Looking for Families
In late May the Canadian Wildlife Service flies surveys to count nests in the vast nesting grounds. We fly again in early to mid August, returning to known nest sites to search for family groups. By that time, the chicks have grown from something that can fit in the palm of your hand to a bird slightly shorter than its parents. The period of time from hatch to flight is the most dangerous for Whooping crane chick survival. Families we find on our surveys are always a fantastic sight, and a sign that the population will grow again. —Lea Craig-Moore, Canadian Wildlife Service

Image: Canadian Wildlife Service