Whooping Crane Scientific Name: Grus Americana Federal Status: Endangered, 6/2/70 • State Status: Endangered
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Whooping Crane Scientific Name: Grus americana Federal Status: Endangered, 6/2/70 • State Status: Endangered Description of age, white feathers begin to appear only 500 to 1,400 Whooping Cranes The stately Whooping Crane is the on the neck and back. Juvenile feath- inhabited North America in 1870. tallest bird found in North America, ers are replaced through the winter Although the exact number is with males approaching nearly five months. By the following spring, juve- unknown, Whooping Cranes were feet in height. Adult birds are white nile plumage is primarily white, with uncommon, and their numbers overall with some red and black on rusty colored feathers remaining only had rapidly declined by the late the head. Their inner wing feathers on the head, upper neck, and on the 19th century. droop over the rump in a “bustle” tips of wing feathers. Young birds In the mid 1800’s, the principal that distinguishes cranes from herons. generally have adult plumage by late breeding range extended from central With a seven foot wingspan and a in their second summer. Illinois northwestward through north- slow wing beat, Whooping Cranes fly There are a number of birds that ern Iowa, western Minnesota, north- with their long necks and legs fully may appear similar to the Whooping eastern North Dakota, southern extended. When in flight, the birds’ Crane. The Sandhill Crane, the Manitoba and Saskatchewan, to the black wingtips or primary feathers Whooping Crane’s closest relative, is area near Edmonton, Alberta. The gray in color, not white. Also, Sandhill Cranes are Wood Buffalo somewhat smaller, with a National Park wingspan of about five feet. Sandhill Cranes occur in flocks of two to Canada hundreds, whereas Whooping Cranes are most often seen in flocks of two to as many as 10 to 15, although they sometimes migrate with Grays Lake National Main flock Wildlife Refuge Sandhill Cranes. Snow Foster flock Geese and White Pelicans are white birds with black wingtips, however both of Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge these birds have short legs that do not extend beyond the tail when in Bosque del Apache flight. In addition, Snow National Wildlife Refuge Geese generally occur in large flocks, are much Aransas National smaller, and fly with a Wildlife Refuge rapid wing beat. White Pelicans fly with their neck folded and can be distinguished Whooping Crane disappeared from the by their long yellow bill. Finally, heart of its breeding range in the swans are all white and have short north-central United States by the legs, and herons and egrets fly with 1890’s. The last documented nesting their long necks folded. in southern Canada occurred in Saskatchewan in 1922. By 1937, only Whooping Crane © USFWS Steve Van Riper Status and two small breeding populations Distribution remained; a nonmigratory population can be seen, and their long legs The historical range of the Whooping in southwestern Louisiana and a extend beyond their tail. Their dark Crane extended from the Arctic coast migratory population that wintered on olive-gray beaks are long and pointed. south to central Mexico, and from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge The area at the base of the beak is Utah east to New Jersey, South Car- (NWR) on the Texas coast and nested pink and the eyes are yellow. The olina, Georgia, and Florida. Distribu- in a location that at the time was Whooping Crane’s call, from which it tion of fossil remains suggests a unknown. The remnant population in derives its name, has been described wider distribution during the cooler, southwestern Louisiana was reduced as a shrill, bugle-like trumpeting. wetter climate of the Pleistocene. from 13 to 6 birds following a hurri- Whooping Crane chicks are a red- Although once numbering above dish cinnamon color. At four months 10,000, it has been estimated that Whooping Crane 1 cane in 1940, and the last individual Although not yet of breeding age, the was taken into captivity in 1950. In birds led south in both 2001 and the winter of 1938-39, only 14 adult 2002 returned north on their own and 4 juvenile Whooping Cranes were the following spring. found on the Aransas NWR. The nest- ing area of the Aransas Wildlife Habitat Refuge population was discovered in Within Wood Buffalo NP, Whooping 1954 in Wood Buffalo National Park Cranes nest in poorly drained wet- (NP), Northwest Territories, Canada. lands interspersed with numerous This population is the only historical potholes (small areas of open water). one that survives. These wetlands are separated by nar- Whooping Cranes currently exist row ridges that support trees such as in three wild populations and a white and black spruce, tamarack, breeding population kept in captivity. and willows, and shrubs such as The species numbers approximately dwarf birch, Labrador tea, and