Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – December 2024

Below is the most recent update for the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. During November, most cranes left Wisconsin on their migration south! 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.

Photo: Juvenile 24-24 takes flight in Meigs County, Tennessee. Dan Williams

Population Estimate

The current estimated population size is 70 (36 F, 31 M, 3 U). Sixteen of these 70 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 3 December, there are at least six in Wisconsin, 12 in Alabama, two in Tennessee, five in Kentucky, 10 in Illinois, and 31 in Indiana. 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. Click here to view our interactive Where are the Whoopers map for more details.

2023 Cohort

W9-23 (F) and 21-23 (M) migrated from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin, and were last seen in De Witt County, Illinois.

22-23 (F) migrated from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin to Hopkins County, Kentucky.

W12-23 (M) was last seen at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin with W18-20 (F).

Presumed W13-23 (U), an unbanded crane, is still in Sauk County, Wisconsin, and has been associating with 4-17 (M).

19-23 (M) and 17-23 (F) migrated from Dane County, Wisconsin, and were last seen in Putnam County, Indiana.

20-23 (F) and 23-23 (M) migrated from Dane County, Wisconsin and were last seen in Parke County, Indiana.

16-23 (F) migrated from Steele County, Minnesota to Meigs County, Tennessee.

2024 Cohort

W1-24 (U) and parents, 5-11 and 12-11, are still in Lawrence County, Illinois.

29-24 (M) migrated from White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake County, Wisconsin to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan, County Alabama with W3-17 (F) and W2-21 (U).

24-24 (F) migrated from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin to Meigs County, Tennessee.

25-24 (F) and 27-24 (M) migrated from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin and were last seen in Clark County, Indiana.

28-24 (M) migrated from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin to LaPorte County, Indiana.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

68-15 (F) has not been seen since November 2023 and is now considered long-term missing. We have removed her from the population totals above.