Photo: International Crane Foundation	Meet the Class of 2011 Whooping Crane Chicks! Hatch-year 2011 of the Eastern Flock
	Crane # 14-11 (DAR) "Scotcharoo"
	Date Hatched	June 6, 2011
	Gender	Female
	Egg Source
	Permanent Leg Bands (Attached before fall migration)	Left Leg Right Leg PTT (VHF radio transmitter)
	Read more about the raising and naming of the DAR chicks. *Scroll to bottom for most recent history.*

Personality as a Chick
Scotcharoo was a quick learner and great follower from the instant she first went outside. For the first couple weeks the handlers called her a momma's girl because she was always quick to be at their feet. Scotch started taking baths early, reports Jackie. "Bath time is very entertaining because a chick shakes and wiggles different parts of its body all at the same time while dipping in and out of the water."

On September 20, she was transported with her entire cohort of Direct Autumn Release chicks to Horicon Refuge. She will spend the next few weeks in an enclosure and under supervision at this release site. On October 14 she was banded with her permanent leg band colors. On October 21 she was set free to hang out with sandhill cranes on the refuge. The team hopes she'll follow them south on migration, and learn where to go. Tracking Crew Chief Eva said that when the DAR birds were released, seven of them (including #14) hung out in one group by themselves; on Oct. 24 they flew a really big loop over the northern end of the refuge. On October 27th this group moved to a small area of marshland in Dane County. They spend the day foraging in some cut corn fields before returning to the marsh habitat to roost in the evening with a few dozen Sandhill cranes.

Images: Eva Szyszkoski, ICF

Migration History

Fall 2011, First Migration: She was near Weiss Lake in Alabama, according to tracker Eva Szyszkoski's message on December 14. Good job, #14-11 (DAR)!!

Spring 2012: Crane #14-11 (DAR) was last detected in flight in Jackson County, Indiana on February 13. She was in Laporte/St. Joseph Counties in Indiana, where she remained until at least March 20. She returned to Wisconsin on March 20 or 21! She was in Jefferson County, only about 40 miles south of Horicon NWR and by April 12 was in Outagamie County, Wisconsin.

Fall 2012: Crane #14-11 (DAR) migrated and was reported in Tennessee in January 2013.

Spring 2013: Crane #14-11 (DAR) completed migration to Wisconsin March 28. She was shot in Wisconsin in July 2013. The shooters have been charged but the death announcement was not made public until June 23, 2014.

Back to "Meet the Flock 2011"