Endangered species flies over Nebraska

Featured photo courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks

Flocks of white, long legged birds can be seen flying over parts of Nebraska as endangered whooping cranes migrate to the southern U.S. for the winter. 

The whooping crane species has been on the endangered species list since 1973, the population of the birds dropped below 20 in the 1940s. 

The destruction of wetlands has been linked to the decline of whooping cranes whose major habitat is in inland wetlands. Wetland habitats have been declining for 100’s of years as the land is drained for agriculture.  

Starting in the 1880’s whooping cranes were hunted for meat and eggs taken to be sold. When the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was introduced in 1918, hunting whooping cranes became illegal. At this time populations of whooping cranes continued to decrease despite decreased pressure from hunting. 

In 1950 only a small migratory population of the cranes existed, this flock migrated Canada to Texas and had contained16 individuals.  

Current populations of wild whooping cranes is approximately 505. Whooping crane recovery groups in the U.S. and Canada are working to help grow wild populations.  

The International Crane Foundation is one of many organizations involved with improving the status of whooping crane populations. This process is done by costume rearing young birds.  

The process of rearing chicks begins with matching two adult birds together, this process is very complex. The bird’s genetics and behavior is taken into account when selecting a pair. 

Whooping cranes mate for life and some pairs may take years to bond together and reproduce. 

During the breeding season from April to June pairs will either breed together or the female will be artificially inseminated using a male that is a better genetic match.

 Once the female lays a full clutch of two eggs the eggs are taken and placed in an incubator. Once the original eggs are gone the pair will rebreed and lay another clutch, which are also taken to be raised.

The eggs are placed in an incubator for approximately 29 days. At 29 days the egg is moved to an incubator where it can be watched by workers as it begins to hatch.

 As soon as the chick is hatched workers will begin the process of rearing the chick. The chick is moved to a small bin enclosure where it is taught to eat and drink by the workers. 

Workers that are around chicks are dressed in an all-white suit with a screened window around the face, to prevent the chick from seeing the person. On one arm the suit has a puppet replicating the head of an adult whooping crane the other sleeve is black tipped like the wings of a whooping crane. 

This costume is worn to prevent the chicks from imprinting onto humans.  Past biologist failed to rear young cranes because the chicks imprinted onto the humans meaning they saw them as the mother and refuse to return to the wild.

Once the young have reached the stage where they are beginning to fly they are introduced back into a wild population of adult whooping cranes in the hope that the adults will adopt the young and teach them migratory routes.  

These adult populations were raised by humans but were introduced into wild populations once they were able to care for themselves. These pairs breed and raise young as a completely undomesticated population. 

Early organizations taught young birds to fly using a small airplane disguised as an adult whooping crane. The plane led the flock to the summer and wintering grounds. 

Areas of Nebraska fall into the Central Flyway which is used by whooping crane populations during migration. One population in particular known as the Aransas Wood Buffalo flock is currently traveling through Nebraska. This flock is flying from its summer grounds near Wood Buffalo park in Canada to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.  

Whooping cranes are 5 feet tall and all white except for the black wing tips and reddish colored face. They also fly with their necks outstretched. Many of the birds may be banded meaning they have a colored band wrapped around their ankle. 

Nebraska Game and Parks is asking for anyone who has spotted a whooping crane to contact them immediately. They also ask that people not approach the birds as it is against federal and state law to cause whooping cranes harm or stress. 

Counting whooping cranes is important in the management of the species. Biologists are able to track specific flocks by reports from the public. Banded bird numbers help biologists keep track of individuals.