Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last cold month, most birds have stayed put and some have even decided to go further south. Although we had our first sighting of the season of two whooping cranes in Wisconsin, hopefully, more will follow. A huge thank-you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation and all 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. This report is produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 80 (39 F, 38 M, 3 U). Seventeen of these 80 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 March, there are two Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin, seven in Illinois, 34 in Indiana, 14 in Kentucky, one in Tennessee, 14 in Alabama, two in Georgia and one in Florida. There is also one Whooping Crane from the Louisiana Non-Migratory Population in Alabama, near Eastern Migratory Population Whooping Cranes. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. See map below.
Click here to view our interactive “Where are the Whoopers” map for more details, including bios on each of the cranes.
2020 Wild-hatched Cohort
W3-20 (F) and parents 11-15 and 42-09 are still in Hopkins Co, KY associating with 2-04 (M) and 25-09 (F) and 80-19 (F).
W13-20 (M) and parents 38-17 and 63-15 are still in Randolph Co, IL.
W14-20 (M) and parents 12-03 and 12-05 are still in Knox Co, IN.
W18-20 (F) and parents 13-02 and 24-08 are still in Madison Co, AL.
2019 Cohort
W1-19 (F) is still at Goose Pond FWA in Greene Co, IN, and has been associating with a group of other Whooping Cranes.
W14-19 (F) is still in Greene Co, IN, with mate 1-17 (M) and a large group of Whooping Cranes at Goose Pond FWA.
W19-19 (U) is still in Greene Co, IN with a large group of Whooping Cranes.
79-19 (F) is still in Greene Co, IN, with 74-18 (M) and the large group.
80-19 (F) is still in Hopkins Co, KY, associating with W3-20’s family and pair 2-04 (M) and 25-09 (F).
2018 Cohort
W3-18 (F), W1-18 (F), 74-18 (M), and W10-18 (U) are still in Greene Co, IN, in the large group of cranes at Goose Pond FWA.
W5-18 (M) and W1-06 (F) are still associating with the large group at Goose Pond FWA in Greene Co, IN.
W6-18 (M) and pair 10-11(M) and 27-14(F) left Lawrence Co, IL to go somewhere a bit warmer, Lawrence Co, AL. Shortly after they left and stopped in Henderson Co, KY and are now back in Lawrence Co, IL.
73-18 (F) and 3-04 (M) are still currently in Wayne Co, IL.
77-18 (M) is still in Polk Co, FL.
Mortality, Long-term missing
None known.
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.