Whooping Crane, courtesy of James Giroux.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department wrote a recent news release about this season’s migration of the beloved Whooping Crane. Texas is facing a warmer and drier winter this year, and young Whooping Cranes are more likely to travel farther from their wintering grounds on the coast. During their migration, these birds often fly past cities including Austin. It’s against federal law to disturb Whooping Cranes as they are a federally protected endangered species.

Please read the full news release (linked above) for more information on the Whooping Crane’s migration habits, lookalike species, and TPWD’s Whooper Watch citizen science program.