Surgery performed on whooping crane

URBANA -- Staff and volunteers at the University of Illinois Wildlife Clinic in Urbana were waiting to see if delicate surgery on the broken leg of a young whooping crane has been successful.

The surgery was performed Thursday by Dr. Avery Bennett, a veterinary surgeon.

The crane, known only as No. 26, flew in from Florida with a small flock of other cranes. They landed near Gridley and spent a few days there before taking off for their final destination in Wisconsin. But the flock left No. 26 behind, and authorities learned that the 1-year-old bird had a leg that had been broken in a number of places.

Authorities say that if the surgery is successful, No. 26 could still need four to six weeks' recuperation before flying on to Wisconsin.