Record Number of Whooping Cranes Hatched in Wisconsin, But Most Don’t Survive

The International Crane Foundation says a record number of whooping crane chicks in an ongoing experiment hatched in the wild this summer.But most of the chicks did not survive.

The Baraboo-based Crane Foundation says nine whooping crane chicks hatched this summer to eight pairs of cranes. But problems with the chicks surviving apparently continue.The foundation says just two of the ninelive to fledging, or being able to fly.That brings the number of chicks that have fledged in the whooping crane eastern partnership to five since 2006, out of 24 chicks that have hatched.

Next up for the crane experiment — six young birds have been sent to the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, where the aim is have themlearn to migrate south behind other cranes. Six other young cranes are being taught to fly behind ultralight aircraftat the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake and Marquette Counties. There are now 104 whooping cranes in the eastern migratory population.