Juvenile whooping crane doing well after release in Indiana

LINTON, Ind. (AP) - A juvenile bird from the rarest crane species in the world is doing well after she was released into the wild at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area by members of the International Crane Foundation.

Now known as 80-19, the female whooping crane was 5 months old when she was released in November near other whooping cranes at the wildlife area. The young crane was part of the foundation's parent-rearing program in which chicks are hatched and reared at the foundation's headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin, by adult cranes. In the fall, the young birds are released with other whooping cranes so they can migrate south with adult whooping cranes that are part of the eastern migratory population.

Because of an injury, 80-19, also known as Arya while in Wisconsin, wasn't able to be released with the adults. After she recovered, she was transported in a crate to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area to be released near a pair of whooping cranes in the hopes that she would be accepted and follow the adults as they migrate farther south. She was the first juvenile whooping crane the foundation previously had in captivity to be released at Goose Pond, the only place in Indiana where a juvenile whooping crane has been set free.

Recently, 80-19 was spotted in a group of whooping cranes near the wildlife area in Greene County, according to Melanie Cowell, whooping crane outreach program assistant with the foundation.

That group has 18 birds and was near a pair of adult cranes. Those 20 whooping cranes are a large portion of the eastern migratory flock of about 86 birds that are currently located from lower Michigan down to Florida.

Oftentimes at Goose Pond and elsewhere, whooping cranes will be scattered among groups of sandhill cranes, which also frequent Goose Pond and the surrounding area while they migrate. While many of the cranes will fly farther south this winter, some could remain in the area of Goose Pond throughout most or all of the winter months before flying north in the spring. The wildlife area has more than 9,000 acres of prairie and marsh habitat that attract migratory birds of many species.

'œGoose Pond is great because it provides not just one type of wetland, but other types of wetlands as well,'ť Cowell explained.

Wetlands, which are essentially ground saturated with water, include marshes but also sodden farm fields, deeper ponds and even grassy areas. Goose Pond provides all of those, which means the habitat provides areas for roosting as well as feeding. Cranes eat corn, tubers, insects, reptiles and fish. One of the favorite foods for whooping cranes along the East Coast is blue crab, Cowell said.

Even with 86 birds, the eastern flock of whooping cranes is not self-sustaining but needs help and protection from people, Cowell said. That includes adding juvenile cranes to the wild flocks and keeping a watchful eye on the birds. To do this, some of the birds are fitted with a radio transmitter so they can be followed. Most of the birds are watched by citizen scientists, who know to look for the colorful bands on the birds' legs to determine which birds they are seeing. That information is shared with the International Crane Foundation so it can keep track of the individual birds.

'œA lot of times your true blue birders will have photography equipment,'ť Cowell said. 'œSome of our volunteers have great cameras and zoom in and get the leg bands in photos.'ť

While the International Crane Foundation welcomes data on the whooping cranes, it also offers suggestions for anyone who sees a whooping crane. The most important point is that no one should approach the birds. People are advised to stay at least 200 yards away and to do nothing to startle or bother the endangered species. Cowell also advised staying in a vehicle if you are close to a bird so you don't make a noise that startles it - something she did recently when visiting the Goose Pond area when she saw whooping cranes.

'œThey can see you from a far distance,'ť she said, adding that they will show the red patch on the top of their heads if they feel threatened. They may also walk stiffly when threatened.

Cowell also mentioned the threats that whooping cranes have faced in Indiana from poachers who have shot and killed several of the endangered birds. Anyone who sees suspicious activity toward cranes or their habitat can contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-TIP-IDNR.

More information about whooping cranes can be found on the International Crane Foundation website at www.savingcranes.org.

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Source: The Herald-Times