Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – August 2026

This year’s youngest chick, W10-26, gets a snack from parent 4-14 in Green Lake County, Wis. Photo by Beverly Paulan

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During July, two chicks have fledged! 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 63 (33 F, 25 M, 5 U). Seventeen of these 63 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 August, there are at least 59 birds in Wisconsin. 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.

2025 Cohort

30-25 (M), 38-25 (F), and W1-25 (U) are still together in Marquette County, Wisconsin.

31-25 (F), 32-25 (M), and 34-25 (F) have been traveling together between Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties, Wisconsin.

35-25 (F) is still in Taylor County, Wisconsin.

36-25 (M) is still in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Reproduction

There were 14 pairs and 20 nests (14 first nests, 6 renests). Ten nests hatched, producing 11 chicks, 4 of which are still alive. There are currently no active nests.

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

• W1-26 is with parents 4-13 and 10-15 in Green Lake County. They fledged in late July and have been added to the population total above.
• W2-26 is with parents W1-19 and 1-17 in Portage County. They fledged in late July and have been added to the population total above.
• W7-26 is with parents 2-04 and W14-19 in Juneau County.
• W8-26 hatched in early June in Green Lake County to parents 3-17 and 67-15 but went missing in late July.
• W10-26 is with parents 4-14 and 3-14 in Green Lake County.
• W11-26 hatched in mid-June in Juneau County to parents 3-04 and 73-18 but went missing in mid-July.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

16-23 (F) was found dead in Marathon County, Wisconsin, in July, and the suspected cause was predation during molt.

6-17 (F) and 14-15 (F) have not been seen since July 2025 and are now considered long-term missing. We have removed them from the population total above.