June 2006

On June 22nd, 2006, the first two wild Whooping Crane chicks in the Eastern Migratory population hatched. The parents had been led by ultralight airplanes (and with my artificial acoustic communication) from Wisconsin to Florida in 2002 (second "class"). This hatch event happened even earlier than expected as the parents are only 4 years old. It is a sensational breakthrough in this unique release project. An official press release by WCEP will follow.

Richard Urbanek sent me these wonderful pictures, made one day after hatching: the first wild-hatched Whooping crane chick in the released Eastern migratory population.

Photos by: Richard Urbanek, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

For further information about behaviour, sonography, voiceprinting of cranes in the world: http://home.nikocity.de/craneworld/