Journey North Whooping Cranes

Meet the New 2005 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2005 of the Eastern Flock

DAR 28-05: "Poe"

Date Hatched at ICF

2005

Gender

Female

Date Released in Wisconsin

October 27, 2005

Permanent Band Colors
Left Leg:
G/W radio USFWS bands

Right Leg: PTT
G/R

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

Personality and History

Migration Training: She was hatched at ICF and named "Poe." She was transferred to the Necedah NWR at 1 month of age. Marianne Wellington is a chick-rearing specialist who wore a costume and raised the 4 DAR chicks there. They fledged (had all their flight feathers and could fly) when they were around 70 days old. Unlike their cousins for the ultralight-led migration, the DAR chicks roamed freely on the refuge. Marianne and other costumed parents checked on them many times each day. At night until they're released, the chicks are safe in a big pen with a pond and a net over the top. Weight: 6.3 kg on Oct. 22. She has been hanging out with other whooping cranes, sandhill cranes and DAR chicks on the refuge and nearby areas.


All 4 DAR chicks hanging out with a sandhill and #212 in a marsh a Necedah NWR	Photos Marianne Wellington, ICF	#28-05 in the marsh

History:
Fall 2005--First Migration South as a Direct Release Bird:All four DAR birds began migration Nov. 24 from Necedah NWR, leaving at 10:33 AM. They took off together with +50 sandhill cranes. Taking advantage of a strong tailwind, these birds soon outdistanced the tracking team. Trackers heard no signals the rest of Day 1. On Nov. 25, Day 2, DAR 28-05 (with #32-05 and #33-05) again joined sandhill cranes and flew all the way to Hiwassee NWR in Tennessee. Each of the whooper chicks arrived separately with a different sandhill flocks.

Poe (DAR 28-05) was last of the three to reach Hiwassee on Nov. 25. Tracker Stacie and pilot Charles Koehler had been looking for her from their small plane. There she was, flying in a "V" formation with more than 50 sandhill cranes! In the next few miles, the birds would have to climb nearly 2,000 feel to clear the highest ridge before reaching the haven of Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee. She looked very tired. The pilot said, "She was obviously sucking air. Every time we saw her, she was farther back in the V. The last time I saw the formation she was only six birds from the end." For over an hour the pilot circled over the dark ridge line while Tracie monitored her progress by listening to #27-05's radio signals. Whether on her own, or clinging to the "V," Poe made it over the mountains and landed at the refuge. HOORAY! Amazingly, these three DAR chicks arrived at the halfway point on the same day as their flock mates led by ultralights! DAR Chicks #27-05 and #28-05 remained in the large sandhill flocks on or near Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge.

#528 on April 24, 2006

Photo: Richard Urbanek

Spring 2006: Began migration from Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee on February 26! She was with DAR female #27-05. PTT readings showed they roosted that night in Kentucky. They were in northwestern Indiana by 28 February. Then the two eventually split from each other. Chick #28-05 joined with migrating sandhill cranes and stayed in the area. She resumed migration on March 30 and arrived at Green Lake County, Wisconsin on April 3. She was the FIRST of the four DAR chicks to return! She stayed there until making the flight to Necedah NWR on April 23. She returned to the exact site where she was reared last summer! She wandered and then spent most of the summer with a sandhill crane flock in Marathon County, WI.

Fall 2006: Still in Marathon County, WI as of Nov. 18. In Jasper county, IN on Nov. 25. Remained with about 100 sandhill cranes in northwest Tennessee.

Spring 2007: Confirmed back on Necedah NWR in Wisconsin on March 23.

Fall 2007: Began migration from Wisconsin on November 22. Found on Hiwassee WR in Tennessee on December 1 and was still there at the end of December.

Spring 2008: DAR 28-05 was reported with migrating sandhills in Jackson County, Indiana, from March 13 until she resumed migration March 16 or 17. She was reported in Wisconsin's Clark County on April 2 , and in Marathon County April 5. Home!