Harvest, Huntsville, Madison, Monrovia, News, RSS Twitter, Unincorporated Madison County
 By  GreggParker Published 
3:56 pm Friday, December 4, 2015

Endangered whooping cranes arriving locally

The endangered whooping crane will spend the winter in North Alabama, especially Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. CONTRIBUTED

The endangered whooping crane will spend the winter in North Alabama, especially Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – One of nature’s graceful creatures, the whooping crane, is nearing extinction. Experts are predicting that the endangered birds will arrive soon in Alabama on the trek from Wisconsin.

Since 2003, a flock of endangered whooping cranes has spent their winters in Alabama. With only about 400 whooping cranes in the wild, their presence in Alabama is just one more thing that makes Alabama unique, Elisabeth Condon said.

Condon works as Coordinator of Keeping Whooping Cranes Safe with the International Crane Foundation. “The arrival of the first birds is an event to celebrate,” she said. “While the date is different each year, they appeared on Nov. 1 last year.”

Condon visited Rotary Club of Madison at its breakfast meeting on Nov. 19 and explained her work with saving the endangered whooping crane. Madison and the North Alabama region provide a migrant stop for these birds. Specifically, the whooping cranes typically winter at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Madison’s city limits, and surrounding areas.

In the 1940s, fewer than 20 whooping cranes were left in the wild. Their numbers have climbed now to about 400 total in the wild, with about 33 who spend the winter in Alabama.

“While today’s number is encouraging, it isn’t enough to guarantee the long-term survival of the whooping crane, especially given the severity of threats they face, including wetland destruction, power line collisions and illegal shootings,” Condon said.

For whooping cranes to successfully winter in Alabama, residents should recognize the birds and work together to keep them safe. “The International Crane Foundation is on-the-ground in Alabama all winter introducing citizens to whooping cranes and sharing their important story,” Condon said.

International Crane Foundation works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds and flyways on which they depend. The foundation’s headquarters are in Baraboo, Wis.

For more information, call Condon at 847-347-5763, email to econdon@savingcranes.org or visit savingcranes.org, Facebook/Save the Whooping Crane or Twitter @savingcranes.

Also on The Madison Record
‘Light Up the Night’ with Huntsville Parks & Recreation at Big Spring Park
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
July 24, 2025
Dr. John Blevins receives Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, premier award for career federal employees
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 24, 2025
Central role Redstone Arsenal plays in national security highlighted in judiciary committee hearing
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 23, 2025
Downtown Madison celebrates kickoff to Main Street Madison
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Snapshot
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Madison leaders joined downtown business owners and officials with the Madison Street Alabama program on Thursday to officially kick off the...
Civic groups to conduct candidate forums on Aug. 12 and 19
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Two upcoming forums seek questions from residents for the candidates to answer
Gregg Parker 
July 23, 2025
MADISON – The 2025 Municipal Election for the City of Madison on Aug. 26 will decide a new mayor and representatives for City Council in three contest...
Four winners certified in city council elections
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
MARIA RAKOCZY news@themadisonrecord.com 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Winners of four district elections in the city of Madison were certified at last week’s city council meeting. Four candidates ran unconteste...
“Take Back Alabama Town Hall” set for July 28 at Movement Church in Madison
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
in the
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Community leaders from across North Alabama will gather on Monday, July 28 for the “Take Back Alabama Town Hall” hosted by Moms for Liberty ...
Amanda Browning wins second place in Fleet Reserve Association’s essay contest
Madison County Record, News, Sports, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Patriotism is the base of being an American and supporting the United States of America, especially for the veterans of the military who too...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *