The Whooping Crane Recovery

The whooping crane is a tall, white bird with a red cap on its head. It is the tallest bird in North America, standing about 5 feet tall. In 1941, only 21 whooping cranes were left in the wild. A long and careful effort has slowly brought them back.

Almost Gone

Whooping cranes lost their wetland homes as people drained swamps for farms and cities. Hunters also shot them. By 1941, the species was nearly extinct. Scientists began watching the remaining birds very carefully and protecting their nesting grounds in Canada.

Teaching Cranes to Migrate

Scientists raised whooping crane chicks and taught them to migrate by leading them with ultralight aircraft. The baby cranes followed the small planes from Wisconsin to Florida. Today, there are more than 800 whooping cranes. The recovery is slow because each pair only raises one or two chicks a year.

Fun Facts

• Whooping cranes got their name from their loud, whooping call that can be heard from 2 miles away!
• These birds can fly at heights of up to 15,000 feet during migration.
• Whooping cranes mate for life and perform beautiful dances together.

Did You Know?

Scientists dressed in crane costumes to raise baby whooping cranes so the chicks would not become attached to humans!