Whooping Crane Update, September 25, 2007
Whooper Reintroduction Updates

Current Trip: Fall 2007 Eastern Whooping Crane Migration
Entry September 25

Whooping Crane Update, September 25, 2007

DAR Report:
All 10 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) Whooping Cranes are doing well. Adult Whooping Crane #2-01 has been showing up almost daily at the chicks’ pensite at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. The costumed biologists with ICF and USFWS have been letting the chicks out in the morning and leaving them on their own--checking on them periodically. When the chicks are let out of the pen in the morning, they usually fly several short circuits around the pensite, marsh and surrounding prairie. All 10 cranes generally remain together and get along well, which is good for such a large group (try that with 10 people!).

Tracking Report on the Wild Whooping Cranes:
Estimated size of the eastern migratory population of Whooping Cranes is 53 individuals (30 males and 23 females): 50 in Wisconsin, 2 in Michigan, and 1 in New York.

Ultralight Training Report:
Of the 17 Whooping Cranes currently training with Operation Migration’s ultralights, the youngest and middle-aged chicks have been socialized into one cohort. This past weekend, the oldest eight cranes were flown to the mixed cohort’s pensite. All 17 cranes are currently housed together in the same pen, with the oldest cranes separated by a divider. The two groups fly separately with the ultralights, and hopefully soon all 17 birds will be combined together. The target departure date for the ultralight-led migration is set for October 10.

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Acting Director of Education.

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