Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – July 2025
A Whooping Crane strikes a pose in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Photo by Emily Villars
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During June, chicks have been getting bigger! 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. This report was produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 68 (37 F, 29 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 July, there are at least 50 birds in Wisconsin. 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.
Click here to view our interactive “Where are the Whoopers” map for more details, including bios on each crane.
2024 Cohort
W1-24 (U) was last seen in Greene County, Indiana in April.
24-24 (F) traveled from Marshall County, Indiana to Dane County, Wisconsin.
25-24 (F) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.
27-24 (M) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.
28-24 (M) is still in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
29-24 (M) is still in Adams County, Wisconsin.
Reproduction
Nests that were completed by 1 July:
- Juneau County: 8 nests were a part of forced renesting when black flies emerged, 1 renest failed possibly due to flooding, 1 nest was abandoned for unknown reasons, 3 sat full term but did not hatch, and 2 nests hatched 2 chicks.
- Portage County: 1 nest hatched 2 chicks.
- Green Lake County: 2 nests sat full term but did not hatch, and 2 nests hatched 2 chicks.
- Sauk County: 1 nest failed due to predation by a coyote and 1 was abandoned.
Wild-hatched chicks (chicks listed in bold are currently alive):
- W1-25 is still alive with parents W1-19 and 1-17 in Portage County.
- W4_25 hatched in early May in Green Lake County to parents 10-15 and 4-13 but went missing by the end of June.
- W6_25 is still alive with parents 12_03 and 12_05 in Juneau County.
Mortality and Long-term Missing
None known during June.
Story submitted by Nicki Gordon, Whooping Crane Biologist. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.
