Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

Mid-February 2009 Project Update

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February 2009 Population Status

As of Mid-February 2009 there are 87 wild birds in the Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane population, consisting of 52 males and 35 females. The most recent known locations of all birds are shown in the first map below, with the exception of 10 at unknown locations and three birds that are suspected dead. There are currently 12 mated pairs that could potentially breed this year. The winter locations of these pairs are shown in the second map below, in Tennessee (4), Alabama (2), South Carolina (2), and Florida (3), with one pair’s winter location unknown.

2008 Ultralight Cohort

Subsequent to our previous update, the 14 cranes led to Florida behind ultralight aircraft completed their first migration. The 7 birds destined for the new wintering site at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) arrived on January 17, and the remainder of the young whooping cranes arrived at their wintering destination at Chassahowitzka NWR on January 23. Soon after their arrival, each of the two groups of cranes received health checks and permanent bands and transmitters. Each group of young cranes is doing well, exploring the habitats in the vicinity of their open pens. All birds will be monitored throughout the winter, until they depart on their own for the migration back to Wisconsin.

Map of whooping crane locations in February

2008 Direct Autumn Release (DAR) Cohort

Of the surviving birds released using the DAR technique this year, all continue to associate with older whooping cranes. The latest information indicates four birds located in Tennessee, and one bird in Florida. Another bird last detected with other whooping cranes in Florida has been missing since January 30, and mortality is suspected.

Reporting Sightings

Please forward any sightings you receive 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/.

Map of the location of whooping crane potential breeding pairs.

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Last updated: April 15, 2009