W1-24
Sex: Unknown
Hatch Date: 4/30/2024
Spring 2024: W1-24 hatched in Juneau County, Wisconsin, to parents 5-11 and 12-11. For a little over a month, W1-24 was joined by a sibling that hatched in the same nest, but sadly, the sibling did not survive to fledge. W1-24 spent the rest of the summer with their parents in Sauk County, not far from their hatching site.
Fall 2024: W1-24 spent the rest of the summer growing big and strong with their parents, 5-11 and 12-11, in Juneau County, Wisconsin, preparing for their first migration. The family arrived in Lawrence County, Illinois, in October, and we are excited to keep tabs on this juvenile as they experience their first winter!
29-24 (Io)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 9 June 2024
Spring 2024: Offspring of ICF pair Slash and Anzac. Known to be a bolder chick and would help defend yard with parents when keepers entered.
Fall 2024: 29-24 was released at White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, in early October. They were rarely seen alone and were observed associating with multiple Whooping Cranes, including 3-17, 67-15, 38-17, 3-14, W2-21, W3-17, and 4-12—quite the hot commodity! By December, 29-24 had left Green Lake County and was spotted in Limestone and Morgan Counties in Alabama, alongside W2-21 and W3-17.
24-24 (Styx)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 22 May 2024
Spring 2024: 24-24 is the offspring of wild Whooping Cranes 73-18 and 3-04 and the biological sister of Yue (25-24). She was costume-reared at ICF and spent most of her time with Yue. As the older two of the costume-reared chicks, they were the first to be socialized together. Up until their release, and even at the pen site, they stayed close together. While 24-24 was slightly more passive, she stood her ground when necessary.
Fall 2024: 24-24 was released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, alongside 25-24, 27-24, and 28-24 in October 2024. Shortly after release 24-24, 25-24, and 27-24 began heading south, where they stopped in Walworth County, Wisconsin, Jasper County, Indiana, and Jefferson County, Kentucky. While her friends continued south, 24-24’s final stop was in Meigs County, Tennessee, where she has occasionally been seen with 16-23.
25-24 (Yue)
Sex: Female
Hatch Date: 24 May 2024
Spring 2024: 25-24 is the offspring of wild Whooping Cranes 73-18 and 3-04 and the biological sister of Styx (24-24). She was costume-reared at ICF and spent most of her time with Yue. As the older two of the costume-reared chicks, they were the first to be socialized together. Up until their release, and even at the pen site, they stayed close together. 25-24 was bolder than her sister and could hold her ground with the males when needed.
Fall 2024: 25-24 was released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, alongside 25-24, 27-24, and 28-24 in October 2024. Shortly after release 24-24, 25-24, and 27-24 began heading south, where they stopped in Walworth County, Wisconsin, Jasper County, Indiana, and Jefferson County, Kentucky. Later, she was spotted with 27-24 and 16-23 in Meigs County, Tennessee, and by December she was seen with 27-24 in Hamilton County, Florida. We are excited to see if she makes any additional stops!
27-24 (Kale)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 31 May 2024
Spring 2024: Offspring of ICF pair Yellowman and Raggae. “Middleman” of the group. Would hang out with the girls (Yue & Styx) or off with Gerd.
Fall 2024: 27-24 was released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, alongside 25-24, 27-24, and 28-24 in October 2024. Shortly after release 24-24, 25-24, and 27-24 began heading south, where they stopped in Walworth County, Wisconsin, Jasper County, Indiana, and Jefferson County, Kentucky. Later, he was spotted with 25-24 and 16-23 in Meigs County, Tennessee, and by December they were seen with 25-24 in Hamilton County, Florida. 27-24 continued to venture south on his own to Lake County, Florida. We are excited to see if he makes any additional stops!
28-24 (Gerd)
Sex: Male
Hatch Date: 9 June 2024
Spring 2024: Offspring of wild WC pair 42-09 and 37-07. Known lovingly as “Gerd the Turd” for his sassy behavior as a chick and not always listen to “mom” well. More of the lone wolf of the pack.
Fall 2024: 28-24 was released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, alongside 25-24, 27-24, and 28-24 in October 2024. Shortly after release, 28-24 separated from the group and was spotted using cornfields near Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, alongside sandhill cranes. 28-24 began heading south and was briefly spotted in Cook County, Illinois, Pulaski and LaPorte Counties in Indiana, and finally in Jackson County, Indiana, in December. We are excited to see if he makes any additional stops!
