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Whooping Crane Whooping Crane Total Population (As of August 30, 2011. See *) Wild Populations Adult Young  Total Adult Pairs Western Flock Aransas/Wood Buffalo (AWBP) self-sustaining migratory flock 278 * 278 78 Eastern Flock Wisconsin/Florida reintroduced migratory flock 97 18*** 115 17 Florida nonmigratory 20 0 20 8 Louisiana nonmigratory 7** 17** 24 0 Rocky Mountains 0 0 0 0 Subtotal in the Wild:  343  71 414 103 * The Western flock (Aransas-Wood Buffalo population, or AWBP) is currently estimated at 278. In 2010, a record 74 pairs nested and fledged 49 chicks, 45 of which arrived safely at Aransas NWR for the winter. In May 2011 a record 75 nests were located on the Canadian nesting grounds. Chicks fledged in Canada in 2011 (approximately 37) are not included in this table since the size of the AWBP is not known until after completion of fall migration; however, the winter of 2011-12 presented challenges to getting an accurate count. The January survey indicated 245 individuals but Aransas officials caution that this number does not reflect Whooping cranes outside the survey area, including those that have dispersed due to the unusual warm weather and the extreme drought conditions in Texas. Normally the birds remain mostly on Aransas National Wildlife REfuge during winter months with a few moving to nearby suitable locatiosn. This winter the whoopers are ranging as far north as Nebraska. Following the summer 2011 breeding season in Canada, fficials had hoped for 300 arrivals to the Texas Gulf Coast after fall migration. ** Ten juveniles were transported to White Lake, Louisiana in mid-February, 2011. Two are missing and presumed dead. The thrid was captured and had to be euthanized due to illness. Seventeen juveniles are currently being raised in captivity for release in Louisiana in fall, 2011. ***18 juveniles are currently being raised for release into the eastern migratory population: 8 for Direct Autumn Release (DAR) and 10 in the Class of 2011 group to follow the ultralight planes on fall migration. Captive Populations Adults Young Total Breeding Pairs About Captive Breeding         Patuxent WRC, MD 73 2 75 15 International Crane Foundation, WI 35 2 37 11 Devonian Wildlife Conservation Center, Calgary, AB, Canada 19 0 19 6 Calgary Zoo, AB, Canada 2 0 2 0 San Antonio Zoo, TX 7 0 7 1 Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL 2 0 2 0 Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA 2 0 2 0 Species Survival Center, Louisiana 10 0 10 2 Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, FL 2 0 2 0 Jacksonville Zoo, FL 2 0 2 0 Milwaukee County Zoo, WI 2 0 2 0 National Zoological Park, Washington D.C. 1 0 1 0 Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, NC 1 0 1 0 Subtotal in Captivity: 158 4 162 36 Grand Totals Wild + Captive 437 Adults 162 Young 599 Total   Chicks raised in 2011 for the eastern migratory population and Louisiana flocks are listed as wild birds. Until the next updating of Total Populations on this page, every known death in the Eastern migratory population is reported here. Data courtesy of Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Recovery Team Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved.