Whooping Crane Conservation Association

During the last 10 years the Whooping Crane Conservation Association has invested over $355,000 towards the recovery of the whooping crane.

Projects have included the following:

• $200,000 towards a conservation easement on 100 acres of critical habitat at Welder Flats adjacent to the Aransas NWR. This project was in partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy.
• $86,750 towards the purchase of 178 acres of critical habitat on Lamar Peninsula adjacent to the Aransas NWR. This project was in partnership with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Nature Concervancy.
• $28,600 spread over 8 years to Operation Migration in support of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership’s goal of establishing a second migratory flock whooping cranes.
• $21,343 spread over 10 years spent on Conservation Education (Grus Americana Newsletter, WCCA Website, etc.)
• $12,000 to the San Marcos River Foundation to help in the legal battle to protect river flows which sustain critical winter whooping crane habitat.
• $8000 spread over 2 years to the University of Alberta to evaluate food resources in the cranes boreal nesting marshes at Wood Buffalo National Park. This project was in partnership with the University of Alberta, Parks Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
• $500 towards hunter education signs at Aransas NWR. This project was in partnership with United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Audubon Society, International Crane Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The WCCA has also established a Reward Fund to help bring perpetrators of crimes against whooping cranes to justice. The WCCA has offered rewards of up to $1500 in several cases, however, as of this date no rewards have been claimed.

The WCCA is an advocate for whooping cranes and has supported a closure of crab fishing at Aransas to ensure there are adequate food resources for the whooping cranes during winter.

In addition, the WCCA, along with other conservation groups, has opposed the location of a proposed windfarm development in North Dakota, which is in the migratory pathway for the Aransas Wood Buffalo Population.

The WCCA also recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the recovery of the whooping crane. The Jerome J. Pratt Whooping Crane Conservation Award and the WCCA Honor Award are our highest awards and have been given to individuals or organizations who, through exceptional achievement and dedicated service, have contributed significantly to the conservation and/or collective knowledge of the whooping crane. The Whooping Crane Conservation Association has no paid staff and all positions are filled by volunteers. As you can see, most of our projects are in concert with other partners and are priorities of both the Whooping Crane Conservation Association and the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team. The power of partnership is strong and so much more can be accomplished if organizations work together as the WCCA has demonstrated for decades. Thanks to our members and donors, without you these important projects would not have been possible.