Whooping Crane Conservation Association

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday revealed new details in the deaths of two two endangered whooping cranes in Western Kentucky, announcing the amount of a reward being offered.

Read the full article on CourierJournal.com

The Report on Whooping Crane Recovery Activities provides information on the birds’ 2012 breeding season through the 2013 spring migration.

Visit the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge website for more details.

Fall 2013 WCCA Newsletter

Update:

Due to illness and travel restrictions the Whooping Crane Symposium What’s up with the Whooping Cranes? has been cancelled. The recovery team meeting to follow the symposium is also cancelled and will be rescheduled in the new year.

The Whooping Crane Conservation Association is partnering with the Saskatoon Nature Society and Nature Saskatchewan to host a free public symposium on Whooping Cranes.

The Whooping Crane Recovery Team is meeting in Saskatoon in early October and several members have agreed to share their latest research findings and insights with the public prior to their meeting. The symposium What’s up with the Whooping Cranes?  will provide information on the past, present and future of one of North America’s most beautiful, interesting and endangered birds.

The symposium will be held Saturday, October 5, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 106, Biology Building, University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Get Directions…

If you are planning to go, let us know on Facebook…

Spring 2013 Issue – WCCA Newsletter

by Chester McConnell, WCCA

Two adults and one juvenile whooping crane.

Whooping Crane Conservation Association (WCCA) president Lorne Scott  has urged Secretary Ken Salazar, U.S. Department of the Interior to resume regular aerial total population counts of whooping cranes on Aransas Refuge. The aerial census of the total whooping crane population has been used for the past 61 years. During 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to convert to a statistical survey method using hierarchical distance sampling.  In a letter to Secretary Salazar, President Scott writes, “The WCCA sees the total count census as the most practical, economical and having the most scientific value”. Citing the Service’s “2011-2012  estimate of 254 plus or minus 62 Whooping Cranes”, Scott wrote, “This degree of uncertainty for a critically endangered species is simply unacceptable.  President Scott’s letter is posted below:

January 4, 2013

Ken Salazar,
Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Mr. Salazar:The annual winter census of endangered Whooping Cranes has been an event looked forward to by the conservation community since Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937.  The aerial total population count, done for the past 61 years, was changed by USFWS in the winter of 2011-2012 to a survey method using hierarchical distance sampling.  As stated by USFWS, the new sampling method is only 85% accurate.The Whooping Crane Conservation Association (WCCA) believes the total population count is much preferred to the current estimate that has little value.  Estimates are not satisfactory when dealing with this bird which is considered a flagship among all endangered species.  Only about 300 birds exist in this wild population and it is still possible to do a total population count.  Potentially, a dozen or even thirty five birds could die or disappear and the sampling technique would not detect the change.  The new counting system only indicates that some low number of cranes are still present.  It does not tell us whether this endangered population has increased or decreased from the previous year.  The refuge’s 2011-2012 estimate of 254 plus or minus 62 Whooping Cranes does not serve any management purposes, nor does it provide worthwhile public information.  This degree of uncertainty for a critically endangered species is simply unacceptable.

The Whooping Crane is an internationally endangered species, and as such the concerns of the international community should be considered.  Because of this high level of interest, and the endangered status of the species, accurate total population counts should be continued annually.

The WCCA sees the total count census as the most practical, economical and having the most scientific value.  Three aerial counts between December 1 and 20 would provide a good count of the total number of birds arriving in the winter population.  Flights every  two weeks, after the December 20 count, until the cranes return north, would provide estimates of population losses during the winter.  We note that as of December 27, 2012, the Aransas Refuge new website still does not report any crane numbers from approximately seven flights conducted this fall.  We urge you to resume regular aerial total population counts as soon as possible.   The WCCA looks forward to continuing its support  of the international Whooping Crane conservation efforts, as we have done for the past fifty years.

Sincerely,
Lorne Scott,
President
Whooping Crane Conservation Association

cc:  Dan Ashe,  Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Hon. Peter Kent, Wendy Brown, Dr. Grant Harris, Aaron Archibecque, Sonny Perez,            Dr. Wade Harrell, LeeAnn Linam, Dr. Rich Beilfuss, Dr. George Archibald, Joseph Duff, Dr. Mark Bidwell, Dr. Sandy Black,         Ron Outen, Marty Folk, Alan Strand, Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez, Dr. John French,Larry Schweiger, Wade Luzny

WCCA has previously expressed its concerns about the lack of reports on whooping crane nesting success on Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park as well the winter aerial census on U.S. managed Aransas National Wildlife Refuge ( https://whoopingcrane.com/whooping-crane-program-concerns/ ) . The public in both the U.S and Canada is very interested in, and highly supportive of, the endangered whooping crane programs. WCCA has received a number of inquiries about the changes to the census program.  Hopefully Secretary Salazar will get the program back on track.

This Holiday Season, or for any other special occasion, why not send a Whooper eGreeting?

Select from one of 9 designs in our Greeting Card Gallery.

If your friends, family and loved ones don’t have email, don’t worry – simply print out this DIY Whooper Christmas Card, pop it in an old-fashioned envelope and mail them a reminder that you are thinking about them and that they should be thinking about Whoopers!

Folding Instructions

Print the Whooper Christmas card and place it face down with the Whooper Picture facing away from you.

Fold in half by taking the bottom edge of the paper to the top making a nice even crease.  If you are using think paper you may need to score the crease with a knife (careful not to cut all the way through).

Turn the card around so that the Whooper Picture is nearer to you, but still facing down.

Again, bring the bottom edge up to the top making a strong fold.  Use the back of a spoon or a ruler to press along the crease if required.

Your card should now be ready for you to fill in your greeting.  If the paper is thin you may need a little paper glue or double sided tape to make it look better.

Happy Holidays, and don’t forget – a WCCA Membership Subscription makes a great gift.

Fall 2012 – WCCA Newsletter

Spring 2012 Issue – WCCA Newsletter