| In 1954 the long-sought Whooping Crane nesting grounds were discovered along the northern edge of Wood Buffalo National park. The huge park covers 27,842 square miles — half the size of New York state. How did this discovery enable scientists to help the endangered Whooping Cranes? For the first time, biologists could record the spring arrival of the whoopers. They could fly over the park and see the nest sites of breeding pairs. They could watch for laying and hatching dates, and note the size of the clutches. In 1967 these observations enabled biologist Ernie Kuyt to begin collecting whooper eggs for breeding. |
 Photo: Brian Johns, Canadian Wildlife Service |