Journey North Whooping Cranes

Meet the 2002 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2002 of the Eastern Flock

Crane # 204

Date Hatched

April 19 , 2002

Gender

Female

Pre-migratory Weight: 5.8 kg

Permanent Leg Bands

(left)

R/G/W
(right)

Read about the naming system, hatch place in Maryland, release site in Wisconsin, over-wintering site in Florida, and leg-band codes.

Personality and History (Scroll to bottom for current news)

Personality Characteristics: She was heaviest of all the chicks at hatching. Strong--hatched from her shell in record time. A fairly quiet girl, she ranks in the middle of the dominance order. Never gives any trouble. Dan says she is one of the only two Whoopers that he knows of that doesn't like smelt (tiny fish used for treats).

History:

Fall 2002: Successfully finished her first journey south behind ultralights.

Spring 2003: Left Florida in the group of 15 (included one 2001 bird) and arriving Wisconsin April 13. Spent the summer about 10-12 miles from the Necedah Refuge with #209 and #218. Returned to the Refuge the last week of October, 2003, as did #218 and 105.

Fall 2003: Migrating together, 105, 204 and 218 were found by trackers while in flight Nov. 20 over Georgia. They flew after dark, roosting in SW Georgia. On November 21 the group of three landed at the pen site at Chassohowitzka, migration complete! With #105 and #218, later flew to Hernando County, but returned on Jan. 8, 2004 to the the pen site to create trouble. They harassed the young 2003 chicks in the pen and took over a feeding station!

Spring 2004: Left on spring migration March 27, 2004, together with #105 and #218. They landed to roost in Georgia at 6:15 that evening. Stopped overnight in Indiana April 1. All three birds confirmed back at Necedah NWR on April 7, 2004.

Fall 2004: Arrived Nov. 7 at the Jasper Pulaski State Fish and Wildlife Area in Indiana along with the big male, #105. Reported at Hiwassee State Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee on November 10. Observed at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Florida on Nov. 26. She moved away from the pen site after finding nobody there and no free food. Still together with Crane #105, she remained on a cattle ranch in Hernando County, FL but sometimes visited the pen site at "Chass" NWR. Will this pair become mates?

Spring 2005: Began migration along with #105 and #412 on March 30. No aggression by the two older cranes toward the younger one (412), reported ICF trackers who watched the trio at their first night roost in Georgia. On April 5 the two adults left juvenile #412. On April 6, #204 and 105 completed migration to Mill Bluff State Park in Wisconsin. On April 7 the pair moved to their territory on Necedah NWR. No nesting behavior was seen.

Fall 2005: On Aug. 22, Cranes #204 and 105 moved from their territory on l Necedah NWR to nearby Mill Bluff State Park. This was the first movement from their territory since May 20. The pair began migration on November 21. They were seen at their last year's winter home on a ranch in Hernando County, FL on Nov. 27. They continued on to the chick pen at "Chass" NWR but returned Nov. 30 to their former ranch site. (Good! The pen is for the new chicks.) The pair returned to Chass Dec. 14 and roosted at the pen site. They moved around a bit, staying in nearby counties, and were on a Pasco County ranch with a few other whoopers by end of December.

Spring 2006: Still in Florida (with #105) on March 20; began migration March 20-22. No reports received during migration.They were found back on their territory at Necedah NWR on April 6.

Fall 2006: #204 left Wisconsin on Nov. 19 (with #105 and #205) and made it to northeastern Illinois on day 1. Found with mate #105 on their winter territory in Hernando County, FL on Nov. 24. She roosted with her mate at the old Chass pen site on Jan. 8 and 9, 2007. Her mate stayed all week, but #204's signal was not detected after January 13. An airboat search failed to locate her. On January 16, 2007 her remains were found on Stafford Lake in Hernando County. This was a primary winter use area of #204 and her mate #105, but water levels were very low due to drought. This made it easier for a predator to get her. An exam will be done on her remains.