Wisconsin Cranes and Hurricanes

Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Sep 6, 2006

The First Family of Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin, with two chicks raised in the wild (read this ongoing story in my previous blog entries, below), has been visiting the Whooping Cranes in the captive breeding program near their marsh. The visits result in some aggression between the two groups of birds, and some amusing peacemaking attempts by the humans on site. The wild chicks are about 80 days old, healthy and starting to fly short distances. One of them is already bigger than the adult female. Read the detailed account and enjoy recent pictures at the Operation Migration Field Journal.

Tropical Storm Florence is gathering strength in the Atlantic, and predictions suggest that it may intensify to hurricane strength and possibly threaten Bermuda by the weekend. Bermuda is the nesting site of the Bermuda Petrel, or Cahow, a critically endangered bird. In 2002, Hurricane Fabian destroyed Cahow nesting burrows on offshore islands, and washed away large portions of the islands. Fortunately, the birds were not present at the time and manmade burrows were quickly reconstructed before the petrels arrived to nest. Efforts have also been made to encourage Bermuda Petrels to nest higher up and on safer islands. In 2005, 71 pairs nested in Bermuda, an increase of 53 pairs since the early 1960s.

Many birds, particularly seabirds, nest on islands where there is less danger from predators. One of the best loved seabirds is the Atlantic Puffin, a charming and colorful bird that nests off North America, Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Europe. While the Atlantic Puffin is doing well, and the Bermuda Petrel appears to be making a comeback from near extinction, the Dodo Bird was not so lucky. Read my articles about Atlantic Puffins and Dodo Birds:

Places to See Atlantic Puffins

The Mysterious Extinct Dodo Bird

Previous blog entries chronicling the wild Whooping Crane Chicks:

Two Whooping Crane Chicks Born in the Wild Make History in Wisconsin

Whooping Crane Chicks Thrive and a Rare Bird Turns Up in Nova Scotia

Answering Questions About the Extinct Dodo Bird

Update on the Whooping Crane Chicks and Glace Bay Western Reef Heron

The First Family Whooping Crane Fledglings are Flying