Personality and History

Personality Characteristics: Originally a bit aggressive toward the others. Separated upon release at West site training area to avoid issues. Able to socialize through fence until aggressive tendencies subsided. All of the birds from cohort three are going through their independent stage and often ignore the aircraft and handlers. #316 is among the worst. At times reluctant to come out of pen for training, but he follows well once out of the pen. Got a cut on his foot and had to be kept out of water for a time due to infection. The cut healed well with medicine.
Migration South: Flew all but 33.1 miles (TN).

History: Attained adult voice in Jan., 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 (Follow the group's progress in the entry for 303.) Crane #316 later split off in SW Michigan, but later completed his interrupted migration and returned to Necedah NWR on July 28 along with #312 and #316.

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 the Necedah area March 30, and #316 continued to hang out with #312.

Fall 2005: He and #312 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: He and #312 began migration from Marion County, FL on March 1. No further reports until March 17, when #316 was home, near Necedah NWR in Wisconsin.

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 #312 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 #316 and #312 have been together ever since they were chicks and migrated north together in spring 2004.
They were in Alachua County, FL in December.