Splitting the Current Year Cohort

Current Year Cohort will Winter in Two Separate Groups

For the first time, the new class (or cohort) of whooping cranes will winter in two different locations. On January 14, at a stopover in Jefferson County, Florida, the 2009 cohort was divided into two carefully selected groups. On January 17, 2009, one group of 7 young whooping cranes was led to a newly constructed pen at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The remaining seven whooping cranes proceed to their ultimate destination at Chassahowitzka NWR, where they arrived on January 23.

Splitting the cohort and establishing another wintering site was done in response to a catastrophic storm that killed most of the 2006 cohort. Dividing the current-year cohort into groups that winter at different sites should prevent another loss of an entire year class due to one catastrophic event, whether it be weather, predation, poaching, or something else.

Below are documents that provide explanations and more details on the decision to split the current-year class and the decision to use St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge as the other wintering site.

Whooping Cranes Arrive at St. Marks Refuge: Nov. 17, 2009

Ultralight-Led Whooping Cranes Soon Expected at their Final Destinations in Florida: January 15, 2009 News Release

Local ROTC helps St. Marks NWR Prepare for Whooping Crane Arrival: October 2008

Summary of Florida Release Site Analysis: Notes from January 29 – 30, 2008 Meeting

Winter Site Decision for the "Class of 2008" - Feb. 7, 2008 Statement

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Last updated: April 15, 2009