Significant Project Events

"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. Learn more about this event and how WCEP responded by following the links below.

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

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

 

Spring 2006 - The reintroduced flock produces its first wild-hatched chicks

Whooping Crane Reintroduction Project Design and Protocols

Feb. 7, 2008 Statement: WCEP statement on Class of 2008
winter site decision

 

June 12, 2007 Statement: Statement on Swap of Eggs at Wild Whooping Crane Nest in Wisconsin

 

Direct Autumn Release: A different technique for reintroducing young cranes.

 

Migratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction: Project Description

Below is detailed information about the ultralight-led fall migrations from 2001 thru 2004

For daily journals of all the ultralight-led fall migrations, please see Operation Migration, Inc.'s website.

Whooping Crane "Class of 2004"

Daily updates on the Fall 2004 Ultralight-led migration

 

Whooping Crane "Class of 2003"

Daily updates on their first migration and more

Whooping Crane "Class of 2001 and 2002"

Daily updates on their first migration and more

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 flock to the eastern U.S. Learn More>

Home

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.