From the Field Webinars

Our Next Big Step in Whooping Crane Conservation

Thursday, August 28, 3 p.m. Central Time

Over the past 70 years, conservationists have come to understand the habitat needs of the last self-sustaining population of Whooping Cranes, the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population. These rare and endangered birds rely heavily on estuarine habitats of the Texas Mid-coast, where they eat blue crabs, Carolina wolfberries, mollusks, and other food items during the winter.

However, Whooping Cranes continue to surprise us, and they are increasingly using habitat away from the coast. At first there were just a few individuals, but the number of Whooping Cranes wintering inland continues to increase.

Join us on Thursday, August 28 at 3 p.m. CT, where our Director of Gulf Coast Programs, Dr. Carter Crouch, will discuss what we are learning about these inland wintering birds, how we are helping them, and the implications for how we manage, monitor, and plan for this population’s continued recovery.

Webinar participants will also be among the first to hear about a bold new strategy our Texas Program is pursuing, one that will increase our commitment and impact for Whooping Cranes. We’re excited to share this plan with you!

Thank you to our August webinar sponsor: Steve Gast, ICF Board Director and Texas Crane Council Chair.

Photo by Ciming Mei

Learn the Art of Haiku and Hope with Author Maggie Dewane

Thursday, July 31, 3 p.m. Central Time

Join author Maggie Dewane and the International Crane Foundation to explore the art of haiku and learn how to write your own! In this virtual workshop, participants will be guided through a nature journaling exercise that tugs at imagination and invites creativity. Building upon individual sensory observations and experience, participants will be encouraged to consider elements of nature in new ways, as well as how everyone can take flight in poetic expression. By the end of the workshop, participants will have crafted their own haiku.

Maggie Dewane is an author and filmmaker who has traveled to all seven continents to understand climate change, conservation, and how both impact people. Through short films, news articles, and poetry, she translates climate science for lay audiences to empower them to take action.

Maggie’s new book, Haiku and Hope: 50 States of Climate Change, offers a unique exploration of the United States through the evocative lens of haiku. Dewane takes readers along on her journey to visit all 50 states, as she both experiences the landscape in its current state through an initial poem and then imagines its future in a second haiku. After the collection of haiku, a narrative section delves into Dewane’s personal journey, sharing the experiences and moments of inspiration that led her to write each poem. This reflective portion of the book provides readers with a deeper insight into her travels and the emotional impact of witnessing the changing environment firsthand. This collection is a celebration of America’s natural wonders, a call to action in the face of climate change, and a testament to the power of poetry to move us.

Sponsored by Jeanne and Ed Eloranta.

Photo by Ciming Mei

Guardians of the Wetlands—12 Years of Crane Conservation and Community Resilience in Rwanda

Thursday, June 19, 11 a.m. Central Time

Over the past 12 years, the International Crane Foundation has worked in Rwanda to protect the Endangered Grey Crowned Crane, restore critical wetland ecosystems, and empower local communities. This webinar will highlight the Foundation’s integrated approach to conservation—combining crane safeguarding and monitoring, sustainable wetland management, and community-led resilience initiatives. Join us to explore how this holistic model is not only safeguarding Rwanda’s biodiversity but also improving livelihoods and inspiring a new generation of conservation stewards.

Sponsored by:

Photos: Aerial view of Rugezi Marsh and surrounding communities by Charles Kayijamahe/International Crane Foundation; Grey Crowned Crane by Mike Endres

Endangered Species Act: A keystone of conservation success under threat, and what you can do to help

Wednesday, May 7, 3 p.m. Central Time

The Administration proposed an administrative rule change that would profoundly weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the most important law for protecting and conserving threatened plants and animals in our country. Signed into law in 1973—the same year as the International Crane Foundation was established—the ESA is a keystone of conservation success. It is credited with saving 99 percent of the species it protects, like the Endangered Whooping Crane, which was part of the first cohort of species protected by the law. We believe this change would be catastrophic for endangered Whooping Cranes, countless other species, and their habitats. Join International Crane Foundation staff in a webinar on Wednesday, May 7, to learn more about the proposed rule change and what you can do to help protect this vital conservation tool.

Sponsored by Heidi Kiesler.

Photo by Dr. Tran Triet/International Crane Foundation