Entries Tagged 'Cranes' ↓

This year’s flock of young Whooping Cranes have made it to Chasshowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Their journey was tough and long - 96 days.

The following photos are from Mark Chenoweth, creator of Whooper Happenings, your source for podcasts full of information about Whooping Cranes.

Chris Gullikson guiding a dozen cranes to the Halpata-Tastanaki Reserve

Richard van Heuvelen leading three Whooper chicks

The hard work and dedication in Whooping Crane conservation would not be possible without dedicated volunteers and support of wonderful organizations like Operation Migration. Consider helping out the project with a donation to Operation Migration.

Photos courtesy of Mark Chenoweth

Whooping Cranes are one of our most endangered birds. Cousins to the Sandhill Crane, these majestic, tall birds are a major highlight to any birders lifelist (or high on the wanted to see list). Sometimes, birders take for granted the great efforts to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

Many wonderful people put a lot of hard work into Whooping Crane conservation and Whooper Happenings is a podcast that has detailed information on the progress of Whooping Crane migration.

To subscribe to the podcast you need iTunes (a free download) and then just search in the “store” for Whooper Happenings and subscribe (for free). It’s that easy!!

Whooper Happenings #25 has some wonderful information about new efforts to protect the cranes in Florida. This is in response to last year’s sad tragedy caused from hurricane related floods.

Please consider giving a donation to Operation Migration to help the Whooping Cranes!

Photos courtesy of Mark Chenoweth, creator of Whooper Happenings. The cranes are from the Class of 2007 and were taken at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin.

Operation Migration, the force behind the ultralight flights of young Whooping Cranes (not as young as the one pictured), is in need of funds. Their MileMaker Campaign for 2007 is running short on money for the 1,250 mile journey from Necedah NWR in Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka NWR in Florida.

Consider helping the Whooper’s journey by sponsoring a mile, 1/2-mile, or 1/4-mile (or any donation for that matter).

Prices:

• $206 - 1 mile
• $103 - 1/2 mile
• $51.50 - 1/4 mile

Donate now if you can!

Yesterday we participated in the Midwest Crane Count, an annual count headed by the International Crane Foundation.

The Birdfreak Team split into two groups.

The event began at 5:00 AM and we were greated by a surprised Song Sparrow as we headed in the dark to our designated location.

The early morning sounds were wonderful - we had Woodcocks “peenting” and Wilson’s Snipes winnowing all around us. A lone Sora called out but we of course were focusing on cranes. We totalled twelve different “sessions” of calls of Sandhill Cranes. No Whooping Cranes but a week or so earlier four were spotting flying over Winnebago.

Our other group saw four Sandhills fly over but heard none! They did spot three Northern Harriers and heard many of the same birds including a Barred Owl.

It was well worth waking early and sitting in the cold. The count only lasted a couple hours but was sure a lot of fun.

Part 1 featured seven wonderful cranes found at the International Crane Foundation near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Here are seven more species. I missed one crane when I was there, the Red-crowned Crane.

#8 - Black-crowned Crane

#9 - Eurasian Crane

#10 - Sandhill Crane (I have pictures of them in the wild, but this bird was being friendly and deserved our attention)

#11 - Hooded Crane

#12 - Grey-crowned Crane

#13 - Wattled Crane

#14 - Whooping Crane

I’m not sure what kind of crane this is. (OK, he’s my nephew and at age 9, already a fine birder!)