Initiative: Species Reintroduction
During January, most of the Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population were still on their wintering grounds and doing well.
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
For decades, conservationists have worked to combat threats that nearly drove the Whooping Crane to extinction. Their population hit a historic low of only 21 individuals in the wild in the 1940s. As part of the effort to save the species, a population of migratory Whooping Cranes was reintroduced to Wisconsin in 2001, known as the Eastern Migratory Population, or EMP. Today, the EMP consists of around 70 individuals who spend their summers in Wisconsin before migrating further south for the winter, mostly in Alabama and Indiana. Through this reintroduction and countless other conservation measures, there are now about 700 Whooping Cranes in the wild in three populations. Despite this impressive growth, threats continue to emerge that threaten the species’ survival, and these must be met with creative research, dedicated partnerships, and decisive action to safeguard the future of Whooping Cranes.
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
During December, the 2025 Whooping Crane cohort in the Eastern Migratory Population appears to be doing well, and cranes migrated south to their wintering grounds!
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
In November, most of the Whooping Cranes left Wisconsin on their southward migration!
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
During October, the captive-reared birds were released, and migration began!
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
Our teams from Texas and Wisconsin collaborated to compile all available information on over-summering on the wintering grounds for the two current migratory Whooping Crane populations: the Aransas Wood Buffalo Population and the Eastern Migratory Population.
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
During September, the first breeding pair left Wisconsin and traveled to Illinois!
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
An Endangered Whooping Crane, lovingly named “Ducky,” died earlier this month due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The loss marks the first confirmed death of a Whooping Crane due to HPAI.
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
How can we better understand renesting behavior and the potential it plays in maximizing the breeding season for this endangered species?
Initiative: Species Reintroduction
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. The past month’s big news: this year’s wild-hatched chick, W1-25, fledged!
