Today's News
A/CPB
Claudia Fonkert, Macalester College
April 17, 1997
Each spring the entire flock of wild whooping cranes takes the annual 2,500 mile journey from their wintering grounds on the Texas Gulf Coast to their
nesting grounds in northern Canada. These wild cranes were on the brink of extinction in the 1940's, and only 159 are alive today.
The spring migration is now underway. Last week, just 55 of the 159 cranes remained on the wintering grounds. Here are sightings recently reported from points along their migratory path:
Reported as of April 17, 1997
| Date | State/Province | Location | # Cranes |
| 4/10/97 | TEXAS |
Still on Wintering Grounds (Aransas NWR) |
49 adults, 6 juvenile |
| 4/15/97 | KANSAS |
Stafford Co., KS (Quivira NWR) |
2 adults, 1 juvenile |
| 4/15/97 | KANSAS |
Edwards Co., KS (5 mi. s, 3 w of Belpre) |
2 adults |
| 4/15/97 | NEBRASKA |
Valley Co., NE (1 mi. n, 1.5 e of Elyria) |
12 adults* |
| 4/15/97 | S. DAKOTA |
Charles Mix Co., SD (10 mi. so. of Wagner) |
2 adults |
| 4/14-15/97 | NEBRASKA |
Buffalo Co., NE (2 mi. so. of Gibbon) |
2 adults |
| 4/14/97 | NEBRASKA |
Kearney Co., NE (6 mi. south of Gibbon) |
1 adult |
| 4/14/97 | KANSAS |
Phillips Co., KS (6 mi. north of Kirwin) |
1 adult |
* This is the largest group of whooping cranes ever reported in Nebraska.