Journey North Whooping Cranes

Meet the 2007 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch Year 2007 of the Eastern Flock

Chicks of the new Eastern flock learn to migrate in one of three ways:

Group 1

Learn to migrate
by following ultralight airplanes

Group 1 chicks are captive-born.

Crane #703

Crane #706

Crane #707

Crane #709

Crane #710

Crane #712

Crane #713

Crane #714
(died 3/30/08)

Crane #716

Crane #717

Crane #721

Crane #722

Crane #724

Crane #726

Crane #727

Crane #733

Crane #735
Removed to captive center

Photos: WCEP

Group 2

Learn to migrate by following older cranes in the flock

Group 2 chicks are also captive-born. They are released and follow older cranes in a program called
Direct Autumn Release (DAR).

DAR #36-07
(died 11/4/07)

DAR #37-07

DAR #39-07

DAR #40-07

DAR #41-07
(died 10/31/07)

DAR #42-07

DAR #43-07
(died 3/22/08)

DAR #44-07

DAR #45-07
(died 10/29/07)

DAR #46-07

DAR Photos:
Danielle Desourdis, USFWS Intern
Anna Fasoli, ICF

Group 3

Learn to migrate by following their parents

Group 3 chicks are wild-born. Their parents raise them and teach them to migrate. This is the natural way cranes learn to migrate. One day, the flock will be large enough for wild-born parents to take over and human assisted migration will no longer be needed. Scientists hope to reach their goal of 125 birds by 2025.

Zero wild-born chicks hatched in summer 2007.

Meet the Chicks 2001-2008 Select Hatch Year
2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008

Photos Courtesy of Operation Migration, B. Clauss, Patuxent WRC, M. Wellington, ICF