Wood Buffalo NP Updates Archives - Page 12 of 13

Wood Buffalo National Park

May 31, 2014 by Admin

Friends of the Wild Whoopers has posted many articles that told about whooping cranes migrating and raising their families on Wood Buffalo National Park. In fact 300 wild whoopers have now migrated from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas and the breeding pairs are currently nesting at Wood Buffalo National Park. This is the only location on earth where a self-sustaining flock of wild whooping cranes nests.

But Wood Buffalo is much more than whooping cranes and we want you to know more about this amazing Canadian national park. This short video showcases Canada’s largest UNESCO world heritage site and national park as well as its oldest northern national park. This has been created from a collection of spectacular images for your viewing enjoyment by the folks who know the place – Parks Canada.

View it on “full screen” to be amazed: Wood Buffalo National Park 2011 by Parks Canada.

***** FOTWW’s mission is to protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population
of wild whooping cranes and their habitat. *****

friendsofthewildwhoopers.org

Whooping Crane Conservation topic for Audubon Meeting

March 16, 2017May 8, 2014 by Admin

Friends of the Wild Whoopers member, Chester McConnell will present a program on “Whooping Cranes Conservation Efforts” at the Mobile Bay Audubon Society meeting according to Gaye Lindsey (Audubon birding coordinator). McConnell explained that his presentation will focus on management efforts for the wild whooping crane flock that migrates between Aransas Refuge in Texas and Wood Buffalo Park nesting grounds in Canada.

In addition he will discuss the two experimental flocks in the eastern U.S. Operation Migration’s ultra-lite plane led whooping cranes fly through the entire length of Alabama on their migration path from Wisconsin to Florida. Many citizens turn out along the migration corridor to observe this most interesting effort.

Threats to the whooping crane programs including oil spills and wind energy projects will also be described.

McConnell said, “The last wild whooping cranes to be recorded in Alabama was on Dauphin Island and Prattville during November 1899 but many people continue to be interested in these beautiful endangered birds.” Whooping cranes are the largest birds in North America and stand 5 feet tall and have wing spans of 7 feet.

Audubon’s meeting will be at Alabama’s 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center , Spanish Fort, Alabama on Tuesday, May 13 starting at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Lindsey explained that this will be an excellent presentation which is open to the public.

To learn more about Friends of The Wild Whoopers organization click on: FOTWW

***** FOTWW’s mission is to protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population
of wild whooping cranes and their habitat. *****

friendsofthewildwhoopers.org

Wild Whooping Crane News from the Nesting Grounds…

March 16, 2017April 30, 2014 by Admin

Whooping crane nesting grounds — Wood Buffalo National Park – Photo courtesy of John David McKinnon

Wild Whooping Crane News from the Nesting Grounds…

The following is news courtesy of Wood Buffalo National Park Technician, John David McKinnon,.

“Welcome Home Whoopers!!!

Spring is here and the whooping cranes have begun to return to their nests in and around Wood Buffalo National Park.

Wood Buffalo National Park and the Canadian Wildlife Service are pleased to report the first arrivals of whooping cranes to their nesting grounds in the vast wetlands in northern WBNP. An ongoing telemetry project, a cooperative effort between CWS, Parks Canada and six US-based agencies, has allowed us to see that the cranes first arrived back on April 23rd.”

Long live the Wild Whoopers!”

Friends of the Wild Whoopers (FOTWW) talked about the migration with McKinnon. He explained that “We are always excited when the whooping cranes return to Canada from the U.S. We understand that they had a good winter at Aransas National Refuge and hope the birds will have a productive nesting season at WBNP.”

As of today only a few of the estimated 304 wild whooping cranes have completed their 2,500 mile migration to WBNP from the Texas coast. Others are expected to arrive throughout the month of May. Soon the mated pairs will return to their traditional nesting sites to construct their nest, lay two eggs and hopefully raise twin whooper chicks. Whooping cranes form pair bonds at ages 4 to 5 years and mate for life.

Friends of the Wild Whoopers wishes to thank John for this update on the first arrivals.

***** FOTWW’s mission is to protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population
of wild whooping cranes and their habitat. *****

friendsofthewildwhoopers.org

USFWS Whooping Crane Migration Update

March 16, 2017April 24, 2014 by Admin

Dr. Wade Harrell, U.S. Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator reports that most of the Aransas/Wood Buffalo flock of whooping cranes is now on their way to their Canadian nesting grounds. The Aransas/Wood Buffalo flock is the only remaining self-supporting flock on planet earth.

Whooping Crane Migration Map — Whooping Crane current and former range and migration corridors.

Dr. Harrell advised that, “Whooping crane migration is well underway. We estimate that less than 20% of the population is still on the Texas coast wintering area and that number should quickly dwindle over the next week or so. A significant portion of the population appears to have made it across the border into Canada. Right now we have whooping cranes spread out from the wintering grounds nearly to the breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park. Though the cranes seem to leave in mass, they actually have staggered departures and leave in small groups. This is important as it ensures survival of the species. If they were to all leave together and encountered bad weather or some other catastrophic event, it could put the whole population in jeopardy.”

Harrell also explained that GPS tracking of the whoopers continues. He described that “As of Sunday, April 21, four of the marked birds that we are actively receiving data on were still on the coast. Of those in migration, 12 were in Saskatchewan, eight in the Dakotas, four in Nebraska, two in Oklahoma and one in Texas. Based on this information and other observations, it is likely that more than 80% of the birds in the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population are currently migrating north.” See Wade Harrell’s full “whooping Crane Update report at: http://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147549010

For additional information about the Aransas/Wood Buffalo flock migration go to: https://friendsofthewildwhoopers.org/whooping-cranes-migrating-back-canadian-nesting-ground/

friendsofthewildwhoopers.org