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Eastern Flock
Meet the 2008 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Fall 2008 will be their first fall migration. Spring 2009 will be their first spring migration.

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 #803

Crane #804

Crane #805

Crane #807 or 809

Crane #810

Crane #811

Crane #812

Crane #813

Crane #814

Crane #815

Crane #816

Crane #818

Crane #819

Crane #820

Crane #824

Crane #825

Crane #826

Crane #827

Crane #828

Crane #829

Crane #830

  Photos: Bev Paulan, Operation Migration

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)
.

     
 
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.

  Will any wild-born chicks be hatched in summer 2008?   
Meet the Chicks 2001-2008
Select Hatch Year
2005 2006 2007 2008

 

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