Returning Whooping Cranes to the Eastern United States

Between the mid 1800s and mid 1900s, the Whooping Crane population fell from an estimated 1,500 individuals to just 21 birds in two small populations. During this time the species also disappeared from the eastern United States. What caused this to happen? Wetland loss, uncontrolled hunting (right), and egg collecting all played a role in the species’ decline. By the mid 1900s, Whooping Cranes were nearly extinct, but today their numbers are increasing and there is hope for their survival. What caused this change? As people learned about Whooping Cranes, they realized that they needed to do something to stop the species from becoming extinct. Slowly, scientists and citizens who were concerned about the Whooping Crane’s future began to work together to return the species to the North American prairies and wetlands where they once lived.

In 1999, the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), a group of private conservation organizations and government agencies, was formed to return Whooping Cranes to the eastern United States. For this project, Whooping Cranes are hatched in captivity and raised for release into the wild. To ensure that the cranes remain wild, they are raised in isolation from humans. Researchers must always wear crane costumes (left) while with the birds, to hide the human form. We use recorded adult crane calls to communicate with the young birds, and follow a strict no-talking rule (no whispering please!). Click on the image to the left to listen to a Whooping Crane chick call. Their first fall, ultralight aircraft (below) lead the Whooping Crane chicks on migration from Wisconsin to their wintering area in Florida. The chicks learn the route during their first trip south, and are able to make the return journey on their own.

After seven years, there are currently over 60 migratory Whooping Cranes in the eastern United States as a result of this reintroduction. An additional release was started in 2005 to augment the ultralight-led recovery efforts. This technique – called Direct Autumn Release – consists of releasing the young cranes in the fall with older Whooping Cranes that have successfully migrated in the past, or into wild Sandhill Crane flocks. These released juveniles learn the fall migration route from the older, wild birds. Attention Teachers and Students! To learn more about this project and to follow the progress of the reintroduced Whooping Cranes, click here...