooping cranes are on the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.  Of the 11 cranes, there are four breeding pairs that are already on their territories!

This past week saw a lot of migration activity:

6 birds began migration from Florida.  (The 14 Class of 2008 ultralight-led cranes remain at Chassahowitzka and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuges.)

2 cranes left their wintering grounds in South Carolina.

1-4 cranes departed from Georgia--1 was confirmed by PTT (satellite) data, and the other 3 are presumed to still be with that bird.

1-2 birds began migration from Alabama--1 confirmed by PTT, and again the other bird is likely with the confirmed bird.

1-5 cranes departed on migration from Tennessee.  This is the group of four 2008 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) cranes and #16-02 that wintered in Lawrence County, Tennessee.  DAR bird #31-08 has a PTT transmitter.  Satellite data placed #31-08 (and hopefully the other four cranes) in southern Illinois on Wednesday night.

There are other cranes that may also have begun their migration last week, but the Tracking Team doesn’t have confirmation yet. 

Stay tuned for further migration tracking updates!