Jacksonville Field Office News Release

For Immediate Release

Date: September 14, 2001

Media Contacts:
Chuck Underwood, 904-232-2580 ext. 109
Julie Langenberg - Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (608)266-3143
Jennifer Rabuck - Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (608) 565-2551
Heather Ray - Operation Migration (800) 675-2618
Kate Fitzwilliams - International Crane Foundation (608) 356-9462
Kim Miller - USGS Wildlife Health (608) 270-2448

Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership announces death of whooping crane

MADISON, Wis. -- Wildlife officials today announced the death of a whooping crane that was part of a flock of ten birds being trained to follow an ultralight airplane to wintering grounds in Florida. The flock of birds, located on the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin, is part of an effort to reintroduce a migrating wild flock of the endangered birds in the East.

Handlers discovered the death shortly after midnight, Wednesday. The bird's body was transported to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Wildlife Health Laboratory in Madison late Wednesday for necropsy.

Preliminary results indicate the cause of death was related to stress from a routine health check and leg-banding procedure performed on all ten birds Tuesday. The remaining nine birds are doing fine, according to veterinarians and biologists monitoring and training the flock. A complete report on the cause of death won't be available until tissue samples are completely analyzed which will take several days.

"We fully anticipated the possibility of losing a bird or birds in planning this project," said Steve Miller, Division of Land Administrator at the DNR. "As much as we want every one of these valuable animals to survive, this project is a study and there has always been the possibility that we'd lose a bird during training, migration, wintering-over or on their return in spring. Every effort is being taken by our biologists, veterinarians and project partners to prevent such losses. While the loss of even one of these magnificent, endangered creatures is tragic, the project will continue to move forward. We will investigate the circumstances surrounding the loss, using what we learn to reduce the likelihood of additional losses."

"The bird appeared to be fine immediately following the health check and banding procedure," said International Crane Foundation veterinarian, Dr. Barry Hartup. "But shortly after being returned to its pen it showed signs of stress and abnormal behavior. It was removed to another facility on the refuge property for observation and was treated throughout the day. Shortly after midnight a biologist checking on the bird discovered the death."

"All the handlers are experienced and followed all established procedures," said Operation Migration team leader, Joe Duff. "Cranes are large but delicate creatures and occasionally a bird will react negatively to handling and become overstressed. This is an unfortunate event but we'll learn from it continue to move forward."

The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, (WCEP) is working to re-establish a flock of wild migratory whooping cranes in eastern North America. Currently, fewer than 400 whooping cranes exist in the world. Whooping cranes were once present in Wisconsin but have been absent for more than 100 years due to loss of wetland habitat and unregulated hunting.

WCEP consists of the International Crane Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Operation Migration Inc., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS-Pautuxent Wildlife Research Center and Wildlife Health Laboratory, Whooping Crane Recovery Team and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.