W1-25 (Soup)
Sex: Unknown
Hatch Date: 28 April 2025
Spring 2025: W1-25 hatched in late April in Portage County, Wisconsin, to parents 1-17 and W1-19. W1-25 had a sibling that hatched in the same nest but sadly did not survive to fledge.
Fall 2025: 1-17 and W1-19 proved to be great parents for the remainder of the summer in Portage County, Wisconsin. Their chick, W1-25, affectionately nicknamed “Soup,” arrived with them at their wintering grounds in Goose Pond, Indiana, in early November! We are proud of these great parents. Since arriving in Indiana, the family associated with 7 other Whooping Cranes, including 30-25, a costume-reared chick released earlier this fall. In December, they moved farther south to Wheeler NWR in Morgan County, Alabama, where they have been seen with 7 other Whooping Cranes.
W1-25 with their parents, 1-17 and W1-19, and 7-07 and W3-10 in Indiana. Jim Brown
Spring 2026: W1-25 spent most of the winter at Wheeler NWR in Morgan County, Alabama, and was frequently seen as part of a large group of Whooping Cranes, with as many 14 other birds! At the beginning of April, they were seen back in Wisconsin in Outagamie County with 30-25 and 38-25. The trio has stuck together and has since moved to Marquette County, Wisconsin, where they have spent most of the summer.
30-25 (Arlo)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 19 May 2025
Spring 2025: Arlo (Apatosaurus, character from “The Good Dinosaur”) was the offspring of ICF pair Yellowman and Raggae. He hatched at ICF in May and was costume-reared. Arlo was great at following the costume into the ponds and foraging along the edges.
Fall 2025: 30-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In November, 30-25 migrated with 79-19 from Horicon NWR in Wisconsin to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife area in Greene County, Indiana, where they associated with 8 other Whooping Cranes. In December, 30-25 and 79-19 traveled farther south to Wheeler NWR in Alabama.
Spring 2026: 30-25 spent most of the winter at Wheeler NWR in Morgan County, Alabama, and was frequently seen as part of a large group of Whooping Cranes, with as many 14 other birds! At the beginning of April, they were seen back in Wisconsin in Outagamie County with W1-25 and 38-25. The trio has stuck together and has since moved to Marquette County, Wisconsin, where they have spent most of the summer.
30-25, 29-24, and W1-25 walking side by side through a recently burned area. Zach Harvey
31-25 (Bambi)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 22 May 2025
Spring 2025: Bambi (short for Bambiraptor) was the offspring of ICF pair Slash and Anzac. She hatched at ICF in May and was costume-reared. Bambi adjusted well to having access to the entire run, moving freely between indoor and outdoor areas. Bambi sometimes needed a bit of coaxing to enter the pond but followed well and, once in the water, seemed to enjoy it.
Fall 2025: 31-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, along with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In late November, 31-25, 34-25, 38-25, and likely 28-24 migrated together from Horicon NWR. Along the way, 31-25 and 34-25 split from the group and traveled to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee. From there, 31-25 continued south to Lake County, Florida with Sandhill Cranes.
31-25 and 34-25 soaring over the Ohio River. Bill Tweit
Spring 2026: 31-25 spent the rest of the winter in Florida with a flock of Sandhill Cranes. They were not spotted at all during migration but popped up in Wisconsin at Horicon NWR in Dodge County in July. While there, they have occasionally been spotted with 28-24, 32-25, and 34-25.
32-25 (Petrie)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 26 May 2025
Spring 2025: Petrie (Pterodactyl, a flying reptile and character from “The Land Before Time”) was the offspring of ICF pair Slash and Anzac. He hatched at ICF in May and was costume-reared. This chick seemed to be very excited and content to spend time with the costumes or brood model. Petrie also loved swimming!
Fall 2025: 32-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In late November, 32-25 and 35-25 left Wisconsin and migrated to Muscatatuck NWR in Jackson County, Indiana. In December, they continued south to Taylor County, Florida.
32-25 and 35-35 foraging with Sandhills in Indiana. Dan Kaiser
Spring 2026: 32-25 spent most of the winter with 35-25 in Florida. In early March, 35-25 departed, leaving 32-25 alone. In early April, they were spotted in Linn County, Iowa, but after a few weeks they had moved on from that area. They were not seen again until early July, when they popped up in Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, where they have since been associating with 28-24, 31-25, and 34-25.
32-25 walking in a muddy field. Evan Hindman
34-25 (Iggy)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 28 May 2025
Spring 2025: Iggy (short for Iguanodon) was the offspring of ICF pair Yellowman and Raggae. She hatched at ICF in May and was costume-reared. Iggy ate well and was not overly concerned about the new chicks. Iggy loved her brood model and often snuggled under its wings or tail when the costume entered for feedings or exercise time.
Fall 2025: 34-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In late November, 31-25, 34-25, 38-25, and likely 28-24 migrated together from Horicon NWR. Along the way, 31-25 and 34-25 split from the group and traveled to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee. 31-25 continued south to Lake County, Florida with Sandhill Cranes. 34-25 has remained in Tennessee, and we hope she finds other Whooping Cranes to spend time with soon!
