RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Greetings all!

The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator.

------------- begin report --------------

The whooping crane migration from Aransas to Wood Buffalo is officially underway. I saw 5 cranes (split into groups of 3 and 2) start the migration today (March 25) at 10:40 AM. Aransas had unfavorable winds for migration the previous two days. Today the winds turned around from the southeast and strengthened and the skies were clear, so when the birds disappeared from sight, I figured they have officially started.

The weather should also be very favorable for migration on March 26th. It is still early for many whooping cranes to start the migration. I anticipate perhaps between 20 and 30 cranes may leave Aransas in March. The vast majority leave the first 2 weeks in April, with peak departures normally between April 4-12.

Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Aransas NWR
P.O. Box 100
Austwell, TX 77950
(361) 286-3559 Ext. 221
fax (361) 286-3722
E:mail: tom_stehn@fws.gov

------------- end report ----------------

Where applicable, CWS stands for Canadian Wildlife Service; USFWS is US Fish and Wildlife Service. Crane monitoring involves cooperative efforts and support by both countries, plus many volunteers and non-profit organizations along the way.