Whooping Crane Migration Update: April 6, 2007

Today's Report Includes:


W1-06, hanging out with friends. >>

Migration Map and Highlights: Who's Home?
Departure Log
Click for migration animation >>

Arrival Log
Click for migration animation >>

Most of the Western wild flock is still wintering in Texas. We're excited about their migration starting any day now! And we're REALLY excited about all the people seeing and reporting migrating Whoopers so we can track their journey!

At least 43 of the new Eastern flock's Whoopers had returned to the Finish Line in Wisconsin by April 2! But a few went to Michigan instead. And Crane #407 is back home WITHOUT his travel buddy, the wayward #309. She peeled off and went astray for the FOURTH spring in a row. Will she ever return to Wisconsin on her own? Migration: a mystery and a miracle.

Life story pages are updated as information arrives (scroll down to "Spring 2007" on each life story page). As locations are reported or confirmed, the migration progress of both flocks appears live on our MapServer!

Tom Stehn Reports: Crane Differences Read >>
Tom Stehn's report

What tall tale does Tom like to tell people looking for the Whoopers on windy days? Why is most of this flock of 237 still in Texas, and when does Tom say they'll leave? Find out which differences between Sandhills and Whoopers led to the Whoopers becoming endangered.

Once again, Tom makes us laugh — and also makes us think! (Next week he'll make us subtract, as he flies over the refuge to count the cranes still there.)

Compare: Current Range, Former Range >>

As Tom told you in this week's report, there were once many more Whooping Cranes. Enlarge this map to see the legend. What does the map show?

Use the map to locate the main (Western) flock's

  • CURRENT summer and winter homes;
  • FORMER summer and winter homes.

Use an atlas to locate the new Eastern flock's

  • summer nesting home at Necedah (say "Nuh SEED uh") NWR in Wisconsin. (It's near Tomah, WI.)
  • winter home on central Florida's Gulf Coast (just north of Tampa).

 


Look Closer
>>

How do current ranges and former ranges for the two flocks compare?
Journal: Why Michigan?

Your Whooping Crane Journal. >>

Now that you're thinking about where Whoopers are found, check the migration map to see how many Eastern Flock cranes are in Michigan. (OR, scroll down to Spring 2007 on life story pages for these birds: #502, #503, #507, #309, #318, and DAR33-05.)

  • Why do you think a Whooping Crane that started out in Wisconsin might go to Michigan for the summer instead?

Write your ideas in your journal.

This Week's Crane Resources
  • Ask the Expert: Closes Today, April 6! >>
  • View Video: Hear and See Whoopers in Flight >> (12 seconds)
  • Discover: Endangered Whooping Cranes: The Story Behind a Stamp >>
  • Remember: Whooper Happenings Podcast Tribute to the Class of HY2006 >>
  • Whooping Crane Migration Journals (click-and-print) >>
  • Whooping Cranes for Kids (booklets, photos, videos) >>
More Whooping Crane Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Whooping Crane Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 13, 2007.