Bumper Crop of Chicks at Crane Foundation by International Crane Foundation Baraboo, Wisconsin

This summer in Wisconsin, the corn youngsters about a foot high, to the larger one. As the gangly chicks run, may be late from excessive rain but Wattled Crane named Maozeka who, they extend their wings, which flop as chicks are sprouting early at the Inter­ at ten weeks of age, stands about if made of rubber. national Crane Foundation ClCF). This three feet tall. The chicks grow up to According to ICF intern Debra year's bumper crop of chicks got off to an inch a day, because in the wild Bourne, the tiny bullies can be u eful an early start when the endangered many have to migrate more than a when they chase the larger chicks. Wattled Cranes from Africa laid during thousand miles by the end of summer. Since they can't catch and harm the a snow storm in FebrualY. Now there Getting plenty of exercise is vital for larger chicks, all get plenty of exer­ are 24 chicks at the facility, with proper development of their spindly cise. But tlle ICF staff has to be careful another expected. Up to 17 of the legs. not to put a bully in the chick yard chicks are on public display in the Besides monitoring the health of the along with smaller chicks they might "chick yard," where the chicks are chicks and feeding them, the volun­ pick on. If the excitement get outs of attended by volunteer "chick par­ teer chick parents have to keep the hand, the offender is placed in the ents." bullies from hurting less aggressive "penalty box," a small pen within the According to Assistant Curator of chicks. In the wild, many species of chick yard, to simmer down. Birds Scott Swengel, "We have a crane lay two eggs, but usually only Because there are so many chicks diverse bunch, one of the most varied one chick survives, in palt because of this year, the ICF staff was kept busy assortments of chicks ever." In the fighting between siblings. So watch­ thinking up names. The first chick, an chick yard there are seven Whooping ing out for fights is serious business. African species, was named after Fri­ Cranes, five Siberian Cranes, three Surprisingly, some of the smaller day Moazeka, an ICF intern from the Sandhill Cranes, and two Wattled chicks are most aggressive, so it's country of Zimbabwe. Many of the Cranes. The chicks range in size from comical to see a small chick chasing a chicks were named after characters

Jfyou liked the movie 'jurassic Park,"you'll love the chickyard althe International Crane Foundation (JCFJ, locatedj1ve miles nor/b ofBaraboo, Wisc011sin. Here, two chicks, a Siberian Crane named Mana Olana (Jeji) and a Sandhill Crane named Ra11ger, seem to tower over a group ofvisitors, bUltbese two cbicks are actually only tbree and twofeet tall. Some adult cranes stand as tall as a man. Because oftbeir large size, ji'erce bebavior, and scaly legs; cranes qDer a gNmpse q/ what some dinosaurs may have been like. Some ancient speCies ofcranes, now extinct, were alive during tbe time ofthe dinosaurs. Fossils from Nebraska show that the Sandbill Crane has remained uncbangedfor seven million years - it's the most ancient speCies ofanimal known that still survives today.

48 October I November 1993 from children's books by Dr. Seuss. already hatched, and we expect to Parents who have read Dr. Seuss to send two more eggs on July 3. ICF's their own brood will recognize the first Black-necked chick,named names of "Lorax;' "Horton;' "Sneech;' Trung Trung, is now three years old "Grinch;' "Yertle;' and others. and is on public display at ICF. This According to Scott Swengel, 1993 is year, she laid her first egg. a bumper year because, "We had the Wattled Crane. There are only highest fertility of eggs ever, more about 10,000 left in the wild, with than 90%. We also had our highest populations declining. When the first hatching rate ever, again over 90%. Wattled egg hatched on April 21, ICF And all 24 of the chicks that hatched could finally claim that it had bred all are still alive." Here's a summary of 15 species of crane. This was an why this year's success with chicks is important milestone, especially impoltant: because ICF is organizing the African Whooping Crane. The most Crane and Wetlands Conservation endangered crane is the Whooper, Workshop this August in Botswana. with only about 308 of the birds in The conference may stimulate reintro­ existence. ICF and two other breeding duction effolts in South Africa. centers are producing as many chicks The International Crane Foundation as they can, to build the breeding is located five miles nOlth of Baraboo, flock so more chicks can be produced Wisconsin, just off Highway 12 on for future reintroduction effolts. Now Shady Lane Road. Hours are from 9 to ICF has nine Whooper chicks. ICF 5 daily until October 31, with guided recently sent another four to Idaho for tours daily at 10, 1 and 3. When an experimental program in which weather is good, the chicks are wild Whooping Cranes will hopefully usually on display in the chick yard by teach the chicks to migrate. These 9:00 a.m., and return to their individ­ chicks are raised in isolation from ual pens by about 4:00 p.m. humans, so they will think they are For more information, contact David wild. Thompson at (608) 356-9462.• Siberian Crane. Only about 2,700 ,------' Siberian Cranes still exist in the wild. The two critically endangered western flocks contain only ten and five birds, Yes, count me as respectively. On May 8, 1993, ICF sent six eggs to Russia for a reintroduction a member of the program in Siberia, where the birds breed. Three of the eggs hatched, and the chicks are being raised in the American Federation of Aviculture Siberian wilderness near the last wild P.O. Box 56218, Phoenix, Arizona 85079-6218 cranes. The chicks are being raised by Russians wearing crane costumes, so THE WATCHBIRD IS THE OFFICIAL BI·MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE AFA, A NON·PROFIT ORGANIZATION the chicks will be wild and suitable for Please accept my application for membership in the American Federa­ reintroduction. Some of the chicks tion of Aviculture. Send me 6 issues (1 year) of the a.f.a. WATCHBIRD now being raised by adult birds at ICF magazine, and a membership card which entitles me to all the rights may be sent for a reintroduction and privileges of AFA membership. attempt in India, where the birds win­ ter. Only a few years ago, Siberian Check membership category desired: NEW 0 RENEWAL 0 Cranes were thought to be extremely Individual $24/year 0 Family $29/year 0 Supporting $39/year 0 difficult to breed, but now all six Sustaining $54/year 0 Commercial $100/year, includes listing in WATCHBIRD 0 females at ICF are producing young. FOREIGN MEMBERS: Add $16/year in U.S. Funds. First class rates available on Black-necked Crane. Recently, request. ICF researchers counting the cranes o My check is enclosed for $ a My money order is enclosed for $ _ on their wintering grounds in Tibet Name _ found at least 5,500 birds, doubling Charge my MC or VISA account: 0 MC 0 Visa the known population. But there are Address _ Account # _ few of the birds in captivity outside of City _ China, so it's important to add to the Exp. Date _ captive population, as a safeguard State Zip _ Signature _ against extinction in the wild. OnJune Telephone-'-__----'- _ Please allow 60 to 90 days ,19, ICF sent two Black-necked eggs to for delivery of your first issue. the Bronx Zoo, where both have AREA

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