Tropical Conservancy

The whooping crane is one of the most magnificent birds in North America, and yet it is one of the rarest. A full-grown adult stands 5 feet tall and has a wingspread of 7 to 8 feet. The only other species found in North America is the Sandhill crane. The Whooping crane’s lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild.   

Cranes were on the brink of extinction in the early 1940’s with only 15 remaining in the population that migrates from their nesting grounds in Canada to the coast of Texas. Today, after many years of help, this population has reached a record number of almost 300 with a number living and migrating to Florida as well.

In order to safeguard this species, biologists are using an innovative method to imprint captive reared Whooping cranes and teach them to migrate behind ultralight aircraft. In this way, Whooping cranes have been restored to the Eastern flyway and a separate wild migrating population has been established. As more and more people have the privilege of seeing these birds, Whooping cranes have become ambassadors for our wetlands and for all species in need of our assistance. Support our wildlife.

Since fall of 1980, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been involved in a large-scale project to restore the whooping crane to the southeastern United States. This year was successful as 7 young whooping cranes completing their first migration, from Wisconsin to Florida, in January 2009, following an ultralight aircraft. This procedure was carried out by Operation Migration.