Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – November 2025
A trio of waterbirds, including Whooping Crane 42-09, feed near a cranberry marsh in Adams County, Wisconsin, this fall. Photo by Robert Bergen
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During October, the captive-reared birds were released, and migration began! 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 72 (41 F, 28 M, 3 U). Sixteen of these 72 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 November, there are at least 46 birds in Wisconsin, six in Indiana, eight in Illinois, and two in Kentucky. The locations of the remaining birds 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, including bios on each crane.
2024 Cohort
W1-24 (U) was last observed in Gibson County, Indiana, in September.
24-24 (F) traveled from Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
25-24 (F) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.
27-24 (M) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.
28-24 (M) traveled from Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
29-24 (M) traveled from Monroe County, Wisconsin, to Marquette County, Wisconsin.
2025 Cohort
W1-25 (U) is still with parents, W1-19 and 1-17, in Portage County, Wisconsin.
36-25 (M) was parent-reared at the International Crane Foundation and released in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, in October.
30-25 (M), 31-25 (F), 32-25 (M), 34-25 (F), 35-25 (F), 37-25 (F), and 38-25 (F) were costume-reared at the International Crane Foundation and were released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, in October. They have been associating with 79-19 (F) and 28-24 (M).
Mortality and Long-term Missing
None known during October.
Story submitted by Nicki Gordon, Whooping Crane Biologist.
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