Journey North Whooping Crane Bio Page: Crane #19-11 (DAR)

Photo: International Crane Foundation

Meet the Class of 2011 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2011 of the Eastern Flock

Crane # 19-11(DAR)
"Gelato"

Date Hatched

June 29, 2011

Gender

Male

Egg Source

Permanent
Leg Bands

(Attached before fall migration)

Left Leg

Right Leg

(VHF radio transmitter)

Read more about the raising and naming of the DAR chicks.
*Scroll to bottom for most recent history.*

Personality as a Chick
We suspect that Gelato will be a strong and successful bird. Gelato went outside at only 1 day of age! This was the youngest age at which the handlers had taken a bird outside. At one day of age, Gelato astonished them by walking right into the pond and starting to SWIM! He also followed the costume around the yard after his swim. Gelato is an escape artist, too. He got out of his brooder box even when the costumed handlers were unable to see any exit place! Jackie says Gelato has been excited to explore the outsdoors every time the costume is around. "He has been one of the most active and intelligent of this year's Direct Autumn Release (DAR) chicks." More news about Gelato will be coming.

On September 20, he was transported with his entire cohort of Direct Autum Release chicks to Horicon Refuge to spend the next few weeks in an enclosure and under supervision. On Ocober 14 he was banded with his permanent leg band colors. On October 21 he was set free to hang out with sandhill cranes on the refuge. The team hopes he'll follow them south on migration, and learn where to go. Tracking Crew Chief Eva said that when the DAR birds were released, seven of them (including #19) hung out in one group by themselves; on Oct. 24 they flew a really big loop over the northern end of the refuge. On October 27th this group moved to a small area of marshland in Dane County. They spend the day foraging in some cut corn fields before returning to the marsh habitat to roost in the evening with a few dozen Sandhill cranes.

Images: Eva Szyszkoski, ICF

Migration History

Fall 2011, First Migration: Happy news came in February, when ICF tracker Eva reported #19-11, who had been missing since leaving on migration on November 16, finally reappeared! "He was reported today (2/9) in Fayette County, Illinois, but was also seen at this location on February 5."

Spring 2012: Crane #19-11 (DAR) was still at his Fayette County, Illinois, winter location during Eva's tracking flight on March 26th, but he returned to Adams/Portage County, Wisconsin and summered with female #9-10.

Fall 2012: Crane #19-11 (DAR) migrated with female #9-10 to Illinois.

Spring 2013: On April 11, cranes #19-11 and #9-10 were confirmed back in Adams County, Wisconsin! (They would not have been flying the last few days due to unfavorable weather conditions, so they likely have been around since at least April 8, noted tracker Eva Szyszkoski.)

Last updated: 4/11/13

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