Notes from the Artist, Jenny Kendler: After seeing the wonderful film Fly Away Home several years ago, I know that I wanted this print to support the innovative conservation of Operation Migration. The Whooping Crane is surely one of our most beautiful birds. Hauntingly beautiful in flight and graceful in form, they were a pleasure to draw.
More about Operation Migration: Every year since 2001, Operation Migration (OM) has worked to safeguard the endangered Whooping crane from extinction. Because for many avian species the ability to migrate is a learned process; that is, passed on from one generation to the next, when the last bird vanishes from an area, their once-traditional route is lost forever. Using captive-hatched birds OM rears and trains Whooping crane chicks to accept and follow specially modified ultralight aircraft in order to teach them a migration route from Wisconsin to Florida.
OM’s work with the endangered Whooping crane was preceded by a number of successful migration studies involving Canada geese, Trumpeter swans, and Sandhill cranes, and became the subject for the major motion picture, Fly Away Home. The reintroduction of Whooping cranes into Eastern North America requires the combined efforts of many jurisdictions and organizations including the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) of which Operation Migration is a founding member.
More about Operation Migration: Every year since 2001, Operation Migration (OM) has worked to safeguard the endangered Whooping crane from extinction. Because for many avian species the ability to migrate is a learned process; that is, passed on from one generation to the next, when the last bird vanishes from an area, their once-traditional route is lost forever. Using captive-hatched birds OM rears and trains Whooping crane chicks to accept and follow specially modified ultralight aircraft in order to teach them a migration route from Wisconsin to Florida.
OM’s work with the endangered Whooping crane was preceded by a number of successful migration studies involving Canada geese, Trumpeter swans, and Sandhill cranes, and became the subject for the major motion picture, Fly Away Home. The reintroduction of Whooping cranes into Eastern North America requires the combined efforts of many jurisdictions and organizations including the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) of which Operation Migration is a founding member.
ABOUT THE WHOOPING CRANE
The story of the Whooping Crane, one of North America's largest and most striking birds, is a classic for American conservation. In 1941, only 21 wild Whooping Cranes remained -- mainly due to habitat loss as wild land was rapidly developed. It took until 1967 for the crane to be declared endangered, but conservation efforts were strong and well implemented.
Though today's population is still low compared to historic numbers, the Whooping Crane can be considered a conservation success story with almost 400 birds in the wild and 138 in captivity.
One particularly successful and inspiring organization working to help Whoopers is Operation Migration. Chicks are reared in captivity to increase survival rates. The volunteers wear crane costumes so that the chicks don't "imprint" on human beings. Because the young birds would normally be taught to migrate by adult cranes, Operation Migration uses a novel method of teaching the migration routes using ultralight aircraft. In this way, the captive reared chicks can be successfully reintroduced to the wild.
Whooping Cranes were brought to such low numbers due mainly to habitat loss. During the 20th century, much of the land where they once wintered across the Midwestern United States, was rapidly developed for agricultural, residential, commercial and recreational purposes --- leaving the cranes with nowhere to go. Additionally, the cranes were once hunted for their beautiful feathers.
Today, the main threats to the Whooping Crane are power lines, which they can die in during migration, and limited genetic diversity. Additionally, because of their small numbers, the cranes' survival could be threatened by any environmental disruption, disease or natural events, such as storms.
Though the Whooping Cranes' recovery has been remarkable, it has been due only to the dedicated and brave efforts of many conservation organizations and volunteers, and those that have helped to fund these efforts. Continued work is needed to secure the future of these wonderful birds, but perhaps some day they'll again occupy their full range, and flocks of these beautiful birds will cross the skies of North America.
The story of the Whooping Crane, one of North America's largest and most striking birds, is a classic for American conservation. In 1941, only 21 wild Whooping Cranes remained -- mainly due to habitat loss as wild land was rapidly developed. It took until 1967 for the crane to be declared endangered, but conservation efforts were strong and well implemented.
Though today's population is still low compared to historic numbers, the Whooping Crane can be considered a conservation success story with almost 400 birds in the wild and 138 in captivity.
One particularly successful and inspiring organization working to help Whoopers is Operation Migration. Chicks are reared in captivity to increase survival rates. The volunteers wear crane costumes so that the chicks don't "imprint" on human beings. Because the young birds would normally be taught to migrate by adult cranes, Operation Migration uses a novel method of teaching the migration routes using ultralight aircraft. In this way, the captive reared chicks can be successfully reintroduced to the wild.
Whooping Cranes were brought to such low numbers due mainly to habitat loss. During the 20th century, much of the land where they once wintered across the Midwestern United States, was rapidly developed for agricultural, residential, commercial and recreational purposes --- leaving the cranes with nowhere to go. Additionally, the cranes were once hunted for their beautiful feathers.
Today, the main threats to the Whooping Crane are power lines, which they can die in during migration, and limited genetic diversity. Additionally, because of their small numbers, the cranes' survival could be threatened by any environmental disruption, disease or natural events, such as storms.
Though the Whooping Cranes' recovery has been remarkable, it has been due only to the dedicated and brave efforts of many conservation organizations and volunteers, and those that have helped to fund these efforts. Continued work is needed to secure the future of these wonderful birds, but perhaps some day they'll again occupy their full range, and flocks of these beautiful birds will cross the skies of North America.
