by Friends of the Wild Whoopers admin
Record whooping crane fledging chicks
Fort Smith, NWT, August 14, 2017 – A record number of 63 whooping crane fledglings were detected by Parks Canada and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) staff during surveys conducted at and near Wood Buffalo National Park with their parents.
In mid-May 2017, during the nesting survey, Parks Canada and CWS detected a record 98 nests, which was a substantial increase over the previous record of 82 nests in 2014. Then, during the fledgling survey in late July, we detected 63 chicks in total with 4 sets of twins. The previous record was 49 chicks in 2006. Results are preliminary until analysis of data obtained during the nesting and fledgling surveys is completed by CWS in the fall.
The nesting survey is carried out over four days each year in late July. WBNP and CWS staff conduct aerial surveys over sites where nests were detected earlier in the year, to determine which nests successfully produced fledglings.
WBNP and nearby areas provide the last natural nesting habitat for the endangered whooping crane. The birds are hatched in and near WBNP each spring and spend the winter at and near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas before returning to WBNP the following year.
Officials excited with record whooping crane fledging chicks
“This is an exciting development for the Whooping Crane population and we are very pleased.” said Cam Zimmer, superintendent of Wood Buffalo National Park. ”Our cooperative work with the Canadian Wildlife Service, and with partners in the United States, is an important component of our efforts to recover this endangered species. We are proud to celebrate this new conservation milestone during Canada’s 150th year.”
Excellent habitat conditions one reason for increase
Friends of the Wild Whoopers was expecting an excellent fledgling count because of the record number of 98 whooping crane nests found during the May 18-21, 2017 nesting surveys. Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada were elated with the results. Mike Keiser of Park Canada had told us earlier that habitat conditions were excellent with most wetland basins being full. So environmental conditions for a great Whooper chick production were established.
This important success for the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population is incredible. It is the only wild self-sustaining population of Whooping Cranes on earth and has faced many difficulties over the years. This wild population had only 15 members in 1945 and was on the edge of extinction. Unregulated hunting during the 1800s and early 1900s coupled with widespread habitat destruction was the cause of the Whoopers serious decline. Fortunately with legal protection this decline has been reversed as witnessed by their continued increase in numbers during the past approximately 65 years.
51 years of whooping crane surveys at Wood Buffalo
This was the 51st year of annual surveys of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo whooping crane population. The large increase in nests and fledglings chicks from previous years is a result of several things. Very important is the excellent habitat conditions on Wood Buffalo nesting grounds that provided suitable nesting sites for the cranes. The Wood Buffalo staff keeps careful watch over the nesting areas. Importantly, the legal protection by wildlife law enforcement personnel for the past approximate seven decades has been of tremendous benefit. More recently the increase resulted from the arrival at breeding age of the large number of young Whooping Cranes that were produced during the period 2010-2013.
The Aransas-Wood Buffalo wild Whooping Crane population is capable of taking care of itself with two exceptions. These birds cannot protect their habitat nor stop the illegal shooting of members of their population. These endangered birds need man to protect and manage habitat and bring a halt to the illegal shooting.
***** FOTWW’s mission is to help preserve and protect the Aransas/Wood Buffalo
population of wild whooping cranes and their habitat. *****
Friends of the Wild Whoopers is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
This is great news to read and there are twins going to Texas, eh?
Does anyone know how many whooping cranes that the wild flock has? We now know that 63 are going to migrate, but we have yet to hear anything about how many cranes were counted on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge! What is the story? Please?
Thanks for this great news! It is showing that a good habitat at WB is helping the flock. We need to keep habitat at the forefront.
Thanks again FOTWW for this excellent update.
This news gives me hope! Let us hope conservation efforts continue! The good news is appreciated! Thank you.
Fabulous and encouraging news! I hope conditions on Aransas are good this year.
I would like to congratulate all the groups involved with protecting the whooping cranes. Thanks!
Great and wonderful news for our whooping cranes! Thank you FOTWW for all you do and this wonderful news!
Great news. More birds and new families mean expanding their feeding grounds into new areas. They need more habitat. We need to keep working to save it for them before it is all paved over. Thank you FOTWW!
Whoop! Whoop! I loved this article and am sharing it with my friends.
I remember when there were only 200 whooping cranes in the wild flock. This is outstanding to read! I hope these increases continue. They will need more habitat and it is reassuring to know your organization is helping their stopover habitat along the flyway where I live.
Hoping Harvey isn’t devastating whooping crane habitat in the Aransas area. Thankfully the birds are not back there yet, but all of this goes to highlight the need for habitat protection and ideally expansion. It would be great to see an offshoot of the wild population re-establish naturally in a second location to increase the odds of the continued existence of these magnificent birds.