The
Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) is working to return
endangered Whooping Cranes to their historic range in eastern North
America. This coalition has been using ultralights to teach
juvenile whooping cranes to migrate in the fall from Necedah National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka NWR on
Florida’s Gulf coast.
In February 2007, 17 of the 18 Class of 2006 whooping cranes failed to
survive a severe storm at Chassahowitzka NWR. The Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) subsequently decided to split
the ultralight-led Class of 2008 cranes into two groups upon arrival in
Florida in the fall of 2008. Splitting the flock will prevent
future loss of an entire class -- and offers an opportunity to
learn more about what environments and management practices are best
for these endangered birds.
St. Marks NWR (in Wakulla County where SEEK is held) was selected as
the second wintering site in Florida. St Marks NWR built a
wintering pen and hosted their first re-introduced whoopers last year.
The whooping cranes (Class of 2009) were to leave Necedah NWR on Sat,
Oct 10 headed south for St Marks NWR, where half will remain for the
winter. The other half will continue on to Chassahowitzka NWR.
For more information, go to WCEP’s Web site at:
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org
Follow the migration details online at:
http://www.operationmigration.org
