Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – August 2024

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During July, we have been busy monitoring chicks! 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 68 (38 F, 28 M, 2 U). Fifteen of these 68 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 August, there are about 56 in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota. 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.

2023 Cohort

W9-23 (F), 21-23 (M), and 22-23 (F) have been together in Marathon County, Wisconsin.

W12-23 (M) is still at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin, and has been seen associating with 15-11 (F).

15-23 (F) was suspected to have died from a powerline collision in Brown County, South Dakota, but we are still awaiting confirmation.

W13-23 (U) has not been seen since June in Brown County, South Dakota.

19-23 (M), 17-23 (F), 20-23 (F), and 23-23 (M) traveled from Columbia County to Dodge County, Wisconsin together.

16-23 (F) is still in Freeborn County, Minnesota.

Reproduction

There were 17 pairs and 22 nests (17 first nests, five renests). Five nests hatched and produced at least seven chicks, one of which is still alive. There are currently no active nests.

Wild-hatched chicks (chicks listed in bold are currently alive):

W1-24 is still alive with parents 5-11 and 12-11 as of mid-July and was due to fledge in late July.
W3-24 hatched to parents 7-11 and 85-21 in Juneau County but was unfortunately found dead in late July.
W6-24 hatched to parents 12-03 and 12-05 in Juneau County but went missing at the end of June.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

In July, 15-23 (F) was suspected to have died from a powerline collision in Brown County, South Dakota, but we are still awaiting confirmation.

Story submitted by Nicki Gordon, Whooping Crane Biological Technician. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.