Whooping Crane, Grus americana
Eighty years ago, you would have been hard pressed to see a Whooping Crane. Although these cranes have existed for millions of years, by 1938 there were only 15 wild and 2 captive cranes, and the species was on the brink of extinction. Thanks to conservation efforts and a lot of hard work, today there are more than 800 of North America’s tallest bird. One of only two cranes found in North America, the other being the Sandhill Crane, the Whooping Crane spends the summer in Canada and the winters on the Gulf Coast, primarily at Aransas National Wildlife Reserve outside of Rockport, TX. The Rockport group is the only naturally migrating flock, although their territory is expanding beyond the reserve. Their size, almost 5 feet tall with a 7.5 foot wingspan, makes them easy to see, and taking a boat tour from Fulton Beach can bring you very close to them and their habitat.
A parent with twin colts.
The most notable characteristic of the Whooping Crane, other than their height, is their red cap. The cap is made of skin and is almost featherless and stretches from the cheek along their bill over the top of their head. Plumage for adults is pearly white, while juveniles (colts) have a mottled mix of white and brown, often described as cappuccino. Omnivorous, they love blue crabs but will eat almost anything, and they love wetlands, marshes, and mudflats. Since they migrate from Canada to Rockport each winter, they can sometimes be heard whooping overhead. The call is much more distinctive than that of the Sandhill Crane and during migrations, Whooping Cranes fly more than 2400 miles each way.
Comparison of Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane.
During the winter, the cranes provide a magnificent courtship display to attract their mate, dancing with wings outstretched and calling to their mate. They continue to court as they fly back to Canada where the female lays one to three eggs (usually two). Whooping Cranes mate for life (although they will take another mate if theirs dies) and can live 25-30 years. Normally only one chick survives, although twins are not rare. Visitors to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will usually see the parents and chick or chicks. The birds are very protective of their territory, although they tolerate Sandhill Cranes.
They are strictly protected and harming one leads to federal charges. The biggest threat to Whooping Cranes is the loss of wetlands habitat and drought. Because of the tenuousness of the naturally migrating flock, efforts are being made to build flocks in other areas, such as Louisiana and Wisconsin. One of the rarest birds in North America, we are fortunate to be able to easily see them. Birds arrive in the Refuge starting mid-October and stay through the end of February or early March. Well worth a trip to the coast to add this bird to your life list.
Compiled by Jeanette Larson; sources include U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
Photos by Sally Mitchell, photosbysally@gmail.com
