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Meet the Whooping Crane Expert
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Tom Stehn |
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Austwell, Texas
1) Any childhood memory that was important in guiding you into your occupation?; how did you become interested in this Field?
I always planned to go into math or accounting, and then in college after getting a "C" in advanced statistics, I hurriedly switched to biology. (A word to the wise - you don't get too far in this competitive world with "C's"
2) Any person, role model or leading authority that greatly influenced you? (a parent, 6th grade teacher, scientist etc...)
I think the entire ecology (earthday) movements of the early 1970's steered me towards trying to do something for the environment. In the past, guys interested in hunting and fishing went into the wildlife profession. All that has changed these days with so many facets of biology to go into.
3) Your background: (job title, profession, education/training etc...)
Refuge Biologist / Whooping Crane Coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Education involved a Master's in Wildlife Science from the U. of Montana.
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Migration Route |
I think getting to watch whooping cranes start a migration journey in the spring when they leave Aransas is pretty exciting. Of course, hearing the cranes calling on a foggy day is neat also - their "whoops" can be heard two miles away. And when I followed the cranes from Texas to Canada using radio telemetry equipment - that was a rather unique experience. And this fall, being part of the team that led 4 whoopers on an 800-mile migration behind an ultralight aircraft was a lot of fun. Guess its pretty dull being a whooping crane biologist, isn't it?
5) What advice can you provide to a student who might be interested in working in your occupation some day?
You have to get good grades, and then make personal contacts with professionals in the field to help you get started, and learn computers, and learn how to type. Communication skills are critical, too.
6) Any family members, including pets?
I have two teenage sons, neither of which is planning to go into biology. My wife is a family practise physician with about 8,000 people in Aransas Pass, Texas relying on her for all kinds of things. Her work makes my job look easy.
7) Favorite book(s), Favorite food(s), Any hobbies?
Everyone on the staff at Aransas calls me the old dinosaur just because I'be been here for 15 years working with the cranes. Maybe this nickname has something to do with me struggling with this computer technology. But I try to act my 48-years "young" by windsurfing about 100 days a year out on the bays.
Tom Stehn
Whooping Crane Biologist
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Austwell, Texas
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