The youngest cranes of both flocks have safely migrated hundreds of miles to their wintering grounds. They are busy exploring and learning. Visit both flocks in this week's slideshows and field notes. Learn to identify the Eastern flock's newest crane-kids by their banding codes. Welcome to a historic new season!
Today's Report Includes:
- Welcome: Adventure Ahead!
- Slideshows: Visit the Wintering Grounds
- News: Field Reports From Texas and Florida
- Coming Soon: Track the Migration
- Links: Helpful Resources to Explore
Playful
young crane: Name this game!
Photo:
Diane Loyd
We're glad you're here to get set for spring's journey north! What's on the minds of the people who work so hard to save this endangered species?
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The number of whoopers in the Western (main) flock is likely to tie or break the record for all-time high. Stay tuned!
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The new Eastern flock has 19 juveniles safely on their wintering grounds. They include 10 ultralight-led birds and 7 Direct Autumn Release (DAR) birds and 2 wild-hatched birds to migrate back this spring.
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Will the spring nesting season be successful for the new Eastern flock? Later we'll explore and think with the scientists who are making a new plan.
Adventure lies ahead as the tallest bird in North America faces an historic year. Welcome!
Photo:
Eva Szyszkoski, ICF
What could
these cranes be doing? Identify
these cranes by their
band colors!
An estimated 270 are in Texas. Visit!
Hunkered
down today on their wintering grounds are the world's wild
migratory Whooping cranes. At least 270 are on the
Texas Gulf Coast. The 107 birds of the new Eastern flock are wintering
in Florida and 6 other
states.
Take
a tour
and make discoveries with
our
slideshows!
The Class of 2010
is in Florida. Visit!
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Latest
News! |
Ready
for Migration? |
Latest
News! |
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Welcome back to the crane experts who bring us the news! In Texas with the original natural flock, today Tom Stehn tells how he counts Whooping cranes — and also has surprising news about a new flock. In Florida watching over the Class of 2010 are ICF's tracker Eva at "Chass" NWR, and Operation Migration pilot Brooke at St. Marks NWR. They will share photos, crane mischief, and tracking news when migration gets underway. What's the latest word at each wintering grounds? Click above on Latest News as the adventure begins! |
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Starting
in March, you'll see the migration progress of both flocks —
ALL the world's migratory Whooping cranes — live
on our MapServer! |
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| migration animation | ||
Research Question: For what reasons might scientists put leg bands on the chicks of the new Eastern flock? What could they learn from banding these birds? What other Whooping cranes are now being banded? Write your ideas in your Journey North Whooping Crane Journal.
- Teachers/Overview: Getting Started
- Slideshow: Western Cranes on the Texas Wintering Grounds
- Slideshow: Eastern Cranes on the Florida Wintering Grounds
- Resource: Quick-View Leg Band Chart: Class of 2010
- About the Bands: Leg Bands: Codes and Colors
- Listening: How
Does a Whooping Crane Sound?
Check out the Port Aransas Whooping Crane Festival. February 24-27 is the 15th annual celebration!
The Next Whooping Crane Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 25, 2011.
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