Whooping Crane Timeline

Standing five feet tall with a wingspan of more than seven feet, the Whooping Crane is North America’s tallest bird. It is also the rarest crane in the world. The species was once found across the entire continent, but in the 1940s fewer than 20 individuals survived. Today, the population is slowly climbing and numbers over 800 in the wild and in captivity.

Learn about the plight of the Whooping Crane from near extinction to a slow recovery as you explore our interactive Whooping Crane Timeline. Milestones, detailing both man-made and natural occurrences, review the history of this endangered species and the efforts that must be undertaken to prevent the Whooping Crane from becoming extinct.