Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In December, the 2023 cohort appeared to be doing well, and the cranes migrated south to their wintering grounds! 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. The International Crane Foundation produced this report.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 75 (42 F, 31 M, 2 U). Sixteen of these 75 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 January, there are nine in Illinois, 28 in Indiana, six in Kentucky, and 18 in Alabama. 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.
2021 and 2022 Cohorts
W2-21 (M) is still in Morgan County, Alabama, hanging around with W3-17 (F).
W14-21 (M) was last seen at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge with W3-20 (F) in early November.
84-21 (F) is still in Gibson County, Indiana, and seen with 25-10 (M).
85-21 (M) is still in Morgan County, Alabama, hanging out with 7-11 (F).
W1-22 (U) is still hanging around Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge with other Whooping Cranes in Morgan County, Alabama.
2023 Cohort
W9-23 (F), who separated from 15-11, W6-18 and 15-23 during migration and arrived alone in Morgan Co, Alabama, is still hanging around at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge with other Whooping Cranes!
W12-23 (M) and his parents, 24-08 and 13-02, are still hanging around Morgan Co, Alabama.
W13-23 (U) is still with parents 12-11 and 5-11, hanging around in Lawrence Co, Illinois.
15-23 (F) was parent-reared at the International Crane Foundation this summer and was released at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in late September. She migrated to Greene Co, Indiana, with 15-11 and W6-18 in late November, where they all continued hanging around the area with other Whooping Cranes.
21-23 (M) and 22-23 (F) were parent-reared at the Calgary Zoo this summer and were released at Necedah in early October. They migrated to Hopkins Co, Kentucky, with 2-04 and W14-19 in late November, where they all appear to remain.
16-23 (F), 17-23 (F), 18-23 (F), 19-23 (M), 20-23 (F), and 23-23 (M) were costume-reared at the International Crane Foundation this summer and were released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge Co, Wisconsin, during October. All six have migrated and are still hanging around in Putnam Co, Indiana.
Mortality and Long-term Missing One adult male Whooping Crane (29-08) was last seen on the breeding grounds during August. His mate, 15-11, re-paired with male W6-18 and 29-08 has not been seen on the breeding or wintering grounds since then. We assume 29-08 has died and is now considered long-term missing.
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.