2006 marks the fifth year of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership reintroduction program to re-establish a breeding population of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in eastern North America. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has teamed up with a variety of state and non-governmental organizations including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Operation Migration, and the International Crane Foundation to establish a migratory flock of birds that would breed in the Midwest and winter in peninsular Florida. 

Using ultralight aircraft and costumed personnel and a rigorous breeding and training program, the program’s initial efforts to lead young whoopers from Wisconsin’s Necedah National Wildlife refuge to winter in Florida at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife has greatly exceeded expectations. 

This past summer an important milestone was reached when the first two young eastern whoopers raised in the wild in over 100 years fledged from introduced parents at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.  At present, 61 adult whoopers and two chicks constitute the eastern flock while another 18 chicks are in “flight school” training with the ultra light aircraft pilots and chick handlers. 

Additionally, five chicks are being acclimatized for an experimental direct autumn release program (“DAR birds”).  These latter birds are placed near older cranes which have previously learned the migration route in hopes that the young birds will follow these adults to secure wintering quarters in the South.