Whooping Cranes

In January 2016, a friend and I heard about 3 whooping cranes in west Jefferson County outside Beaumont. These whooping cranes were from the non-migrating flock in Louisiana. They were feasting on rice shoots and anything else they could find. These birds were very close to the road - uncomfortably close was our thought. The rice farmer kept pretty close eyes on cars driving up that road. There were 3 or 4 cars of observers as I remember with one of them the farmer. This is a sad story in that 2 of the 3 were shot a few days later by an idiot claiming he thought they were snow geese. Once identified, he plead guilty and was sentenced to 5 years probation and $12,908.50 restitution to International Crane Foundation who raised the LA flock from eggs to chicks to released adults. Though most birders consider this too light a penalty (including me), at least there was an investigation and legal action taken. There is no way somebody can mistake these huge birds for a goose. These birds are some of the most rare (less than 600 total in TX+LA) in the world with movements monitored on many of them - including these 3. The third bird eventually reunited with the Louisiana flock. Just a couple of years later, another whooping crane was shot in Louisiana. That person was also identified and convicted.

I have been very fortunate being able to photograph these amazing birds many times - though mostly near Rockport. That flock migrates to and from Canada - around a 2500 mile journey each way!

This bird was doing the whooping crane dance hopping up, standing tall (6 foot!), spreading wings, and whooping.

Thanks,

Doug White

https://jdwarchive.blogspot.com/