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Whooping Cranes And Operation Migration

Whooping Cranes Migrating photo courtesy of Operation Migration

The survival of the Whooping Crane has been largely due to the efforts of Operation Migration and the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).  Back in 1941 there were less than 20 Whooping Cranes left on this planet.  Due to the efforts of these organizations, there are now 529 Whooping Cranes, 72 being cared for by Operation Migration, including 12 breeding pairs.

This is an incredible success story of bird conservation and cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.  The WCEP and Operation Migration are to be applauded for the great work they are doing to make it possible for all of us to witness a miracle of nature as the Whooping Cranes migrate from Canada and Wisconsin to Florida and the gulf coast.  The 2008 flock is on their way!  For you lucky folks in the East, you may be witness to this amazing feat first hand.

Update: Vickie Henderson has an entire photo series on the Whooping Crane with incredible photos and video of the parents raising a chick.  You have got to see this!

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  • Tink *~*~* November 1, 2008, 10:06 pm

    OMG you made me do math! LOL

    I love cranes because of their little red beanies. They are like the College of Cardinals with those little red skull caps. I had the privilege of meeting with two sandhill cranes this summer

    Tink *~*~*

    http://mymobileadventures.com/2008/08/why-did-the-sandhill-crane-cross-the-road

    Tink *~*~*s last blog post..Cotton-Topped Tamarins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Reader Wil November 2, 2008, 6:57 am

    What a magnificent bird this whooping crane is! And the video is excellent! Thanks for showing!

    Reader Wils last blog post..Camera Critters Tree Frog

  • Vickie November 2, 2008, 7:41 pm

    Hi Larry. Enjoyed the video clip. George Gee is so right about endangered species telling us about our environment. So many people don’t get that. The population # of 529 is a combination of wild and captive birds. The original wild migration population has reached a high of 266 birds; when this year’s juveniles reach their wintering grounds on the coast of TX they will also be officially counted and should tip the population over 300 for the first time. Yeah! Enjoyed my visit.

    Vickies last blog post..Whooping Crane Family–Part VI

  • Larry November 2, 2008, 9:55 pm

    @Tink I love the Sandhill Crane photo of them just walking down the road. Very cool.

    @Wil go check out Vickie’s page on the Whooping Cranes!

    @Vickie I have updated my post with a link back to your incredible series of photos and video on the Whooping Crane. EVERYONE click on Vickie’s “last blog post” link or the link in my post to see some super stuff on this beautiful bird! Thanks Vickie for all the first hand information on this ongoing story!