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WHOOPING CRANE REINTRODUCTION
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Spotlight Archives

 

 

 

Four whooping cranes feeding in marsh.

February 2010 Project Update: As of early February 2010 there are approximately 85 wild birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 48 males and 37 females.

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Ulralight and whooping cranes in flight.  Photo by Operation Migration

January 21, 2010: Ultralight-led Whooping Cranes Arrive at Final Wintering Destination in Florida

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Ultralight with whooping cranes following.  Photo by Operation Migration

January 14, 2010:

Ultralight-led Whooping Cranes Arrive at First Wintering Destination in Florida

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January 7, 2010 - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service News Release:: Ultralight Migration Leads 20 Endangered Whooping Cranes into Georgia

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December 18, 2009 - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service News Release: With Anonymous Contribution, Reward for Information on Shooting of Whooping Crane in Indiana Reaches $10,000

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December 9, 2009 - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service News Release: Endangered Whooping Crane, Prominent in Species Recovery Success Story, Found Shot Near Cayuga, Indiana U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offers $2,500 Reward for Information on Shooting

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Three juvenile whooping cranes.

2009 Whooping Crane Recovery Update: The Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes reached a record population of 270 at Aransas in December, 2008.

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Ultralight and six whooping cranes in flight against a blue sky.

November 5, 2009:

Ultralight Migration Leads 20 Endangered Whooping Cranes over the Skies of Illinois Twenty juvenile whooping crane reached Illinois today . . .

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Two whooping cranes and two sandhill cranes. Photo by USFWS; Richard Urbanek

October 26, 2009:

Young Whooping Cranes Will Learn Migration Route from their Elders

Nine young whooping cranes were released October 24 on central Wisconsin’s Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

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Ultralight taking off with whooping cranes following.  Photo by Mark Chenoweth

 

October 23, 2009: Ninth Group of Endangered Whooping Cranes Depart on Ultralight-guided Flight to Florida

Twenty young whooping cranes have begun their ultralight-led migration from central Wisconsin’s Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

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Two juvenile whooping cranes in pen.

Mid-October Project Update: We have at least 75 wild birds in the Eastern population, consisting of 45 males and 30 females. The most recent known locations of all birds are shown on the map . . .

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Ultralight and whooping cranes in the air.

October 8, 2009

Ultralight-led whooping crane migration set to begin October 10: A tentative departure date of Oct. 10, 2009 has been set for the 2009 ultralight-led migration of twenty-one juvenile.

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October 2, 2009

WCEP Statement on Nesting Studies:

This spring, 12 breeding pairs of whooping cranes built nests and laid eggs.  All 12 nests failed earlier this spring and five pairs renested. 

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Two juvenile whooping cranes next to ultralight on the ground.

Mid-September Project Update: As of mid-September 2009 there are approximately 78 birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 47 males and 31 females.

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Operation Migration Crane Cam logo

Streaming Video

Operation Migration offers live video from the whooping crane training site at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

 

 

 

Adult whooping crane preening its feathers.  Photo by USFWS; Joel Trick

Mid- August 2009 Project Update

As of mid-August 2009 there are approximately 78 birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 47 males and 31 females.

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From ICF - Chick Update

Wild crane chick lost, July 6, 2009. Read more >>

 

 

Costumed pilot and trike on the ground with two juvenile whooping cranes.  Photo by Operation Migration, Inc.

News Release: June 26, 2009 First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2009" Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Read more >>

 

Adult whooping crane with chick.  Photo by USFWS; Richard Urbanek

News Release: June 21, 2009 Wild Whooping Crane Chick Hatches at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Read more >>

 

 

2006 wild-hatched whooping crane chicks with parents.  Photo by USFWS; Richard Urbanek

From ICF - Whooping Crane Chick Hatches! June 12, 2009
Whooping crane pair #12-02 and #19-04 hatched a chick today, #W1-09 (W = wild hatched), at their nest site in Wood County, Wisconsin!
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Three whooping cranes in th air.

News Release: March 23, 2009 Wild Whooping Cranes Return to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
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Ultralights parked on the ground.

 

WCEP Year in Review - 2008

2008 gave us cause to celebrate our partners – both longtime and new.

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Mid-May Project Update

As of mid-May 2009 there are approximately 79 birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 48 males and 31 females. Read more >>

 

 

Two whooping cranes at ICF by USFWS; Joel Trick.

May 2009 Nesting Status

As of our previous update on April 15, eight pairs were incubating eggs on nests in and around the Necedah NWR in Wisconsin. Read More >>

 

 

Close up of a whooping crane by USFWS; Joel Trick.

 

Mid-April Project Update

As of mid-April 2009 there are approximately 82 birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 48 males and 34 females. Read more >>

 

 

Two whooping cranes flying against a blue sky.  Photo by Operation Migration, Inc.

April 7, 2009: 2009 Spring Migration Continues . . . go here for a synopsis of events as of April 7.

 

 

 

Four juvenile whooping cranes at Florida pen site.

Mid-March 2009 Project Update

 

 

 

Five juvenile whooping cranes in flight against a background of trees.

 

Mid-February 2009 Project Update > >

 

 

 

 

Ultalights and whooping cranes in the air.  Photo by Mark Chenoweth

Jan. 23, 2009

Ultralight-led Whooping Cranes Arrive at Florida Wintering Grounds

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Ultralight and cranes in flight.
Jan. 22, 2009

Whooping cranes destined for Chass stop at Halpata Nature Preserve.

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Jan. 17, 2009

Ultralight with whooping cranes following.

Seven cranes are led to St. Marks NWR. The remaining seven whooping cranes will continue on to Chassahowitzka NWR

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Jan. 15, 2009

Map of whooping crane locations.

Project Update > >

 

 

January 2009

Group of four immature whooping cranes.

The Class of 2008 will be divided into two groups and winter at St. Mark's and Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuges.

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December 2009

Ultralight on the ground.

Ultra-light led migration on hold over the holidays. See Operation Migration's Field Notes for details > >

 

December 3, 2009

Map of whooping crane locations.
December Project Update > >

 

Dec. 1, 2008

Ultralight on the ground with white costumed pilot.
Ultralight Migration Leads 14 Endangered Whooping Cranes over the Skies of Kentucky

 

November 2008

Ultralight and whooping cranes in flight. Photo by Dave Umberger

Mid-November Project Update > >

 

October 17, 2008

Ultralight leading a flock of whoopingcranes.
Eighth Group of Endangered Whooping Cranes Depart on Ultralight-guided Flight to Florida -
Friday, Oct. 17 >>

 

Sept. 30, 2008

Three adult whooping cranes. Photo by Operation Migration: Heather Ray

Whooping Crane Numbers :
September 30, 2008

2002 to 2008 >>

 

Sept. 30, 2008

Whooping cranes flying behind an ultralight at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mark Chenoweth

Whooping Crane Recovery Activities Nov. 2007 to Sept. 2008 Annual Report >>

 

 

Sept. 2008

Juvenile and adult whooping cranes.
September 2008

Project Update >>

 

 

Two adult whooping cranes feeding in a pond.  Photo by USFWS; Joel Trick
Have you seen whooping cranes?
report your sightings >

 

June 26, 2008

Photo of 3 whooping cranes standing in a shallow marsh
First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2008" Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.
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Last updated: June 21, 2010