Whooping Crane and Penguin Update

Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Nov 17, 2006

Whooping Cranes

On November 17, 2006, the captive reared Whooping Cranes from the Necedah Refuge in Wisconsin are in Indiana. They’ve had many grounded days due to poor weather, but look up! They are flying today. The Field Journal reports that their destination today is Muscatatuck, IN, and that, if all goes well, anyone up early enough in Muscatatuck tomorrow can watch their departure (that’s if they do stop in Muscatatuck and tomorrow is a fly day.) Check the Field Journal for details.

The wild Whooping Cranes of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, and Aransas, Texas, are arriving in Aransas gradually. Two hundred and eight cranes have already arrived, including 39 chicks (six pairs of twins!) – a record number of chicks and they are not all there yet. Meanwhile, the wild First Family from Necedah, now with just one chick, has not yet begun migration. There is a recent picture of them in the Field Journal, foraging in snow.

Read about Whooping Cranes and the First Family, and view pictures:

Wild Canadian Whooping Cranes Hatch 76 Chicks in 2006

Whooping Crane Chicks Born in the Wild Make History in Wisconsin

Operation Migration Photo Journal

Gentoo Penguins

Five web cams are now functional at GARS O’Higgins in Antarctica. (The one that remains off line now shows a stunning picture of the surrounding landscape.) The penguins sitting on nests remain stoic and patient through all weather. Little changes from day to day at the moment, but the first eggs should hatch late in the first week of December or early in the second week. Then it will get much more interesting.

We know that the male and female penguins take turns sitting on the nest but even in the close-up picture I can’t tell who’s who. Can you? Join the discussion.

Read about Gentoo penguins and the GARS O’Higgins web cams.

A Gentoo Penguin’s Life Cycle

Penguin Webcam