Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

Mid- October 2009 Project Update

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October 2009 Population Status

As of mid-October 2009 we have at least 75 wild birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 45 males and 30 females. The most recent known locations of all birds are shown in the map below. At least 65 whooping cranes are present in 10 Wisconsin counties, with at least two birds in Minnesota, one in Indiana, one in Michigan, and 6 others whose current locations are unknown. Two additional birds have not been detected since December 2008.

Map of Wisonsin and surrounding states with locations of whooping cranes identified.

2009 Ultralight Cohort

This year 20 young whooping cranes have been prepared for the fall migration, and the targeted ultralight departure date was October 10. Unsettled weather conditions since early October have meant that few days have been suitable for flying, delaying the migration. As of October 21, progress has been meager, with just over half of the birds having made the short flight to the first stopover site. Hopefully, we will soon see some days more conducive to flying, and make greater progress on the 1200+ mile journey. For daily updates on the progress of the ultralight cohort, see the Operation Migration web site at http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html, or, to view the live video broadcasts via OM’s CraneCam and TrikeCam go to http://www.operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html

2009 DAR Cohort

Currently 9 DAR birds are being raised for release this fall. Some time within the next few weeks, they will be released in groups of two to three near suitable older cranes in or near the Necedah NWR rearing site. These DAR birds will be carefully monitored during the fall migration to track their locations and ensure their continued progress towards their wintering areas.

Reporting Sightings

Please be on the alert in the weeks ahead for migrants that could be seen in your state, and pass any sightings on to us through the whooping crane reporting web site we have established for that purpose: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/whoopingcrane/sightings/sightingform.cfm
The link above provides a public reporting form on a site maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). When a report is submitted, the information goes simultaneously to multiple partners including the biologists who are tracking the birds, FWS, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, International Crane Foundation, and Operation Migration.

This update is a product of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. To access our previous project updates and additional information on the project visit our web site at http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/.

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Last updated: October 21, 2009