Whooping Crane Annual Cycle: In June, newly hatched chicks are growing fast.

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Fast-growing Babies
In June, newly hatched chicks are growing fast. They may grow an inch a day between 10 and 30 days of age! After that, their body growth slows. More energy goes into growing the adult feathers that start to replace the fluffy coats of down. North America's tallest bird has to grow fast: At five or six months of age, Whooping crane babies must be ready to fly hundreds of miles with their parents on the southward migration for winter.

Whooping crane adult and chick

Image: Vickie Henderson