[wisb] A second whooping crane dies

From: Maureen Gross <cygnusbuccinator@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: WisBirdNet <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:44:46 -0600
The article below demonstrates the struggle to return Whooping Cranes to 
the wild.

Maureen Gross
Mukwonago, Waukesha County



http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

Date:

        

*February 18, 2011 - Entry 2*

        

Reporter:

        

*Heather Ray*

Subject:

        

*SECOND JUVENILE WHOOPING CRANE FOUND DEAD IN ALABAMA*

        

Location:

        

*Main Office*

*Reward in Alabama Whooping Crane Deaths now at $23,250*

Federal investigators have discovered the remains of a second whooping 
crane at Weiss Lake on the Alabama-Georgia border.

The second crane, identified as DAR #22-10, a crane released last year 
in Wisconsin in the company of other older cranes, was found less than a 
quarter-mile from whooping crane #12-04.

Investigators believe #12-04 was shot sometime before January 28, and 
consider the deaths linked. Laboratory results are still pending.

A hefty reward now stands at $23,250, a combined total contributed by 18 
non-governmental organizations, federal agencies, and private 
individuals for additional information on the deaths of the two whooping 
cranes leading to successful prosecution of the perpetrator(s).

"We hope this reward may help generate leads from anyone who may know 
about these deaths," said Jim Gale, Special Agent in Charge of Law 
Enforcement in the Service's Southeast Region. "We are working hard to 
bring the offender or offenders to justice and greatly appreciate any 
assistance the public can offer."

To provide information, call Special Agent John Rawls at 334-285-9600, 
or e-mail him at john_rawls@xxxxxxxx <mailto:john_rawls@xxxxxxxx>

Contributors include: The Southern Company and National Fish and 
Wildlife Foundation Power of Flight Partnership, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, The Humane Society, The Turner Foundation (through the 
International Crane Foundation), Georgia Ornithological Society, The 
Georgia Conservancy, Whooping Crane Conservation Association, Wheeler 
National Wildlife Refuge Association, Birmingham Audubon Society, Steve 
Sykes (private citizen donation), Sara Simmons (private citizen 
donation), International Crane Foundation, Alabama Wildlife Federation, 
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (Fla.) Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, Fla.), Sylvan 
Heights Waterfowl Park, Scotland Neck, N.C., Audubon Nature Institute 
Species Survival Center, New Orleans, and the U.S. Geological Survey's 
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (M.D.).

*Details on the route of Whooping crane 22-10:*Whooping crane #22-10 
left Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on the fall migration with Direct 
Autumn Release juveniles #25-10 and #27-10 on November 20, 2010. At some 
point while flying, they met up with adult pair #13-03 and #18-03 (who 
trackers had seen beginning the migration alone earlier in the day). 
They flew slightly southwest and landed along the Mississippi River 
where they were found the next morning in Jackson County, Iowa, at the 
Green Island Wildlife Management Area. The five Whooping Cranes remained 
there until continuing migration on November 23.

The juveniles followed the adult pair to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife 
Area in Greene County, Indiana, and they remained here until the three 
juveniles split off from the adults and continued traveling south on 
December 13 to Jackson County, Tennessee. They quickly moved on from 
that location and reached Weiss Lake, Cherokee County, Alabama, by the 
night of December 15. They were found with adult whooping cranes #11-02, 
#30-08, #37-09 and fellow Direct Autumn Release juvenile #19-10 on the 
December 18.

The seven birds remained at Weiss Lake and were shortly joined by 
another adult pair, #12-04 and #27-05, who had moved south from the 
Hiwassee Refuge in Tennessee.

Whooping crane #22-10 went missing around the same time that #12-04 was 
killed. The remaining birds all left the area.

Whooping crane #27-05 returned to the Hiwassee Refuge by February 4, 
after the death of her mate #12-04, while the other six moved into north 
central Alabama by February 4.



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[wisb] A second whooping crane dies

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