And Then There Was One

It seems Parent-Reared Whooping crane chick #38-17 is the only crane that hasn’t yet left Wisconsin.

Doug Pellerin has been checking on her and just yesterday saw her with her two Sandhill buddies. Unfortunately, it appears one of the Sandhills has a droopy wing, which is probably preventing in from flying very far.

#38-17 and two Sandhill cranes in Dodge County, WI. Photo: Doug Pellerin

This young crane does have a GSM device, so we’ll know once she does decide to fly south and in the meantime, we can track her movements and keep an eye on her.

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11 Comments

  1. Barb December 21, 2017 8:30 am

    If its decided to do something for our valuable Whooping Crane, what will happen to the her friend with the droopy wing? Surely not left for coyotes bait.

  2. Catherine Wohlfeil December 20, 2017 9:42 pm

    Suggest a slow fly by with an ultralight blaring the brood call? I know she hasn’t seen an ultralight, but it would be a great test of the collective unconscious / history communication of the species.

  3. Barb December 15, 2017 7:41 pm

    Hello, Are the Sandhills adults? If so, maybe they are just slow on the uptake in moving South for the Winter.

  4. Susanne Shrader December 15, 2017 2:41 pm

    Did you capture the other 3 and have Brooke and Colleen take them to Indiana and not her?

    • Heather Ray December 16, 2017 6:09 am

      Not such an easy task… This young crane was raised by parent birds and therefore flies away when it sees humans. And the same would be true for the Sandhills.

  5. Maggie Turk December 15, 2017 9:50 am

    Poor baby. Hope she can get some help.

  6. Cheryl Murphy December 15, 2017 8:55 am

    Can the Sandhills be helped?

    • Heather Ray December 15, 2017 9:01 am

      It’s possible a capture attempt would cause more problems, including potential capture myopathy. There seems to be a lot of corn in the fields still so food isn’t an issue, yet.

    • Mindy December 15, 2017 10:43 am

      That’s what I was wondering too Cheryl…

  7. Richard P. Chase December 15, 2017 7:56 am

    Good Morning Heather and Thank You for the updates as the Whoopers move South.

    Question: If 38-17 decides not to fly is she far enough South to be able to weather the winter?

    • Heather Ray December 15, 2017 8:59 am

      That depends on how cold it gets and how much snow cover there is. We’re hoping she’ll move along on her own but plans are being formulated to intervene if necessary.