Status Report on the First Cohort of Migratory Whooping Cranes Reintroduced Into Eastern North America
September 13, 2002

Photo courtesy of Operation Migration, Inc.

Winter
After being led by Operation Migration ultralight aircraft from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in central Wisconsin, six whooping cranes reached Chassahowitzka NWR in Florida, on December 5, 2001. Another whooping crane, transported in a box by truck during the migration, reached Chassahowitzka NWR the previous day. Those seven whooping cranes were released into a remote, open-topped pen on the Refuge which is located on the central Gulf Coast of Florida. Unfortunately, on December 17 a bobcat killed the whooping crane that had been trucked during the migration. After a bobcat killed another crane on the night of January 9, more rigorous overnight protection measures (i.e., making sure the birds roosted either within the predator-proofed pen or in water more than 20 feet from shore) were implemented, and no more cranes were taken by bobcats.

Spring Migration
The five remaining cranes began migration as a single flock on April 9 and flew to Wilcox County in southcentral Georgia. After being grounded for 2 days with rain, they made a short flight to Henry County, Georgia, on April 12. After another day of rain, they resumed migration on April 14. During that day's flight over northern Georgia, a female (no. 7) separated from the other four birds. She eventually landed in McMinn County, in southeastern Tennessee. The main group of four whooping cranes proceeded to Fentress County, northeastern Tennessee. The group of four flew on 4 of 5 more days with stops in Johnson County, Indiana; Cook County (Chicago Metro Area), Illinois; and Dodge County, Wisconsin, before landing at at Necedah NWR on April 19. The entire migration took the group 11 days, of which 7 were flight days. The route was roughly direct; distance covered per flight day varied from 93 to 238 miles. Meanwhile, through April 18 crane no. 7 stopped in Kentucky (exact location unknown) and Jasper County, Indiana, before landing in Rock County, Wisconsin. She remained at that location until April 30 and then flew to Crawford County in Wisconsin. From there she then flew to Necedah NWR in Juneau County on May 3.

Spring Wandering
After finishing their migration in Wisconsin, the whooping cranes, like previously released experimental sandhill cranes led on fall migration by ultralight aircraft, moved around to various locations in Wisconsin. They generally moved south and east of Necedah NWR, during spring 2002. After their return and one night of roosting on Necedah, all of the cranes left the following day. The group of four (nos. 1, 2, 5, and 6) moved to several sites south and southeast, spending the most time south in southern Juneau County and Jefferson Counties. No. 6 separated from the other birds around May 20. The group of three returned to Necedah NWR, moved back to southern Juneau County, then returned to Necedah on June 26. No. 6 returned to Necedah NWR on June 9.

No. 7 (the lone female) apparently spent May 5 through 26 in southern Wisconsin (exact location unknown), moved to Adams County, then to Winnebago/Fond du Lac Counties where she remained until June 22. She then moved to southern Fond du Lac County.

Summer Home Range
After his return on June 9, no. 6 settled in Necedah Refuge and remained there for the summer. The group of three also returned to Necedah NWR. No. 5 eventually separated from this group spent the remainder of the summer on the northern part of the refuge. Nos. 1 and 2, a male and female behaving as a pair, briefly left the Refuge to the northwest but returned to Necedah on July 7 and remained for the summer. All of the whooping cranes have associated with sandhill cranes, and nos. 1, 2, and 6 have consistently roosted with sandhill cranes since mid-July.

Conclusions and Prospectus
Survival of the migratory flock has been 100% through late winter, spring, and summer. Foraging, roosting, and human avoidance behaviors are currently within acceptable limits. The birds will continue to be monitored and will be tracked during fall migration to wintering areas.

Bringing Back Whoopers