 Photo: Operation Migration |
Meet
the New 2004 Whooping Crane Chicks! Hatch-year 2004 of the Eastern Flock |
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Crane
# 403 |
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| Date Hatched |
April 21 , 2004 |
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| Gender |
Male |
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| Date Arrived in Wisconsin |
June 16, 2004 |
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| Permanent
Leg Bands G/R/W |
W/G | |||||
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Personality and History
Migration Training: Introduced to the trike at 8 days. Received 9 hrs & 10 min. of aircraft conditioning while at PWRC. Big and dominate, he's one of the top birds. A pig for treats.
History:
First
Migration South: One of the seven who flew
on day 1.
Spring 2005: Left
on first journey north with the group of 11 on 25 March, 2005 after
103 days on wintering grounds. After flying through Georgia and veering
as far east as South Carolina, the flock corrected their course,
stopping in Indiana before reaching Wisconsin. Still together, the
group of
11 entered Wisconsin the evening of April 4. On
April 6 the group of 11 split. Chick #403 stayed with 2, 15, 16,
17, 19 and 20. They remained in Dane County, WI and finished their
migration
to Necedah NWR on May 3. During the summer,
cranes #402, 403, 412, 416, and 417 roosted as a group, often with
sandhill cranes. They spent time in Columbia and Marquette Counties,
WI.
Fall 2005: Left Wisconsin on its first unaided fall migration on November 9, together with #402, 412, 416, and 417. They made it to Indiana the first day.On November 10th they were roosting at a central Tennessee location. On November 10th they were roosting at a central Tennessee location. According to tracker Lara Fondow, the five males landed at their former pen site in Florida at 2:05 November 17. They are the first Eastern flock whoopers to complete migration to the primary wintering area in west-central Florida this fall! With no free food at the pen, they wandered north the next day.
Spring 2006: Began migration on March 27 or 28 in a group with 402, 412, 416 and 417. They were reported in Dane County, WI on March 31. They moved up to Necedah NWR to complete their migration on April 6!
Fall 2006: Departed Wisconsin on Nov. 19 (with #310, #402 and #412) and made it that night to NE Illinois. They successfully migrated to Florida, where #403 was in Lafayette County with #402 and #412.
Spring 2007: Began migration March 18 (with #402 and #412).Confirmed roosting with #402 on Necedah NWR, on the night of March 26. In the summer he was hanging out with #W601. That changed on October 4 when wandering female #309, newly-captured-and-returned-to-Wisconsin, drove off the younger W601 and paired up the #403. Everyone is hoping that the pair will stay together, migrate south, and that male #403 can convince wayward #309 to return with him to Wisconsin next spring.
Fall 2007: Crane #403 and #309, still together, left Wisconin on migration on November 27. They were detected in Indiana on December 13. They arrived safely at their old Chass pen site in Florida on Jan. 3! They moved with #313, 318, and 506 to Sumter County on Jan. 6. The next day the group of five cranes took off and separated in flight. But #403 stayed with #309 as they moved to Madison County. Scientists hope they will stay together on a territory all winter — and that #403 can convince #309 to migrate back to Wisconsin (instead of New York!) in spring for the first time in her life!
Spring
2008: 403 and mate (#309) were tracked to their
first overnight migration stop in Madison County, Florida, on
February 28. They left the following day. They returned
to Necedah NWR on March 27 and on March 30 were seen defending
their territory against #213 and #218! HOORAY!! For the
first time in her five springs #309 has completed migration
to Wisconsin,
thanks to 403!!!! In more good news, the new pair #403 and
#309 were observed April 9 sitting on a nest!
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#403 and mate #309 defending their territory against #213 and #218 on March 30, 2008 Photo ICF Trackers |
Aerial
view of #309 nest on April 23 Photo Sara Zimorski, ICF |
May
3 nest check: nly eggshells Photo Richard Urbanek, ICF |
On May 5, the pair was seen foraging together outside of their nesting marsh on the Necedah Refuge. "This was an indication that their nest had failed," said Dr. Richard Urbanek. Only small eggshell fragments were found in the nest.
Last updated: 5/06/08
Back to "Meet the Flock 2004"
Journey North is pleased to feature this educational
adventure made possible by the Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).