Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – July 2026

This year’s oldest chick, W1-26, with parents 4-13 and 10-15 in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. Photo by Beverly Paulan

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. The International Crane Foundation produced this report.

Population Estimate

The current estimated population size is 64 (36 F, 25 M, 3 U). Fifteen of these 64 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 July, there are at least 54 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

W1-25 (U) traveled from Marathon County, Wisconsin, to Marquette County, Wisconsin, and has been seen with 30-25 (M) and 38-25 (F).

30-25 (M) and 38-25 (F) traveled from Jackson County, Wisconsin, to Marquette County, Wisconsin, and have been seen with W1-25.

31-25 (F) traveled from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where she has been seen associating with 32-25 (M).

32-25 (M) is still in Dodge County, Wisconsin.

34-25 (F) is still in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.

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

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

Reproduction

Nests that were completed by 1 July:

• Juneau County: 2 nests were a part of forced renesting when black flies emerged, 3 nests were abandoned due to black flies, 2 nests failed for unknown reasons, a coyote predated 1 nest, and 5 nests hatched 6 chicks.
• Green Lake County: 1 nest was predated by a raccoon, and 3 nests hatched 3 chicks.
• Croix County: 1 nest was abandoned for unknown reasons.
• Portage County: 1 nest hatched 1 chick.
• Adams County: 1 nest hatched 1 chick.

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

• W1-26 is still alive with parents 4-13 and 10-15 in Green Lake County.
• W2-26 is still alive with parents W1-19 and 1-17 in Portage County.
• W3-26 hatched in late May in Adams County to 79-19 and 29-24 but went missing in June.
• W4-26 and W5-26 hatched in late May in Juneau County to parents 5-11 and 12-11 but went missing in June.
• W6-26 hatched in early June in Juneau County to parents 36-09 and W5-18 but went missing later that month.
• W7-26 hatched in early June in Juneau County to parents 2-04 and W14-19.
• W8-26 hatched in early June in Green Lake County to parents 3-17 and 67-15.
• W9-26 hatched in early June in Juneau County to parents 13-02 and 24-08 but went missing later that month.
• W10-26 hatched in mid-June in Green Lake County to parents 4-14 and 3-14.
• W11-26 hatched in mid-June in Juneau County to parents 3-04 and 73-18.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

None known during June.