Over many years of conservation and reintroduction efforts, we have brought back Whooping Cranes from the brink of extinction. In 2001, as part of the international Whooping Crane recovery plan, the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) was reintroduced to wetlands in Wisconsin, where they would eventually breed and raise their chicks before migrating south every winter.
In 2015, a young Whooping Crane pair built nesting platforms in Indiana for the first time since the late 1800s – one of the nests is circled in the above photo. This behavior indicates that Indiana could support not only wintering Whooping Cranes but potentially breeding cranes, too. Amy Kearns
In 2015, a young Whooping Crane pair built nesting platforms in Indiana for the first time since the late 1800s – one of the nests is circled in the above photo. This behavior indicates that Indiana could support not only wintering Whooping Cranes but potentially breeding pairs, too. Amy Kearns
In 2001, a migratory Whooping Crane population called the Eastern Migratory Population, was reintroduced to the eastern United States. The plan was for these Whooping Cranes to nest in Wisconsin and migrate to Florida for the winter. Today, Whooping Cranes in this population do not choose to winter as far south as Florida. Instead, most of these Whooping Cranes spend their winters further north, and over one-third of the population winter in Indiana at refuges such as Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area and Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area. Indiana has increasingly become an important space for Whooping Cranes after they first began wintering here in 2007.
April 24, 2024 (Wilmette, Illinois) – A young Whooping Crane, 16-23 a.k.a. Animal, was reported by local birders in a residential neighborhood of Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago, Tuesday morning.
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. During March, most birds have arrived on their typical breeding/summering grounds in Wisconsin. There are still some cranes migrating back and a few juveniles who have yet to leave their wintering grounds.
In May 2019, researchers at the International Crane Foundation documented a pair of female Whooping Cranes nesting and incubating eggs at McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area in Marathon County, Wisconsin. This observation, while exciting, was not necessarily unique as many birds, including chinstrap penguins, greater flamingoes, zebra finches, bearded vultures, and even Black-necked Cranes, have been known to exhibit same-sex pairing behaviors.
Wanted: Information on Louisiana Whooping Crane shooting! The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are looking for leads regarding an Endangered Whooping Crane, L4-23, that was found with a fatal gunshot wound on Jan. 9th near Mamou, Louisiana.
March 12, 2024 (Baraboo, WI) – A new study led by Wisconsin researchers reveals that only 17.4 percent of Wisconsin residents support a crane hunting season (Fig. 2.1), and less than five percent of Wisconsinites reported that they were very likely to participate in a crane hunt (Fig. 2.2).
The International Crane Foundation has brought conservation experts from China, Germany and across the U.S. to our Baraboo, Wisconsin, headquarters this week to discuss a three-year project to save the Near Threatened Black-necked Crane and its wetland habitats in Asia. Additionally, experts from Bhutan and India are joining the workshop virtually.
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In February, most birds stayed on their typical wintering grounds, but a few have begun their northward migration with warmer temperatures.
