Presentation: Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population

In the 1940's Whooping Cranes, once found throughout North America, faced near extinction as a result of increased threats from habitat loss, hunting, and more. It wasn't until 2001 that Whooping Cranes returned to the eastern United States following a collaborative reintroduction program led by the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Today over 70 Whooping Cranes make up this population and many will breed in Wisconsin each year. Please join Alicia Ward, Crane Conservation Fellow for the International Crane Foundation, to learn about the Whooping Cranes of the Eastern Migratory Population and the work ICF and crane conservation partners are doing to safeguard their future. Following this presentation, you will be able to identify Whooping Cranes by sight and sound, understand the historic threats towards Whooping Cranes that led to their decline, know the ins and outs of the reintroduction program and the current work crane conservation partners are doing to protect cranes in Wisconsin and throughout their flyways, and find out how you can be an ambassador for cranes in Wisconsin.

Alicia earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022 and now works as a Crane Conservation Fellow at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI. She enjoys this role because it allows her to spend time in nature, solve complex problems, and interact with members of the public. She plans to continue furthering her career in wildlife ecology and conservation by pursuing a master’s degree.

Join us on Wednesday, April 17th at 7:00pm for Alicia’s Whooping Crane presentation. ALAS programs for the 2023-24 season will continue to be hybrid with the in-person presentation held at the Lincoln Center (1519 Water St., Stevens Point, Wisconsin) and available to view remotely live via Zoom. To view via Zoom, register at https://tinyurl.com/3yza3ny7. Find this link on our website under the Events-Presentations tab.