WHOOPING CRANE CHICK: DAY 10

        Photo by Damien Ossi, 
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

  
Photo by Damien Ossi, 
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

We start in the chick building at 7 AM or earlier, but we don't finish until the work is done. That could be all night, if that's what the chicks need. One or more staff members stay until dark, or later. When young chicks are still losing weight, like the one Lillian is feeding in the intensive care unit, they might need injectable fluids or food delivered through a tube as supplements. We might do this at midnight so that the chick doesn't go without food or water for too many hours. Chicks under 110 grams are of special concern. Chicks below 100 grams are considered in danger, and their tube feedings may continue every 3 hours all night. Even when the chicks are fine, someone stays to walk through the building in the dark, making sure the youngest chicks have learned to sleep under their heat lamp and won't get chilled in their pen. The only time we look at a clock in the chick building is to see if it's time to feed chicks or do treatments again.

 
Matt and Barbara discuss the timing of feedings, treatments, and exercise schedules for a building full of whooping crane chicks. The board Matt is pointing to tells us which pen each chick is in. Brief notes about the chicks helps us stay informed about ever-changing conditions.

Check our site tomorrow!

Cool Facts:

We don't know how many whooping crane chicks get sick in the wild. But some chicks in the crane chick building do get sick or sometimes they get injured. We are often able to treat these chicks, and many recover. Crane chicks seem especially prone to respiratory problems. Treatments are extensive and recovery can take a long time. Injuries also can be treated, but leg injuries with chicks whose legs grow so long can be fatal. Fortunately, Patuxent's veterinarian, Dr. Olsen, is a world-expert on cranes, so we know our chicks are getting the best care.

 See this page for more cool facts each day.

Click here to ask questions about our chick or Patuxent's crane program.