Photo M. Wellington, ICF Meet the 2006 Whooping Crane Chicks! Hatch-year 2006 of the Eastern Flock Crane # 27-06 DAR Date Hatched May 28, 2006 Gender Male Date of Photo: Egg Source: ICF Permanent Leg Bands Left Leg: Right Leg: PTT Read about the naming system, hatch place in Maryland, release site in Wisconsin, over-wintering site in Florida, and leg-band codes. Personality and History Before Release Marianne says: "He has always been fairly independent. He is easy to recognize since he hatched with a white toenail on his middle toe. He might be considered the rebel. He is willing to test his parents’ tolerance. He often wandered off just a little more than the others and never seemed as interested in coming back to us "parents" in the white costumes. He was more interested in the adult cranes around! Then he thought he could take on adult #102. She put him in place several times. The last time she knocked #27-06 flat on the ground and was about to jab him when the costume stopped the attack. As soon as 27-06 got to his feet, he ran quite a distance away. He has been more interested in the costume since then, and he's often one of the first chicks to come to the costume when the vocalizer played the crane call that means Come here. It's okay. You're safe. "He still is interested in the wild birds. He chased ducks just to watch them fly. I also wonder if he realizes his costume parent isn’t the real thing (we don’t look like the adult whooping cranes). We wonder if he will try to release himself by deciding to fly with #102 or sandhill cranes here at the refuge." The DAR chicks had their health checks on October 4. In addition, #27-06 got a temporary radio transmitter/band placed on his leg in case he flies from his pen site and trackers don't know his whereabouts. Oct. 17, 2006: Dr. Richard Urbankek said the DAR birds received their permanent leg bands. Chick #27-06 and the other four will be released as soon as they get usedd to their new leg bands and transmitters. Their freedom is near! Will they hang out with, and then follow, the older whooping and sandhill cranes to learn their migration route? October 20: Chick #32-06 (with #27-06) was set free on the Wisconsin refuge where it spent its first months of life. The two newly released chicks didn't return to the pool where they grew up, and remained at the release site to roost. They were hanging out with the older whooping cranes (#311 and #301) who are also at that site. That's a good sign! History Click for larger view of DAR #27_06, DAR #32_06 and adult pair #312 and #316. Fall 2006: Finally began fall migration on Nov. 30 together with #32-06 and adults #316 and #312. 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. If they stay together, the DAR chickswill have two migration veterans to show them the way! The photo shows them in Kankakee County, Illinois, on Dec. 2, 2006. The two juveniles separated from the two adults between Illinois and Florida and joined migrating sandhills. The juveniles arrived in Lafayette County, Florida, on December 9, completing their migration to Florida in just nine days! By late December the large sandhill flock had gone, but #27-06 and #32-06 remained in the same location. After #32-06 was killed (likely by a bobcat) at the end of January, DAR 27-06 remained alone at the same site. He was still there, alone, as of March 24. First Spring Migration: DAR #27-06 remained alone in Lafayette County, Florida until April 21 or 22 when PTT data indicated he began migration. By April 27-28 he had reached Allen County, Indiana. He arrived in Michigan May 3 or 4 while attempting to complete migration to Wisconsin. He encountered Lake Michigan and ended up staying until he was captured and brought back to be released at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin on May 14. Fall 2007: DAR 27-06 (with 28-06) began migration on Nov. 5 and made it all the way to Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Indiana on the first day. By Nov. 12, they arrived on the wintering area in Pasco County, Florida. They were the first Florida arrivals in the flock this winter! Spring 2008: Dar 27-06 was still on winter territory in Pasco County, Florida on March 22, and arrived on Necedah NWR (with DAR 28-06) on April 3! DAR #27-06 broke the pair bond of #501 and #310 and was seen together with female #501, but she didn't stay with 27-06. Last updated: 4/17/08 Back to "Meet the Flock 2006" Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).