A record number of endangered whooping cranes have arrived for the winter at Aransas along the mid-coast region in Texas. A census flight on December 1st tallied 216 whooping cranes, including 183 adults and 33 young. This is presumably the highest number of whooping cranes wintering in Texas in the last 100 years. The total exceeds last winter’s record by 22 when 194 whoopers had been present.

Getting a record high count a few days after Thanksgiving is certainly something to be thankful for. The population in Texas reached a low of only 15 birds in 1941 before efforts were taken to protect the species and its habitat. The population has been growing at four percent annually and reached 100 birds in December, 1986. That milestone had been marred by the death a few days before of Aransas Refuge Manager Frank Johnson. Biologists were hoping for 200 whooping cranes in the year 2000, but the population went into a decline for a couple years before rebounding back to 194 cranes last winter. This decline was predicted based on the regular dip every 10 years in the whooping crane population at the start of every decade. With the population having doubled in the past 18 years and surpassed the 200 mark, there is definitely cause to celebrate.

The current increase in numbers is due to very good nest production in 2004. The Canadian Wildlife Service reported a total of 54 nesting pairs that fledged a record 40 chicks on their nesting grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada. The young cranes were old enough to fly by mid-August increasing their ability to escape from predators and thus, their chances for survival. The 33 chicks that made it to Aransas are a record total. Although five sets of twin chicks were present in August, only 2 sets of twins arrived safely at Aransas. One of the twin chicks died in December, leaving 215 whooping cranes at Aransas. However, one chick that had separated from its parents was reported during the migration in northeast Colorado and then in southwestern Oklahoma before wintering in Matagorda County, Texas, about 75 miles northeast of Aransas. This bird is the record 217th member of the population.

Two other male cranes would have boosted the numbers but were shot while migrating through Kansas in early November. One died within a week and the second one died from respiratory problems that developed from its injuries. The latter crane had its broken wing repaired surgically at Kansas State University. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks had then flown the bird to the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. Charges are expected to be filed against a party of sandhill crane hunters involved in the shooting.

It is possible that a few more whooping cranes could be counted at Aransas. In addition to the record count of 216 made on December 1st at Aransas, two whooping cranes were confirmed at Grulla National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico on the same day. This sighting right next to the border of west Texas is the first ever confirmed sighting of Aransas-Wood Buffalo whooping cranes in New Mexico. One additional whooping crane was still in central Kansas on December 10th and apparently continued its migration. If the cranes sighted in New Mexico and Kansas make it to Aransas, the peak population for the winter could reach 220 (186 adults + 34 chicks). However, finding that many on a single census flight is going to be very difficult.

Habitat at Aransas has been excellent in the 2004-2005 winter due to high rainfall and large freshwater inflows into the bays throughout the previous spring and summer. The inflows boosted the blue crab population which the cranes are foraging on and lowered marsh salinities which allows the cranes to drink directly from the marsh.

The current total North American population of wild and captive whooping cranes is 470. Although the whooping crane population remains endangered, the comeback of the species sets a standard for conservation efforts in North America.

The only natural wild whooping crane population nests in the Northwest Territories of Canada in summer and migrates 2,400 miles to winter at the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges and surrounding areas. Their winter range stretches out over 35 miles of the Texas coast about 45 miles north of Corpus Christi, Texas. Wintering whooping cranes use salt marsh habitat foraging primarily for blue crabs. Unlike most other bird species, whooping cranes are territorial in both summer and winter and will defend and chase all other whooping cranes out of their estimated 350-acre territories. People can view a family group of whooping cranes (two adults and one
juvenile) from a safe distance from the observation tower at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Austwell, Texas through the end of March when the spring migration begins. Commercial whooping crane boat tours are also available. The cranes stand nearly five feet tall and have a wingspan wider than most cars.

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