Whooping
Crane Kids: Learning Life's Lessons
Coming
into the world
Chicks
in Captivity
Captive-raised
chicks have it easy! Handlers first place their eggs under real adult
cranes. But later, they are moved to drawer-like incubators. These "nests"
keep the the eggs and chicks warm and dry as they hatch.
The first
thing a captive-raised chick sees is a crane puppet.This becomes "mom."
The chick knows, by instinct, to stick close. The puppet also has a tiny
recorder that plays the call a parent makes to its chick. The call means
“It’s okay. Follow me.” Click
here to hear the call!
Chicks in the Wild
Wild chicks are born on nests made of mud and reeds that float
in marshes or shallow ponds. Being near water allows the chicks to swim
to escape predators. The very first thing these babies see is their parents.
They also know, by instinct, to stick close. Still, there are so many
dangers in the wild that many chicks die before they're a month old.
Next: Finding
food>>
Photo
Credits
Captive cranes: Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP)
Wild cranes: Steve Nesbitt, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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