Project History

WCEP Annual Reports - These reports summarize the yearly activity of the partnership and the progress made towards the goal of establishing a migratory population of whooping cranes in the eastern U.S.

2008

December 2008: Project Update

November 2008: Project Update

October 17, 2008: Ultralight-led migration begins

October 2008 - New route for fall ultralight-led migration

September 2008 - Project Update

June 26, 2008 First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2008" Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

2007

May 1, 2007 WCEP Statement on the Death of Crane 15-06

 

"Class of 2006" Mortalities

Severe storms swept through northwest and central Florida on February 1 and February 2, 2007. The storms killed 17 of our 18 "Class of 2006" whooping cranes at a remote pen site on the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Follow the links below to learn more about this event and how WCEP responded.

 

June 2007: Review of Unusual Mortality of 17 Juvenile Whooping Cranes on February 1 & 2, 2007

 

April 17, 2007 WCEP Statement on the Cause of Death of 17 Juvenile Whooping Cranes

 

March 15, 2007 Review of Unusual Mortality Event

2006

Wisconsin Whooping Crane Management Plan (December 2006)

 

The reintroduced flock produces its first wild-hatched chicks (June 23, 2006 News Release)

 

Photos of the first wild-hatched chick

2004

Whooping Crane "Class of 2004": Daily updates on the Fall 2004 Ultralight-led migration

 

2003

Whooping Crane "Class of 2003": Daily updates on their first migration

2002

 

Fall: Daily updates from the ultralight-led migration

 

Spring: Wild whooping cranes return to Wisconsin

2001

For the first time whooping cranes are trained to follow ultralight aircraft with a successful fall migration to Florida

May 2001: Ultralight-led sandhill cranes migrated back to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on their own

 

Video from the 2001 Migration

2000

Sandhill Crane Study - Ultralight-led Migration by Proxy

From spring through fall of 2000, sandhill crane chicks were taught to migrate from Wisconsin to Florida by following an ultralight aircraft.  This was an experiment to test the theory that humans (disguised as cranes) could teach young cranes a migration route.  In subsequent years, the same techniques (with modifications) have been used to reintroduce a migratory whooping crane population to the eastern U.S. Learn More >>

 

1994

Whooping Crane Recovery Plan (PDF): recommends establishing a migratory eastern population of whooping cranes.

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