Migratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction

2009 Update

As of Mid-February 2009 there are approximately 87 birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, 52 males and 35 females. The most recent known locations of all birds are shown on the map, with the exception of 12 at unknown locations and three birds that are suspected dead. There are 12 pairs that could potentially breed this year. Their winter territories are shown in the second map, including Tennessee (4), Alabama (2), South Carolina (2), and Florida (3), with one pair’s winter location unknown.

2008 Ultralight Cohort

14 cranes led to Florida behind ultralight aircraft completed their first migration in late January. Seven birds arrived at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on January 17, and the remaining 7 arrived at their wintering destination at Chassahowitzka NWR on January 23. Soon after arrival, each of the two groups of cranes received health checks, permanent bands and transmitters. Each group of young cranes is doing well, exploring the habitats in the vicinity of their open pens. All birds will be monitored throughout the winter, until they depart on their own for migration back to Wisconsin.

2008 DAR Cohort

Of the surviving birds released using the DAR technique last year, all continue to associate with older whooping cranes. The latest information indicates four birds located in Tennessee, and one bird in Florida. Another bird last detected with other whooping cranes in Florida has been missing since January 30, and mortality is suspected.

Reporting Sightings

Please forward any sightings you receive to us through the whooping crane reporting web site (exit DNR) we have established for that purpose. The link provides a public reporting form on a site maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). When a report is submitted, the information goes simultaneously to multiple partners including the biologists who are tracking the birds, FWS, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, International Crane Foundation, and Operation Migration. This update is a product of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. To access additional information on the project, as well as copies of previous updates, visit our web site at http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/.

The link above provides a public reporting form on a site maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). When a report is submitted, the information goes simultaneously to multiple partners including the biologists who are tracking the birds, FWS, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, International Crane Foundation, and Operation Migration.

This update is a product of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. To access additional information on the project, as well as copies of previous updates, visit our web site (exit DNR).

Aransas-Wood Buffalo Wild Flock

The Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock is the only natural wild population of whooping cranes, and all whooping cranes are the descendants of 15 birds surviving in this population in 1941. Cranes in this population nest in Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada, and winter in and near Aransas NWR on the Texas gulf coast. The most recent winter census conducted January 8, 2009 estimated a peak flock size of 270 whooping cranes, including 38 juveniles. The 270 total is a record total, 4 higher than last winter. However, two whooping cranes have died at Aransas since the fall migration, leaving the estimated flock size currently at 268.

Florida Non-Migratory Flock

In 1993, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began releasing whooping cranes in central Florida in an effort to establish a non-migratory flock of whooping cranes. The establishment of additional populations of whooping cranes is identified as a primary recovery action in the International Whooping Crane Recovery Plan. Between 1993 and 2004, 289 captive-raised whooping cranes were released in central Florida, and in 2002, the first wild-hatched chick was produced. Between 1999 and 2008, a total of 68 nesting attempts resulted in 31 chicks hatched, and 9 fledged. Throughout the reintroduction project, this population has been plagued by high levels of mortality and low reproduction, and as of late summer 2008 there were 30 birds surviving in the population. In September 2008 the Recovery Team recommended that no further releases of whooping cranes be made into the Florida non-migratory population.

In a November news release, the Florida FWC indicated that the decision was based on "a variety of reasons, including problems with survival and reproduction, both of which have been complicated by drought. Additional considerations included shorter-than-expected life spans, scarcity of birds for release, project costs and the loss of habitat from development. The team felt that project resources and birds produced in captivity could be better used for other whooping crane releases as well as to maintain the captive flock". You can read the entire news release at: http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=31345