31-25 and 34-25 soaring over the Ohio River. Bill Tweit
Spring 2026: At the beginning of March, 34-25 moved on from Tennessee and into Jasper and Pulaski Counties in Indiana until early April when they were spotted in Fond du lac County, Wisconsin. They then remained elusive until June, when they were spotted in Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin where they had joined a group of Whooping Cranes, including 28-24, 31-25, and 32-25. Since then, they have remained there and hope they stick with the group through the fall!
35-25 (Sinclair)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 2 June 2025
Spring 2025: Sinclair (last name of the dinosaur family in the TV show “The Dinosaurs” and the name of the Sinclair gas station dinosaur mascot) was the offspring of wild Whooping Cranes W5-18 and 36-09. She hatched at ICF in June and was costume-reared. Sinclair had a slightly slower start but soon turned the corner on eating and interacting with the puppet and surroundings. She was very attentive to the puppet head, approaching the food bowl and eating beside it. The chick was very interested in the activity next door but was not so distracted that we needed to give her privacy.
Fall 2025: 35-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In late November, 32-25 and 35-25 left Wisconsin and migrated to Muscatatuck NWR in Jackson County, Indiana. In December, they continued south to Taylor County, Florida.
35-25 flying over Indiana. Tim Lester
Spring 2026: After spending December in Florida, 35-25 was frequently spotted during the latter half of winter with a large flock of Sandhill Cranes in Baker County, Georgia. After a quick stop in Indiana, she moved all around the Upper Midwest before settling down in Taylor County, Wisconsin, where she spent the rest of the summer.
35-25 hanging out in a field of grass. Tony Ward
37-25 (Trixie)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 3 June 2025
Died: November 2025
Spring 2025: Trixie (named after the Triceratops in the movie “Toy Story”) was the offspring of ICF pair Slash and Anzac. She hatched at ICF in June and was costume-reared. Trixie had a slow start, with ups and downs in eating. She seemed to be particular about the way the puppet provided food and did not adapt as well to changes in the puppet feeders. The good weather allowed us to take her outside, which helped improve her appetite. She enjoyed spending time in the overflow and paid close attention to the adult role model, Herfy.
Fall 2025: 37-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. Sadly, 37-25 was found dead in November from a fungal respiratory infection.
38-25 (Cera)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 7 June 2025
Spring 2025: Cera (named after the Triceratops in the movie “The Land Before Time”) was the offspring of ICF pair Slash and Anzac. She hatched at ICF in June and was costume-reared. She loved being outdoors and seemed more aware of her surroundings, or more curious, as she often watched what was happening around her. We often saw her lying beside the brood model, watching the activities of the chicks next door or out in the yard. She began socializing with a few other chicks and kept up with the other two, swimming in the deeper water to stay with the costume parent. She had the potential to be the pesky younger sibling, but the time being, we were able to distract her with various plants to forage.
Fall 2025: 38-25 was released at Horicon NWR in Dodge County, Wisconsin, with 31-25, 32-25, 34-25, 35-25, 37-25, and 38-25. After release, they typically stayed in a large group with adults 79-19 and 28-24. In late November, 31-25, 34-25, 38-25, and likely 28-24 migrated together from Horicon NWR. 38-25 and 28-24 split from the group and continued to Wheeler NWR in Morgan County, Alabama. She has been seen associating with many other Whooping Cranes, mainly 29-24 and occasionally 24-08 and 13-02.
Spring 2026: 38-25 spent most of the winter at Wheeler NWR in Morgan County, Alabama, and was frequently seen as part of a large group of Whooping Cranes, with as many 14 other birds! At the beginning of April, she was seen back in Wisconsin in Outagamie County with 30-25 and W1-25. The trio has stuck together and has since moved to Marquette County, Wisconsin, where they have spent most of the summer.
38-25 and 29-24 going for a stroll. Zach Harvey
36-25 (Diplo)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 2 June 2025
Spring 2025: Diplo (short for Diplodocus) was the offspring of wild Whooping Cranes 13-02 and 24-08. He hatched at ICF in June and was raised by pair Mudd and Alberta. This year was the first time Alberta had produced an egg since she arrived at the International Crane Foundation in 2022, but her eggs were infertile. The parents were naturals and did an excellent job stomping down the vegetation to scare up insects they could feed the chick. This also helped the chick move around the pen more easily.
Fall 2025: 36-25 was released in Green Lake County, Wisconsin in October near an adult Whooping Crane pair. He remained in Green Lake County, Wisconsin through November, where he was seen associating with 67-15 and 3-17. In December, he traveled with Sandhill Cranes to Sauk County, Wisconsin, near ICF Headquarters! He then continued to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee, stopping in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky along the way. We hope he meets up with 34-25 there!
36-25 exploring the wetlands of Wisconsin. Doug Pellerin
Spring 2026: 36-25 spent the remainder of the winter alone in Tennessee. In early April, he began his migration north, and made a brief stop in McHenry County, Illinois before continuing to Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He was spotted there alone frequently until late May, when he moved up to Sheboygan County, where he has been for the rest of summer.
36-25 showing off his beautiful wings. Jarrod Erbe
