Update: As of June 29, 2022, there are five Whooping Crane chicks in the Eastern Migratory Population:
- W1-22 with 12-11/5-11
- W11- 22 with 9-05/13-03
- W12-22 with 13-02/24-08
- W13-22 with W1-06/W10-15
- W14-22 with 5-11/29-08
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month, Whooping Crane chicks have hatched! 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 was produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 77 (38 F, 37 M, 2 U). Seventeen of these 77 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 June, there are at least 70 Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin and two in Michigan. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. Their last known locations (in the past month) are on the map below.
Reproduction
As of 1 June, there are 6 active nests in Wisconsin, and 31 total nests this season.
Active nests: 5 renests in Juneau County, 1 renest in St. Croix County
Completed since 1 May: 6 in Juneau County (1 hatched, 3 had eggs collected due to black flies, 1 renest and 1 first nest failed for unknown reasons), 5 in Green Lake County (1 predated, 4 hatched), 1 in Portage County (hatched), 1 in Sauk County (hatched), 1 in Marquette County (Unknown outcome), and 1 in Dodge County (hatched).
2022 Wild-hatched Cohort
Chicks listed below in bold are currently alive, as far as we know. So far at least 10 chicks have hatched and up to 3 are still alive. These chicks are not yet included in the population totals above.
W1-22 (U) and W2-22 (U) hatched early May to parents 12-11 and 5-11 in Juneau County. We believe W1-22 is still alive but this family has been hanging out in some areas that are tricky for us to see into!
W3-22 (U) hatched in early May to parents 4-12 and 3-14 in Green Lake County and we believe this chick has disappeared but have been unable to confirm.
W4-22 (U) hatched to parents 1-17 and W1-19 on their first-ever nesting attempt! W4-22 hatched in Portage County in early May.
W5-22 (U) and W6-22 (U) hatched mid-May to parents 67-15 and 3-17 in Green Lake County. Both disappeared by the end of May.
W7-22 (U) hatched mid-May to parents 7-17 and 4-14 in Green Lake County, but this chick disappeared by the end of May.
W8-22 (U) hatched to parents 24-17 and 4-17 in Sauk County during mid-May and disappeared by the end of the month.
W9-22 (U) hatched to parents 63-15 and 38-17 in Dodge County during late May, but we believe this chick has already disappeared.
W10-22 (U) hatched to parents 10-15 and 4-13 in Green Lake County during late May.
2021 Cohort
W2-21 (U) is still in Green Lake County, WI, where they have been associating with other single Whooping Cranes.
W11-21 (M) is by himself in Juneau County, WI.
W14-21 (M) was most recently seen in Columbia County with 84-21 (F).
84-21 (F) has traveled around WI during May and was most recently seen in Columbia County with W14-21 (M).
85-21 (M) is still in Green Lake County, WI, sometimes with other Whooping Cranes.
2020 Cohort
W3-20 (F) was reported in Wood Co, WI, during May.
W13-20 (M) is still by himself in Dodge County, WI.
W18-20 (F) was last seen with 80-19 (F) in Hopkins County, KY, in February.
Mortality
None known.
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.