Meet the New 2007 Whooping Crane Chicks!
Hatch-year 2007 of the Eastern Flock
Crane # 707

Date Hatched

May 2, 2007

Gender

Male

Egg Source: USGS Patuxent WRC

Permanent Leg Bands

Weight May 2: 116 grams (g)
Weight May 8: 136 g

Weight 09/05/07: 6.3 kilograms

 

Left Leg Right Leg
 
 
R/G
 
 
 

G/R/W

  • Read about the naming system, hatch place in Maryland, release site in Wisconsin, over-wintering site in Florida, and leg-band codes.

Personality and History

Migration Training: Despite starting out as a "pee-wee," 707 became a big strapping (and dominant) adolescent. He came to Wisconsin for flight school on June 19 in cohort one, the 8 oldest chicks. By July 24 he was flying at least part of the length of the grass runway, with just four birds flying stronger and longer than him. By SEptember he was doing great and was way ahead of the other chicks in a surprising way: his voice started changing! His voice is getting deeper, and he is making fewer "chick cheeps." Instead, he "purrs" like the crane contact call that he hears from the puppets and the loudspeaker on the ultralight plane.

 

History
First Migration South: Chick #707 left Wisconsin for his first migration on October 13th, 2007. He flew the whole first leg of the journey and landed safely at Stopover #1! Find day-by-day news about the flock's migration and read more about #707 below.

Crane 707 is the first of the 17 chicks to start getting his adult voice. His voice began changing from a peep to a honk at the second stop of the migration! He has been a good flyer and follower, doing no mischief and being just a great bird.

In December on a no-fly day, Megan had the birds out when an animal came over (we'll say it was a turkey). The rest of the group started walking towards it, but 707 was separated from the group. He started alarm calling and came over to her. She thinks he wanted to help Megan bring the others away from "danger." Megan said, "I could see right down his throat, which was pretty neat."

Crane 707 has completed every single flight without dropping out. Arrived on the wintering grounds January 28, 2008 after the longest migration in the UL flock's history.

#707, 710 and 722 in TN
Photo Anna Fasoli, ICF

Spring 2008, First Journey North: Began migration from Florida March 25 in a group of six flockmates and made it to Worth County Georgia. Four of the six stayed together (#707, #703, #709 and #714) and resumed northward migration on March 26, to Bledsoe County, Tennessee. On March 28, #707 left the group and joined up with #710 and 722. The three migrated to Morgan County, Indiana on April 8. On April 9 they were migrating, and by April 10 they arrived in Jasper County, Indiana. On April 12, PTT data indicated they were in Lake County, Illinois. On April 13 they moved to McHenry County, Illinois, 30 miles west of their previous roost. They remained there through April 19. The group resumed migration on April 20 or 21. On April 21 they passed east of Necedah NWR and roosted that night in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. At 9:30 a.m. on April 23 they headed towards Necedah NWR, landing in nearby Jackson County at approximately 4:30p.m.: MIGRATION COMPLETE! He wandered all summer, and spent time in southeastern Minnesota. PTT readings in September showed he was still there with #703, 39-07 (DAR), and 42-07 (DAR).

Fall 2008: #707's group headed south Nov. 15 from Minnesota. A high-precision PTT reading for female #39-07 ( in the Minnesota group with #707, 703 and DAR 42-07) indicated a migration stop near St. Clair County, Illinois, on the night of November 16. The group wintered in Lowndes County, Georgia.

Spring 2009: PTT data from DAR 39-07 (and presumably her group with #703, 707, and DAR 42-07) put her (and probably the others) in Madison County, Alabama on the night of March 19 and in Marshall County, Kentucky on the night of March 22 as they migrated north. Confirmed back on Necedah NWR in Wisconsin by March 26-27. On April 22 nest building was confirmed for #707 and DAR 39-07. This is a good sign, but they are still too young to lay eggs. Next they wandered back into southeastern Minnesota, where they spent much of last summer and fall — but they returned to the core area in Wisconsin between wanderings.

Fall 2009: Male 707, along with female DAR 39-07, was reported in Waseca County, MN in early October. Based on PTT readings for DAR 39-07, they remained there throughout the month; however, no visual sightings of the pair were reported.

Last updated: 11/03/09

Back to "Meet the Flock 2007"

 


Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).