Personality and History

Personality Characteristics: Just a good bird with no bad habits and a good follower. Certainly no wimp! Fairly dominant. Challenges costumed "strangers," such as visiting veterinarians or aviculturalists. Likes to be part of the group during flights. Gets anxious if she is a lone crane with one of the ultralights, and keeps glancing at the main flock as if she would prefer to join them.
First Migration South: Flew all but 33.1 miles (TN)

History: Acquired adult voice first week of Feb., 2004.

Spring 2004: Began first migration north at 9:33 a.m. March 30, 2004 in a group of eight 2003 flock mates (301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 316, 318, 319). (Follow the group's progress in the entry for 301.) Birds 303, 312 & 16 retreated eastward, toward the location they had just left. (See next details at #303, above.)
In April, crane #312 was injured by an aluminum can that became stuck around her bill, preventing eating or drinking. Richard Urbanek discovered the alarming situation. He quickly donned a costume and captured, helped, and released her. She recovered well. Cranes 303, 312 & 316 remained together in Michigan, stymied by the huge obstacle of Lake Michigan. They arrived in central Wisconsin on July 26 and were discovered near Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on July 28, finally completing their interrupted migration!

Fall 2004: Cranes 303, 312 and 316 left Necedah Nov. 20 and flew to Jefferson Cty., WI. On Nov 22 they were in Cook County, IL. Stayed in LaPorte County, Indiana from Nov. 22 until resuming migration on Dec. 18-20. They roosted in or near Fairfield County, South Carolina, on Dec. 22nd, then moved to Marion County, FL. for several days. They arrived at the Chassahowitzka pen site at midday on Jan. 2nd, roosting that night near the constructed oyster bar in the pen. They were the first HY2003 whooping cranes to return to the Chassahowitzka pen site after fall migration. Spent much of the winter on a horse farm in central FL.

Spring 2005: #303, 312 & 316 departed on migration from Marion County, FL on March 20. Will they go back to MI or WI? PTT readings for 312 showed the group roosted in southern IN--on the correct migration route--on March 20! The three were reported back in Necedah area March 30. Cranes #312 and #316 continued to hang out together near Necedah NWR and nearby counties.

Fall 2005: She and #316 were not found in their usual area on Nov. 17, a day when 18 whoopers began migration from the area. They showed up with sandhill cranes at other spots in the next few days and likely began migration on Nov. 24. On Dec. 1 they arrived and stayed in Marion County on Florida's Gulf Coast north of the pen for ultralight-led chicks at Chassahowitzka NWR!

Spring 2006: She and #316 likely began migration from Marion County, FL on March 1. Although #316 was home in Wisconsin on March 17, #312 didn't return till later.

Click for larger view of adult pair #312 and #316 on Dec. 2, 2006 in Illinois with DAR #27_06 and #32_06

Fall 2006: Began fall migration from the Wisconsin summer home on Nov. 30 with #316 and young DAR (Direct Autumn Release) cranes #27-06 and #32-06. An ICF tracking intern tracked the four cranes to Kendall County, Illinois that night. These birds were one of the last groups to leave Necedah NWR. Cranes #312 and #316 have been together ever since they were chicks and migrated north together in spring 2004. They were in Alachua County, FL in December.

Spring 2007: Began migration March 5 (with mate #316 and pair #303 and #317). Detected (with mate #316) in flight in Wisconsin on March 23. They apparently arrived home in
Juneau County later that day.

Fall 2007: Began migration on November 12 with mate #316. They were tracked into northeastern Illinois before the ground tracker lost signals. A pair of unidentified whooping cranes, was reported in Colleton County, South Carolina, since November 16. It was determined in late December that #312 was now with #311.

Spring 2008: Confirmed back on Necedah NWR March 30. Cranes #311 and #312 began incubating around April 16! They failed to hatch the egg, but one fertile, intact egg was collected from the failed nest on May 5 and brought to ICF for incubation.

Photo Colleen Wisinski, ICF	Failed nest, good egg saved. Photo ICF