Journey North Whooping Cranes

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

Crane # 215

Date Hatched

May 17 , 2002

Gender

Female

Pre-migratory Weight: 5.8 kg.

Egg Source: ICF captive flock

Permanent Leg Bands

R/W
(left)

W/G/R
(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

Personality Characteristics: During the first winter in Florida, Sara said she was a rather submissive, low-ranking bird who rarely bothered anyone, yet she was bullied by Yearling Crane #105.

History:

Fall 2002: Migrated sucessfully to Florida with the ultralights and Class of 2002.

Spring 2003: Left Florida in the group of 15 (included one 2001 bird) and arrived back in Wisconsin April 13. Wandered in her first summer. She and females #203 and #207 stayed in South Dakota. This worried experts because it was too close to the Aransas/Wood Buffalo Whooping crane path and outside the NEP area. The three females were captured and returned to Necedah August 17-18. Crane #215 stayed around the Refuge until she reunited with #203 on August 29, and both flew to northeastern Iowa.

Fall 2003: #215 and #203 began migration from Iowa on November 8 and completed their return to Citrus County, Florida 7 days later. They were the first to arrive. After staying at the pen site, they later moved and were seen Nov. 21 in a marsh in Hillsborough County, FL. Then the two moved to Sumter County, where they spent the winter.

Spring 2004: They left on spring migration after April 11, 2004. Finally, 203 and 215 were reported in Meeker Co., Minnesota, between April 17-18. These are two of the three females that wandered west into South Dakota in spring 2003, but they were reported back at Necedah April 19!

Fall 2004: Cranes 203, 215 and 216 began migration from Monroe County, Wisconsin, on November 21. They left Greene County, Indiana on December 14. They roosted that night along a river in Davidson County, Tennessee. On Dec. 15 the trio flew to Limestone County, Alabama, remaining there in harvested cornfields and floodings until Dec. 23rd. On that morning #215 separated from the other two birds. She couldn't be located due to weak and infrequent radio signals. On January 3, 2005, her body was recovered in Limestone County, Alabama by WCEP trackers. Her death is under investigation, with no certain answers.