One of nature’s most spectacular and closely watched events, the migration of the endangered whooping crane, unfolds across America’s heartland during October. Nearly 200 whooping cranes trek across the Great Plains, migrating from Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada’s Northwest Territories to Aransas NWR on the Texas Gulf Coast.

The story of the whooper’s recovery from a low of only fifteen birds in the winter of 1941-42 has been celebrated across the world. Progress continues this year with near record numbers of cranes reported in the wild and in captivity.

More than 190 cranes in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock are expected to arrive in Texas this fall, including 24 chicks that survived through mid-August. Biologists counted a record 49 pairs nesting at Wood Buffalo National Park in late May. Last fall, 182 birds, including 30 young, made the fall migration.

The first whooping crane arrival at Aransas refuge occurs around October 16. In the Rocky Mountains, three of four whoopers began their migration south from Yellowstone National Park in late September to the Rio Grande Valley of central New Mexico.

Two of the cranes are the only remaining survivors of an experiment in which biologists placed whooping crane eggs in sandhill crane nests and the adult sandhills taught the whoopers to migrate. The other two were raised in captivity last year by researcher Kent Clegg, who led them on a migration route between his ranch in southeastern Idaho and Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico.

Whooping cranes migrate during the day, making regular stops to feed and rest away from human activity. They travel as singles, pairs, family groups or flocks of four to five, sometimes joining sandhill cranes for part of the migration.

One of nature’s most spectacular and Captive populations of whooping cranes include 98 adults and 35 chicks at three breeding centers: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland, the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin, and the Calgary Zoo in Canada. Whoopers are on display at the San Antonio zoo.

The only other whooping cranes in the world include 56 in a non-migratory flock being established in Kissimmee, Florida, just south of Orlando, and 132 in captivity, for a total captive population of about 375.

Crane recovery efforts are coordinated by a Whooping Crane Recovery Team appointed by directors of the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Fish & Wildlife Service. At its last meeting, the team recommended that future recovery efforts focus on building the nonmigratory flock in Florida and establishing a migratory flock of whooping cranes east of and completely separate from the Aransas- Wood Buffalo flock.

Suggested locations included marsh habitat in central Wisconsin and a wintering area at the Chassahowitzka NWR on the southwestern coast of Florida. Chassahowitzka, about 65 miles north of Tampa, Florida, was recommended after several years of evaluation. But the rare and beautiful birds won’t be there any time soon, according to Service wildlife biologist Linda Finger. The Service must first coordinate with the state and gauge the attitude of local residents about having a flock of whoopers in their city.

Tom MacKenzie, External Affairs, Atlanta, Georgia

Hans Stuart, External Affairs, Albuquerque, New Mexico