Meet the Class of 2012 Whooping Cranes
Hatch-year 2012 of the Eastern Flock
Back to Meet the Cranes 2012

Personality and Training: The crew at ICF chose "prairies and wetlands" for the theme in naming the 2012 DAR birds they would costume-rear for later release with wild cranes. "Lily" is the nickname they gave to #14—and yes, he is a male. His mother is Herfy, a captive female who hatched at ICF in 1990.

Fall 2012: In early September, the chicks were transferred to Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in preparation for their release in central Wisconsin. Release took place Oct. 29. On October 30, all chicks were fine and foraging after their first overnight of freedom. Crane #14-12 (Lily) took off with Sandhill Cranes in the morning, but soon took off on his own. ICF's Marianne Wellington had hoped he would stay with the Sandhills to learn what is outside the refuge. He stayed with the sandhill cranes and began migration on November 23. He was reported "loosely associating" with demale DAR 28-05 at the Jasper-Pulaski FWA in Indiana on Nov. 25. Next he was reported with sandhill cranes in Volusia County, Florida, on December 9, where he remained through at least March 28 before spring migration.

Image:Eva Szyszkoski, ICF

Spring 2013: First Unaided Spring Migration North
April 7: Crane 14-12 was reported in Berrien Co, Michigan, on April 23 and moved to Allegan County, Michigan by April 30, where he remains.

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