About the Whooping Crane Western Flock The Western flock is the main flock of the world's endangered Whooping Cranes. The Western flock is the only natural, wild migratory flock. The Western flock is the only self-sustaining flock. These birds breed and migrate naturally. (These Whooping Cranes have NEVER followed ultralight planes to migrate, and they NEVER will. Wild parents teach the wild-born babies the migration route, as nature intended.) This flock was down to only 15 survivors in the 1940s. Every whooping crane alive today descended from the 15 surviving whoopers of the Western migratory flock, also called the Wood Buffalo/Aransas flock. Wintering Grounds: Texas, United States: The Western flock spends the winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast. The nearest city is Corpus Christi, Texas. (27N, 97W). Nesting Grounds: Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan, Canada Each summer, these cranes breed and fledge chicks at Wood Buffalo National Park, which lies on the Alberta-Northwest Territories border in Canada. The nearest town is Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (60 N, 111W). Migration: The birds migrate about 2,600 miles each spring and each fall. They travel alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Until reintroduction of a new Eastern flock began in 2001 with ultralight planes to lead the chicks, the Western flock was the world's entire wild migratory Whooping Crane population. This highly endangered species has been struggling to build its numbers from the all-time low of 15 in the 1940s. It was a joy to celebrate when the Western flock passed the 200 mark in 2004 and passed 250 in 2007! Try This! Compare the Two Flocks: Journaling Questions Whooping Crane Comeback How many cranes are in the Western Flock today? (Click graph to enlarge.) This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2009 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.