Do you remember Whooping Crane 16-23’s (a.k.a. Animal’s) big adventure earlier this spring? This young crane was reported by local birders in a residential neighborhood of Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago, in late April. She had gotten off course during her first northern migration, and we were concerned about her safety in this busy area. Our field team quickly mobilized with the support of Wilmette community members and brought her back to Horicon Marsh in Dodge County, Wisconsin, where she was released last fall.
But this isn’t the end of the story. After spending several weeks at Horicon Marsh, 16-23 began a second adventure, winding her way west through Columbia and Sauk County, Wisconsin. She stopped for a time near our headquarters and then continued west, following the curve of the Wisconsin River until she entered northeastern Iowa and, ultimately, southern Minnesota.
It’s not unusual for Whooping Cranes to explore new areas in their first few years, but 16-23 is an explorer! She is currently in a safe location with a “crane-approved” habitat. We continue monitoring her movements via her cellular transmitter and are very interested in seeing where she migrates this fall.