Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – June 2024

Pair 7-11/85-21 with their growing chick, W3-24, in Juneau County, Wisconsin, in early June. Alicia Ward/International Crane Foundation

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During May, breeding pairs in the population have been nesting and hatching 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 69 (39 F, 28 M, 2 U). Fifteen of these 69 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 June, there are about 60 in Wisconsin and three in Minnesota. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. Their previous 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.*

2023 Cohort

W9-23 (F) has been seen at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin, and has been associating with 21-23 (M) and 22-23 (F).

W12-23 (M) was last seen at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, Wisconsin, and was still associating with 84-21 (F).

15-23 (F) and W13-23 (U) traveled from Stephenson County, Illinois, to Swift County, Minnesota.

21-23 (M) and 22-23 (F) traveled from McMillian Marsh State Wildlife Area in Marathon County, Wisconsin, back to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County and associated with W9-23 (F).

19-23 (M), 17-23 (F), 20-23 (F), and 23-23 (M) are still together in Columbia County, Wisconsin.

16-23 (F) left Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, traveling west and is currently in Freeborn County, Minnesota.

Reproduction

Nests that were completed by 1 June:

Juneau County: One nest was abandoned due to black flies, three were a part of forced renesting when black flies emerged, four failed for unknown reasons, and a raccoon predated another nest. We must still determine the cause of two additional failed nests by checking the nest cameras. In addition, three nests have hatched five chicks.
Green Lake County: One nest failed, possibly due to black flies. One nest had eggs collected as part of a forced renesting since many flies were on the eggs and birds. One nest was abandoned for unknown reasons, and one sat full term but did not hatch.
Sauk County: One nest hatched one chick.
Portage County: One nest was abandoned for unknown reasons
Active nests:

Twp in Juneau County

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

W1-24 and W2-24 are still alive with parents 5-11 and 12-11.
W3-24 and W4-24 hatched in early May to parents 7-11 and 85-21, but one of the chicks has gone missing.
W5-24 hatched in late May to parents 4-17 and 24-17 in Sauk County but was missing by the end of the month.
W6-24 hatched in late May to parents 12-03 and 12-05 in Juneau County.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

None known during May.

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