Journey North Whooping Crane Migration

Eggs from Many Places: Building Genetic Diversity
Thank you, Sara Zimorski

Eggs are shipped in special boxes.
Photo Bev Paulan, Operation Migration for WCEP

Each spring, some special Whooping Crane eggs are packed up for traveling. They're shipped to Maryland's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center from captive breeding facilities across the US and Canada so they can become part of the new Eastern Flock. Homes to captive Whoopers, these breeding facilities are part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. Eggs from their Whoopers are helping to bring the cranes back Eastern North America.

Building Genetic Diversity
Getting eggs from different places is important. Doing so makes the gene pool of the Eastern Flock more diverse, and more diverse genetics create stronger, more resilient birds. The first eight birds for the Class of 2007 came from The San Antonio Zoo (#702), The Calgary Zoo (#703 and #706), The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (#704, #707 and #710) and an poorly placed nest in the Florida Non-migratory Population (#708 and #709). Additional chicks are expected from The International Crane Foundation (ICF), The Audubon Centre for Research of Endangered Species, and an abandoned nest in Wisconsin.

The parents of the Direct Autumn Release (DAR) birds also add new genetics to the Eastern flock. The DAR program allows pairs (particularly at ICF) who lay eggs too late to be included in the ultralight group to contribute their genetics to this new population through chicks that are released directly into the wild. These chicks learn the eastern migration route from older birds who were once part of the ultralight program.

This is an example of the power of partnership in action!

The Captive Flocks:

The crane-rearing buildings at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center are off-limits to the public. Eggs for the new ultralight-led chicks are hatched here.

The captive flocks consist of 145 birds at five breeding centers and five display facilities (2007 figures). They play an important role in recovery of this endangered species.
These birds safeguard the genetic material of the wild birds.
They produce offspring for the ultralight-led and direct-autumn release (DAR) reintroduction programs.
Captive breeding facilities also provide homes for Whooping Cranes with health problems that make them unsuitable for release into the wild.

Try This! Journal Question

Why is gene pool diversity important to the survival of a species?

Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).