DAR chicks with adult Whooping Crane earlier this fall at Necedah NWR.  Photo by Marianne Wellington.

The group of seven DAR (Direct Autumn Release) juveniles remains on the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where they have been hanging out with two older, male Whooping Cranes.  The other two Class of 2009 DAR birds--#36-09 and #42-09, continue to roost off the refuge, presumably with older Whooping Cranes (the older cranes have non-functional radio transmitters). 

A few of the older Whooping Cranes have begun their southward migration.  Two cranes from the Class of 2003 began their migration last week and are currently in Green County, Indiana.  The unusually warm weather here in Wisconsin (70s!) will likely keep the others around for awhile. 

The 20 Whooping Cranes and crew with Operation Migration arrived at their first stopover site in Illinois on November 5.  They remain grounded at that location in Winnebago County due to high winds.

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Outreach Coordinator/WCEP Communications & Outreach Co-chair.