Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – January 2026

Two Whooping Cranes forage near mallards and Canada geese in Gibson County, Indiana. Photo by Richard Vernier

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During December, the 2025 cohort appears to be doing well, and cranes migrated south to their wintering grounds! 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 66 (37 females, 26 males, three unknown). Of these 66 individuals, 15 are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 2 January, there are at least 20 birds in Alabama, 17 in Indiana, 2 in Illinois, 5 in Kentucky, 3 in Tennessee, 1 in Florida, and 3 in Georgia. 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.

2024 Cohort

W1-24 (U) or a different unbanded bird, W1-22, was observed in Gibson County, Indiana, in December.

24-24 (F) traveled from Columbia County, Wisconsin, to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee.

28-24 (M) is still in Morgan County, Alabama, and has been seen with other Whooping Cranes at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.

29-24 (M) is still in Morgan County, Alabama, and has been seen with other Whooping Cranes at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.

2025 Cohort

W1-25 (U) and parents W1-19 and 1-17 traveled from Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County, Indiana, to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County, Alabama.

30-25 (M) and 79-19 (F) traveled from Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County, Indiana, to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County, Alabama.

31-25 (F) traveled from Cherokee County, Alabama, to Lake County, Florida with Sandhill Cranes.

34-25 (F) is still at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee.

35-25 (F) and 32-25 (M) traveled from Jackson County, Indiana, to Baker County, Georgia.

38-25 (F) is still at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County, Alabama. She has been associating with multiple Whooping Cranes there.

36-25 (M) traveled from Sauk County, Wisconsin, to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

25-24 (F) and 27-24 (M) have not been seen since December 2024 and January 2025 and are now considered long-term missing. We have removed them from the population totals above.