Chassahowitzka NWR

Chassahowitzka NWR Prepares for 2008 Class of Whooping Cranes: Pen Repair

Whooping crane pen at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Billy Brooks makes fence repairs in preparation for arrival of whooping cranes. October 2008

Photo by USFWS: Keith Ramos

Staff of Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Jacksonville, Florida Field Office recently collaborated with volunteers, including members of the Refuge Friends group, on repairs and upgrades to the whooping crane pen facilities located on the Refuge. This pen has been the winter home to a new cohort of whooping cranes each fall since 2001, and will soon house the Class of 2008 whooping crane chicks scheduled to arrive later this fall. Work completed included vegetation clearing, fence repair, and upgrading a boardwalk that provides safe access to the pen by project staff. This much-needed maintenance will help to provide protection from predators and ensure the survival of these valuable birds over the wintering period.

Whooping crane pen site at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

Marsh Masters at work adjacent to the Chassahowitzka pen site, October 2008.

Photo by Keith Ramos

The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) has been releasing young whooping cranes since 2001, as part of an ongoing project to reintroduce a migratory population to eastern North America. This population currently numbers 73 birds in the wild, in addition to the 14 birds currently being led southward behind ultralight aircraft. The exact date of arrival of the new cohort of whooping cranes is dependant upon weather, and so is difficult to predict. Based upon experiences from previous years, the birds will arrive some time between early December and mid-January. Upon arrival, the birds will have time to acclimate to life on their own, yet be protected from predators and other hazards by roosting within the confines of the pen. The oversight of the winter monitoring staff will ensure their survival over the first winter of life, during a period when high rates of mortality could otherwise occur.

Project History

Last updated: April 15, 2009