Journey North Whooping Crane Migration

Meet the New 2007 DAR Whooping Crane Chicks!

Photo: Danielle Desourdis, USFWS Intern

Crane #37-07 DAR

Date Hatched

May 27, 2007

Gender

Male

Weight: 6.2 kg

Egg Source: ICF

Permanent Leg Bands:

Left Leg:
R/G/W

Right Leg:
R/G

Read more about the raising and naming of the DAR chicks.

Personality and History
After hatching at ICF, this chick was nicknamed "Lathe" by caretakers, but his real and only official name is DAR 37-07. He is a strong male who took over the dominant role from #36-07.
He was released on Necedah NWR the evening of Oct. 30 together with DAR 40-07, 42-07, and 44-07. DAR #37-07 and DAR #42-07 flew to roost on the north Sandhill roost, and he is having fun flying around the refuge and nearby areas.
DAR chicks #37-07, 39-07, 40-07, 42-07, 43-07, and 44-07 roosted with adult #102 on the night of Nov. 5. That's a good sign that maybe they'll follow her south!

History
First Migration South: Nov. 6, 2007: The group of 6 DAR chicks joined Whooping Cranes #309 and 403 and sandhill cranes at another spot on Necedah NWR. Several other adult Whooping Cranes and about 200 sandhill cranes were also nearby. And then the 6 young DAR birds did a surprising thing: they began migration, all by themselves and with no adult whooper or sandhill crane to lead the way! The chicks took off in 20 mph NNW winds under partly cloudy skies. They flew south 214 miles and landed to roost in a small pond in a harvested cornfield in Peoria County, Illinois. (See their map.) They were not with other cranes. What will happen next?

On December 11, 2007, the six off-course cranes were captured and moved to Tennessee by the ICF tracking teamso they could more easily find adult cranes to follow south. DAR 37-07, 42-07, and 44-07 remained in the area around Meigs County, Tennessee.

Spring 2008 and First Unassisted Migration North: Began migration March 16 from his wintering grounds in Meigs Co, Tennessee along with DAR 39-07, 42-07, 43-07, 44-07, and 46-07. They made good progress, roosting for one night in Adair County, Kentucky and then resuming migration the next day to Clark County, Indiana (they were not with sandhill cranes when seen here). On March 21, they continued migration to Fayette County, Indiana. PTT data (satellite data) for DAR 39-07, 44-07, and 46-07 indicated they finally moved again on April 16. The group proceeded to Tuscola County, Michigan. They were still there as of mid May, although some members of the group briefly wandered away and returned. On June 2 trackers traveled to the cranes' location to try to capture them all and bring them back to Necedah NWR in Wisconsin with other members of the new Eastern flock. Only one crane, #37-07, was successfully captured and he's now back at Necedah NWR. Will this convince him to migrate back to Wisconsin next spring?

Fall 2008: Successfully migrated south to his previous wintering area in Meigs County, Tennessee. Still there on March 8, 2009, so he has apparently decided this is his favorite wintering place. It's a good choice!

Spring 2009: DAR 37-07 (with 105, 501 and 506) was confirmed by radio signal near Armstrong Bend, Tennessee on March 8. No further reports of DAR 37-07 on spring migration but he was confirmed in northeastern Jackson County, Michigan, on June 14. He remained there all summer.

Fall 2009: DAR 37-07 (DAR) was still seen in Jackson County, Michigan, on November 17 and November 28. An unconfirmed report of a Whooping crane in Jackson Co, Michigan, on 7 December may have been of this crane. By early January he was reported at his normal wintering grounds on Hiwassee State Refuge in Miegs County, Tennessee.

Spring 2010: Still in Tennessee as of April 7. . . but 37-07 (DAR) was seen on the morning of April 12 back in his Jackson County, Michigan summer location. Migration complete, and quickly! He was still there in June. It appears that he favors Michigan over Wisconsin for his summer territory.

Fall 2010: Male #37-07 (DAR) remained in Jackson County, Michigan at least through the morning of November 28. He arrived at Hiwassee WR, Meigs County, Tennessee, between 6 and 10 December.

Spring 2011: A Whooping crane reported in Jackson County, Michigan on 29 March 29 was probably #37-07 (DAR). Identification was confirmed on April 20.
Fall 2011: Good news! In November, DAR37-07, which had not been found since the end of the spring 2011 migration, turned up in Jackson County, Michigan. This crane winters at Hiwassee in Tennessee, but his summering ground in Michigan has never been discovered.

Last Updated: 11/7/11

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