Whooping Crane Training at
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
July 12, 2002
by Colleen B. Robinson, Park Ranger, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
The "Class of 2002" Whooping Cranes are well on their way to fledging as flight training continues at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin.
Seventeen birds make up this year's class. Although trainers hope to have all of these birds flying together for the aircraft-led autumn migration, they are currently separated into three groups based on age for training.
The oldest group of seven cranes are already airborne for short periods of time during training. They remain attentive to the aircraft and trainers. The next oldest group of 4 cranes are very close to fledging, as they follow the ultralight with hops and leaps. Trainers expect they will gain the confidence and momentum needed for short flights within a week or two. The youngest group of 6 cranes are at the refuge's newest site and are not quite ready for lift-off yet. They are offering an additional challenge for the trainers this week. Naturally, the youngest chicks are working through a stage of experimenting with their independence. Occasionally it is difficult to gain and keep their attention on flight training as opposed to the nearby marsh. However, this is an expected phenomena and one that passes quickly. Young whooping cranes are eager to return to the task at hand as soon as they realize they are alone a few feet out in the marsh.
Dummy adult whooping cranes have been mounted on sticks and are used at the sites this year to help direct the chicks. Particularly at night, when the cranes are roosting in the water, the dummy keeps the chicks content with staying put. This offers an extra sense of security for the chicks and extra precautions against predators, since the chicks are more restful and quiet.
Staff from Operation Migration, Inc., USDA Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, and the International Crane Foundation are training the whooping cranes at Necedah. See Operation Migration's field reports for additional updates and photographs.
The "Class of 2001" Whooping Cranes remain healthy. The group of three that stuck together for so many weeks are now spending more time apart. For the past week, two of them have stayed together and the third is on its own. There is a fourth crane on the refuge who, as usual, chooses to spend time alone. The original "loner" is still at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.
Reintroduction Project Updates
This Whooping Crane Migratory Reintroduction project involves many public and private partners, sponsors, and donors who give their time, money or resources in support. Check out how you can help reintroduce migratory whooping cranes to eastern North America.