Journey North Whooping Cranes

Photo: Operation Migration

Meet the New 2003 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2003 of the Eastern Flock

Crane # 310

Date Hatched

5/06/03

Gender

Male

Date Arrived in Wisconsin

6/19/03

Permanent Leg Bands

W/G/R (left)

G/R (right)

Read about the naming system, birth place in Maryland, release site in Wisconsin, over-wintering site in Florida and leg-band codes.

Personality and History

Personality Characteristics: Aggression issues with #311. Separated upon arrival at Necedah so they could socialize through a fence without harming each other. Despite initial aggression problems with #311, the two now hang together and #310 is torn between following the aircraft and staying with #311, who is aloof and standoffish to the costumed handlers. By October, this bird was beating up on everybody, and might be the top bird (or close to top) in the flock. He is always in the training group that's flying without problems turning back or dropping out.
First Migration South: Turned back and landed at Necedah on day 1 of the migration along with 302, 311 and 313. Crated and transported to first stopover. Flew all but about 33.1 miles of the migration, missing a leg (a day's flight) in TN.

History: Acquired adult voice week in Jan., 2004.
Spring 2004: Left Chassahowitzka together with the other 7 remaining chicks on April 7 at 9:10 a.m. They flew until rain stopped them, landing in Jefferson Cty., FL at 3:35 where they roosted that night. Took off April 8 in the group of 8 but a thunderstorm separated the cranes into 3 groups. #313 and #310 were later found by a pond in a s. Georgia pasture--within 3 miles of the southward migration route! Cranes 310 and 313 were not tracked on Apr. 10 or 11. Next reported in Illinois on April 16 and at a small pond in northwest Iowa on April 17. Arrived at Necedah NWR with #313 on April 19.
Fall 2004: #310 and 313 began migration from Juneau County, WI on Nov 7 and flew to Kankankee Cty., IL. They were next tracked on Nov. 15 in Nelson County, Kentucky where they remained at least through December 5. They were no longer at this site when it was checked on Dec. 15. Next located with #302 and #313 during an aerial survey by Lara Fondow on January 18, 2005 in a managed wetland in Colleton County, South Carolina.
Spring 2005: Began migration March 20 together with #302 and #313. Reported wandering in Michigan with #313 the first half of April. Joe Duff says, "They are far enough south that they could circumnavigate Lake Michigan and make it home, but none of us holds out much hope." They were last detected in flight in southeastern MI from tracking aircraft on the west side of Lake Michigan on 14 April. Finally, the best news of all: the wandering #310 and #313 arrived on Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on May 21! Moved from Necedah October 16 to nearby Mill Bluff State Park, often seen with other whooping cranes in the area.
Fall 2005: Began migration on November 21. He was reported several times in Colleton County, South Carolina, where he spent last winter.

Spring 2006: Departed South Carolina March 9. Back at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin by March 31.

Fall 2006: Departed Wisconsin on Nov. 19 (with #402, #403 and #412) and made it that night to NE Illinois. Successfully migrated to his winter territory in Colleton County, South Carolina.

Spring 2007: Left SC winter home on March 9 and arrived on Necedah NWR by 19 March 19. His nonfunctional transmitter was replaced on August 30, 2007.

Fall 2007: Crane #310 and female #501 left Necedah NWR on migration November 22 and made it to Jasper-Pulaski wildlife area in Indiana that day. They continued
into Kentucky on 23 November 23. The next day they migrated through northern Georgia. They were found on their old territory in Colleton County, South Carolina, on November 30.

Spring 2008: Confirmed back at Necedah NWR March 29, 2008 with mate #501. On April 4, their pair bond was broken by DAR #27-06 (DAR male). Crane #310 was determined not to be alone. He displaced #307, who had just paired with W601, and now #310 and W601 are together on what was #101's territory until #307 and W601 drove him away! (Confused? Everyone else is, too — but such antics are normal for a crane's first few years.)


April 9, 2008: Male #310 and wild-born female W601 built a nest together. Female W601 is too young to lay eggs, but building a nest together signifies a strong bond. They visit cornfields off the refuge, but they always return to the refuge at night. Maybe they'll become parents in another year or two. Photos Richard Urbanek, ICF

August 2008: Wild female #W601 and ultralight-led male #310 are a pair.
Photo Operation Migraiton

Male 310 and female #601 liked to hang around the training strip as the class of 2008 was learning to fly with the ultralight plane.