Photo: Richard Urbanek, ICF Meet the New 2006 Whooping Crane Chicks! Hatch-year 2006 of the Eastern Flock Crane # W1-06 (W601) Date Hatched June 21 or 22 , 2006 Gender Female Date of Photo: Oct. 21, 2006 Hatched to wild parents #211 and #217 Permanent Leg Bands R/G (left) W/G/W  (right)  Meet the first family in this slide show! History Fall 2006: W1-06 (also W601) is a very special chick! She was the new flock's very first wild-hatched chick to survive. She is now the first second-generation Whooping crane to successfully make the migration south. That's really something to celebrate! W601 left Wisconsin on her first migration on November 19 with her parents. The family arrived at the Florida wintering grounds Dec. 9. Their first stop was where the parents first migrated when they were chicks: the winter pen at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge ("Chass"). To the surprise and concern of experts, they stayed a while in a neighborhood in Hernando County, Florida. They were seen in backyards only a few meters from houses, eating under bird feeders and in flower beds. This is not a good choice of habitat, so experts are keeping an eye on the family. Trackers confirmed that the first family survived the Florida storms of Feb. 1-2 that killed 17 of the 2006 ultralight flock. Wild 601 is the only other remaining wild whooping crane hatched in 2006 to the new Eastern Flock. Spring 2007: The First Family (Mom 217, Dad 211, and female chick W1-06) began the young crane's first northward migration from Florida on Feb. 23. No further reports were received until March 20 — when the First Family arrived back at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge! Whooping Crane #W1-06 is the first wild-hatched chick in the eastern migratory population and the first to complete a roundtrip migration by following her parents. May 4, 2007 Photo Richard Urbanek An aerial survey on March 23 showed that W1-06 had now separated from her parents, and she was seen roosting alone that night on the refuge, near but not on her parents' territory. Hooray! This is normal behavior for a chick her age. In her first independent days, she spent time with other whoopers. Here she is with #510 and #511. Fall 2007: W601 began migration from Wisconsin on Nov. 21 along with #511, 514, 307, 402, and 412. She safely arrived in Florida with adults #511 and #514 on December 2! Apparently she was leading the way during the final flight into FL because all three landed at the lake where W601 spent her first winter with her parents. The next day the two males left but W601 stayed, often foraging by herself or with a few sandhill cranes. Thien, a few weeks later, see who arrived: Juvenile W1-06 was on her parents' winter territory when they arrived on January 4, 2008. ICF tracker Eva watched the family reunion. All 3 whooping cranes were less than 1 meter apart then W1-06 started walking away. The parents caught up with her and all 3 continued walking. Then stopped and foraged together. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Chasing the youngster away would be expected behavior, but they spent most of the winter with their juvenile. The parents migrated very early from Florida, leaving W6016 to migrate by herself! (She successfully did it.)   Photo Eva Szyszkoski, ICF Tracking Team Male #307 trying to dance with W601. But soon she had another boyfriend: #310. Photo Sara Zimorski Spring 2008: She began her second journey north on March 9 and was tracked to Thomas County, Georgia. Confirmed back at Necedah on March 30! In early April, Sara Zimorski said, "We were excited to see W601 and 307 hanging out together and hope they may become a pair." But in April, W601 joined up with #310. Eva said, "They actually built a nest and she was observed sitting on it!! They were not on it the next day, and there were no eggs (W601 is too young), but it's exciting news anyway!"   April 9: First nest of wild-born female W601! No eggs, but good practice! Male #310 is with her. Photos Richard Urbanek, ICF Tracker Anna Fasoli said, "W1-06 has apparently found a new love with #310, possibly filling the void that his stolen mate left? They even built a nest together, and sat on it for a day (no egg: W601 is too young). The new pair is still together. They defend their new territory from any crane that enters it. They frequent a few corn fields off the refuge, but always return to the refuge. Male #307 is usually not far away, lurking in the shadows of their territory, possibly plotting to steal her back. Regardless, W601 seems to have MANY different options for mates, although it looks as though she has found "the one" in #310, as building a nest together signifies a strong bond." August 2008: Wild female #W601 and ultralight-led male #310 are a pair. Photo Operation Migration By August, she was still with male #310. They liked to hang around the grassy training stip where the Class of 2008 chicks were learning to fly with the ultralight. Fall 2008: Began migration from Wisconsin on November 17, along with mate #310 and 12 other Whooping cranes. They were detected in flight while migrating over Perry County, Indiana, on December 7. The pair arrived on #310's previous wintering area in Colleton County, South Carolina, on December 17. Spring 2009: #W601 and mate 310 left their South Carolina winter territory during March 11-16. They were reported in Fountain County, Indiana, March 18-21. They completed migration to Necedah NWR in Wisconsin March 23. Sara Zimorski reports, "Apparently #307 has been trying (and may have succeeded) to steal W601 away from #310-03. Last year #307 and W601 were hanging out together before #310 came along so we'll see what happens." In April #310 and W601 built a nest but it was unsuccesssful. She and her mate stayed in the core area all summer.   Last updated: 9/26/09 Back to "Meet the Flock 2006"     Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).