Migratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction

Since 1999, Wisconsin has played a major role in efforts to restore a migratory whooping crane population in eastern North America, with a core breeding area in Wisconsin. Prior to these restoration efforts, only one migratory population of whooping cranes existed in the wild, and any catastrophic event could completely eliminate the species. An additional independent population of birds needed to be established to reduce the risk of extinction of this endangered bird. Wisconsin DNR is a founding member of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) (exit DNR), a large group of nine government and private sector organizations, with the mission of restoring a second self-sustaining migratory population.

There are approximately 79 whooping cranes in our Eastern Migratory Population (see 2009 Summary), with plans for 25-30 birds to be added to the population each year until it becomes self-sustaining, perhaps by 2020.

Two release methods are being used to rebuild the population. Initially, all captive-reared crane chicks were conditioned to follow an ultralight aircraft from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in central Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka NWR on the Gulf coast of Florida. These birds then make the return and subsequent migrations south unaided. Beginning autumn 2005, this program was supplemented with the direct release of crane chicks into groups of whooping or sandhill cranes in central Wisconsin. The chicks follow birds from Wisconsin to the southern U.S. behind birds that know the migration route. Project recovery plans outline ultralight-led migrations and chick releases through at least 2010, or until the goal of a self-sustaining migratory population of 100-120 individuals and 25-30 breeding pairs is achieved.

Founding WCEP (exit DNR) members include the USFWS, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), International Crane Foundation (ICF), Operation Migration, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, USGS National Wildlife Health Center, International Whooping Crane Recovery Team (IWCRT), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. Other strategic partners in the restoration effort include the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and states and organizations along the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways (migration routes).

If you see a whooping crane...