bear- 420 birds, all in Canada and the berry. Bulrush is the dominant plant United States. The only self-sustaining in areas used by nesting birds, wild population is the one that win- although cattail, sedge, musk-grass Whooping Crane at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge © TPWD Bill Reaves ters on the Texas coast and nests pri- and other aquatic plants are common. marily within Wood Buffalo NP. In Nest sites are often located in the 2002, this population consisted of 50 rushes or sedges of marshes and nesting pairs, with a total of 185 sloughs, or along lake margins. An birds wintering in Texas. abundance of invertebrates, such as In 1975, Whooping Crane eggs mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic were transferred from Wood Buffalo insects have been found in the ponds NP to Grays Lake National Wildlife near occupied nests. Refuge in Idaho and placed in Sand- Whooping Cranes use a variety of hill Crane nests in an effort to estab- habitats during their long migrations lish a migratory population in the between northern Canada and the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Moun- Texas coast. Croplands are used for tain birds spend the summer in feeding, and large wetland areas are Idaho, western Wyoming, and south- used for feeding and roosting. western Montana, and winter in the Whooping Cranes are known to roost middle Rio Grande Valley of New in riverine habitat along the Platte, Mexico. Reintroductions ended in Middle Loup, and Niobrara Rivers in 1989 after the adult Whooping Nebraska, Cimarron River in Okla- Cranes did not pair up or mate due homa, and the Red River in Texas. to imprinting problems from their The birds often roost on submerged Whooping Crane chick foster Sandhill Crane parents. The sandbars in wide unobstructed chan- © USFWS last Whooping Crane in the flock nels isolated from human disturbance. died in 2002. Whooping Cranes also use large wet- Life History The second persisting wild popu- land areas associated with lakes for Whooping Cranes usually mate for lation in 2003 consisted of approxi- roosting and feeding during migration. life, although they will remate follow- mately 90 birds remaining from over The Whooping Crane’s principal ing the death of their mate. They 250 captive-reared Whooping Cranes wintering habitat consists of about mature at 3 to 4 years of age, and released in central Florida south of 22,500 acres of marshes and salt flats most females are capable of producing Orlando beginning in 1993. These on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge eggs by 4 years of age. It is estimated birds were released as the first step and adjacent publicly and privately that Whooping Cranes can live up to in an effort to establish a non- owned wetlands. Plants such as salt 22 to 24 years in the wild. Captive migratory population in Florida, and grass, saltwort, smooth cordgrass, individuals live 30 to 40 years. in 2002, produced the first whooping glasswort, and sea ox-eye dominate Whooping Cranes begin leaving crane chick born in the wild in the the outer marshes. At slightly higher the Texas coast in late March and United States since 1939. elevations, Gulf cordgrass is more early April, returning to their nesting The third wild population was common. The interior portions of area in Wood Buffalo NP by late initiated in 2001 when several young the refuge are characterized by oak April. Experienced pairs arrive first captive-reared whooping cranes were mottes, grassland, swales, and ponds and normally nest in the same vicin- released in potential nesting habitat on gently rolling sandy soils. Live ity each year. Nesting territories at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge oak, redbay, and bluestems are typi- vary considerably in size, ranging in Wisconsin. The young birds were cal plants found on upland sites. from 0.5 to 1.8 square miles. From trained to migrate to Florida’s Gulf Upland sites have been managed the start of egg laying until the Coast by following ultra light aircraft. using grazing, mowing, and con- chicks are a few months old, the trolled burning. About 14,250 acres birds’ activities are restricted to the of grassland are managed for cranes, breeding territory. Eggs are normally 2 Whooping Crane waterfowl, and other wildlife. laid in late April to mid May, and mally migrate as a single, pair, family flapping, head bowing, and leaps into group, or in small flocks, sometimes the air by one or both birds, increase accompanying Sandhill Cranes. in frequency. These rituals serve to Flocks of up to 10 sub-adults have forge and strengthen pair bonds. Fam- been observed feeding at stopover ily groups and pairs usually depart areas. Whooping Cranes migrate dur- first, normally between March 25 and ing the day, and make nightly stops April 15. The last birds are usually to feed and rest. Although they use a gone by May 1, but occasional strag- variety of habitats during migration, glers may stay into mid-May.