Journey North Whooping Crane Migration

Photo: Operation Migration

Meet the 2008 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2008 of the Eastern Flock

Crane # 829

Date Hatched

June 13 , 2008

Gender

Male

Date of Photo:

Egg Source: Calgary Zoo

Permanent
Leg Bands

(Attached after reaching Florida)

Left Leg		Right Leg

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

Personality and Training

Photos Brian Clauss, Patuxent WRC

Notes from the captive breeding "hatchery" at Patuxent WRC in Maryland:
Barb says #829 and #830 (the two youngest in the entire Class of 2008) are little buddies. They walk together and get trained together. He was the best follower in his group of six chicks. But it didn't last! On July 15 Barb wrote, "Our little #829, who used to be fine with other birds, has turned into a cranky little bird too."

Because chick #829 kept being too aggressive, he was given his own pen. Barb said, "#829 is our most dominant chick. Although he himself does not start the trouble. It is those other three hopefuls, #27, #28 and #24 who keep challenging his dominance and make him cranky and provoke his anger. If they would just let it go and let him be the top dog (bird) things could be so easy for them." He was paired with 830 for training and they get along great, with #829 the best follower of the group.

Notes from "flight school in Wisconsin:
Arrived at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge July 29 in cohort 3, the youngest group in the Class of 2008. Pilot Brooke says Chick #829 is the “King” who refuses to be voted off the island and reigns supreme over his bird world. He is so aggressive that the team was too worried to leave him with the other chicks unless an adult was present. On Aug. 3 after training, they took a chance and finally left 829, unattended by a costumed human, with the rest of the cohort all day and all night. "He earned our trust and justified our faith in him by being a model crane," reported Brooke. Will it last?

by August 4, Brooke reported that #829 is the “King” who refuses to be voted off the island and reigns supreme over his bird world. On Aug. 7 when the trike came to get the chicks for training, #829 was lying down resting in the pen. The other five chicks charged out of the gate. While the other chicks followed the trike to the end of the runway, Bev coaxed #829 out of the pen. He finally came down to the end of the runway and joined the group as they continued training.

During training on August 27, "king" #829 tried to take on adults #313 and #318 when they showed up on the runway. He quickly found out that birds a foot taller are indeed tougher! They flattened him on the runway. As quick as he was down, he was back up for another round. Bev (in costume) went running out of the pen to defend her "baby." Brooke tried to chase off one of the adults with the trike, and Bev ran after the other one. Meanwhile, 829 seemed to feel bummed out by the whole scene. Bev said, "I could have sworn he was pouting." But it didn't last long. Training continued with #829 soon running and flapping enthusiastically, as if nothing had happened! He weighed 5.0 kg at his pre-migration health check.

Last updated: 9/4/08

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