WHOOPING CRANE POPULATIONS UPDATE - as of October 2009 Thanks to Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and co-chair of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team for the following update to the species' population stats. WILD POPULATIONS ADULT YOUNG TOTAL PAIRS Aransas/Wood Buffalo 247 0B 247A 72 The total of 266 Whooping cranes is this population’s current estimated current size. 64 chicks hatched this spring from a record 66 nests but they are not added to the count until they reach the Aransas Refuge in the fall. Florida Non-Migratory 28 1 29 8 No chicks fledged in the wild in 2008. The total of 30 birds reflects the 26 regularly monitored in Florida plus 4 additional cranes believed to be alive in unknown locations. Eastern Migratory 77 30 108 11 Five breeding facilities (Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, International Crane Foundation, Calgary Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, and Species Survival Center in New Orleans) either provided eggs or hatched and raised chicks in 2008. Four eggs came from abandoned wild nests in Wisconsin and were successfully hatched at Patuxent.  23 chicks are being raised for the release (16 ultralight, 7direct autumn release). Totals in the Wild 352 31 384 91 A The peak population for the Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock in the 2008-09 winter was 270. However, 23 birds died during the winter, leaving 247. B 52 chicks hatched in Canada in 2009 but only 22 fledged. They will not be added to population numbers until they arrive at Aransas in the fall.    Captive Populations ADULT YOUNG TOTAL PAIRS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD 64 4 68 13 International Crane Foundation, WI 31 0 31 11 Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre, AB 23 0 23 6 Species Survival Center, LA 11 0 11 1 Calgary Zoo, AB 2 0 2 0 New Orleans Zoo, LA 2 0 2 0 San Antonio Zoo, TX 7 0 7 1 Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, FL 2 0 2 0 Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL 2 0 2 0 Jacksonville Zoo, FL 2 0 2 0 Milwaukee County Zoo, WI 2 0 2 0 Totals in Captivity 148 4C 152 32 C The captive numbers do not reflect the 34 chicks hatched in 2009 and that are in reintroduction programs in Wisconsin.   WHOOPING CRANE POPULATION TOTALS - July 14/08 ADULT YOUNG TOTAL In the Wild 352 31 383 In Captivity 148 4 152  Totals 500 35 535 Home | Our Work | Get Involved | In the Field Merchandise | Links | Contact Us

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