The whooping crane is one of the most endangered species in North America. As of 2023, there are only about 500 whooping cranes left in the wild. Their population has been slowly recovering thanks to extensive conservation efforts, but they still face many threats. This article will explore the current status of whooping cranes and where they can be found today.
What is a whooping crane?
The whooping crane (Grus americana) is the tallest bird in North America, standing at over 5 feet tall. They have snowy white plumage except for black wingtips, a red crown, and a long dark bill. Whooping cranes are known for their loud trumpeting call which carries for miles.
Whooping cranes live in wetland habitats, feeding on blue crabs, clams, frogs, small fish, insects, berries, and acorns. They are migratory birds, breeding in Canada and wintering along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
At one time, whooping cranes ranged across North America from the Arctic coast to Mexico. But by 1941, hunting and habitat loss had reduced them to just 21 wild individuals in a single migratory population.
Conservation efforts
Intensive conservation efforts over the past 80 years have slowly brought whooping cranes back from the brink of extinction. Some key actions include:
- Legal protection – The whooping crane was listed as endangered in 1967 and protected under international treaties between the U.S. and Canada
- Captive breeding – Eggs were collected from the wild to establish captive breeding flocks at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin. These flocks provide eggs and chicks for release.
- Reintroductions – Young whooping cranes are raised with surrogate parents (often sandhill cranes) using costumes and ultralight aircraft to guide them on a new migratory route between Wisconsin and Florida.
- Habitat conservation – Critical wetlands along the migration route and wintering grounds receive legal protection as national wildlife refuges and state parks.
Thanks to these efforts, the total wild population now stands around 500 individuals in 4 different flocks.
The Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock
The original migratory population, known as the Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock, is the largest and only self-sustaining flock. About 300 whooping cranes nest in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada and migrate 2,500 miles to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast each winter.
This flock has slowly rebounded from just 21 birds in 1941. However, it was set back by a 7-month drought in Texas in 2008-09 that caused the death of 20% of the flock. The flock size has stabilized at around 300 cranes since 2010.
Breeding grounds
In spring and summer, the Aransas-Wood Buffalo cranes nest and raise their chicks in the wetlands of Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park. This remote park located straddling the Alberta/Northwest Territories border provides excellent protected breeding habitat for the cranes.
Wintering grounds
Each fall, the cranes migrate south and spend the winter along the Texas Gulf Coast at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They rely on the brackish marshes, shallow bays, and oak savannas of this refuge for their winter habitat.
A limited number of whooping crane tours are available each winter to view the birds at Aransas NWR. Visitors may catch glimpses of whooping cranes feeding in marsh grasses or mingling with flocks of sandhill cranes.
Migration route
The whooping cranes follow a broad migration corridor across North America. They make stopovers to rest and feed at national wildlife refuges and other wetlands along their 2,500 mile path. Key stopover points include:
- Saskatchewan, Canada
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
Tracking surveys and satellite telemetry data allow conservationists to monitor the migration and expand habitat protections along the flyway.
Eastern Migratory Population
A second migratory flock known as the Eastern Migratory Population was reintroduced starting in 2001. This flock is not self-sustaining and requires continued releases of captive-raised chicks. There are currently around 100 cranes in this population.
The Eastern Migatory Population migrates between Wisconsin and Florida following an ultralight aircraft. After being raised in captivity, young cranes are taught this new migration route behind an ultralight so they can establish a migratory pattern in a safer flyway east of the Mississippi River.
Key breeding and wintering sites for this reintroduced flock include:
- Summer breeding grounds in central Wisconsin
- Staging areas at protected wetlands across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee
- Wintering grounds at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge along Florida’s Gulf Coast
Louisiana Non-Migratory Population
A third flock was established at Louisiana’s White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in 2011. This non-migratory population currently numbers around 80 birds that remain in Louisiana year-round.
The Louisiana cranes were released as young chicks and imprinted on the White Lake marshes as their home range. They have not shown migratory behavior. This non-migratory approach provides an important additional population as a hedge against risks to the migratory flocks.
Western Gulf Coast Population
In an effort to establish a second migratory flock, conservationists released captive-raised whooping cranes at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin starting in 2005. This flock now numbers around 50 birds and migrates to the Aransas and Matagorda Island areas along Texas’ western Gulf coast.
Although not all the released birds survive the migration, this new approach has established an additional self-sustaining migratory flock that adds resiliency and genetic diversity.
Threats to Recovery
Whooping cranes still face a number of threats that hinder the recovery of the species:
- Habitat degradation – Wetland drainage and degradation reduces nesting habitat and wintering grounds. Droughts can severely impact the cranes’ protected coastal marshes.
- Shooting – Some cranes are still illegally shot each year despite protection laws. Increased public awareness is needed.
- Collisions – Cranes occasionally collide with power lines and towers during migration. Marking lines near wetlands helps reduce collisions.
- Disease – The isolated wild flocks are vulnerable to outbreaks of disease such as avian cholera or West Nile virus.
- Climate change – Rising sea levels may degrade coastal wetlands. Weather extremes such as drought may impact habitats.
- Pollution – Pesticides and toxic chemicals can build up in wetland ecosystems and poison cranes.
Ongoing conservation efforts are needed to protect existing crane flocks and maintain the positive momentum towards recovery. With continued effort, the majestic call of the whooping crane may once again resound over wetlands across North America.
Conclusion
In summary, whooping cranes have slowly returned from the brink of extinction thanks to tremendous conservation efforts over the past 80 years. The total wild population now stands at around 500 birds split between 4 main flocks:
- The original Aransas-Wood Buffalo population nests in Canada and winters on the Texas Gulf Coast. It is the largest and only self-sustaining flock at around 300 birds.
- The reintroduced Eastern Migratory population migrates between Wisconsin and Florida. It requires continued release of captive-raised birds to maintain around 100 cranes.
- The non-migratory Louisiana population of around 80 cranes remains year-round in Louisiana marshes.
- A newer Western Gulf Coast flock migrates between Wisconsin and Texas coastal areas, numbering around 50 birds.
However, whooping cranes still face significant threats from habitat loss, shooting, collisions, disease and climate change. Continued conservation efforts are essential for protecting existing crane populations and bringing the species to full recovery.
