Whooping cranes live in wetlands, marshes, mudflats, wet prairies, and fields. They鈥檙e not picky about their meals鈥攖hey he a varied diet and eat small fish, reptiles, and insects, as well as grains, marsh plants, and acorns.
CALL OF THE WILDWhooping cranes really like to 'whoop it up' when it comes to attracting a mate. They call loudly and do what might look like a crazy dance to get attention. They flap their wings, shake their heads, jump up and down, and toss around feathers and grass!
Whooping cranes are found in small pockets of North America.
National Geographic MapsPlease be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.These birds are endangered, but scientists he used some pretty interesting tricks to help them survive. First they relocated one flock to Florida, but the birds never learned to migrate. Conservationists were determined to help the birds flourish and thrive, so they used a special trick with another Florida flock. Scientists "taught" the younger birds to migrate by hing them follow an ultralight aircraft from Florida to Wisconsin. After the birds bred and hatched their chicks, they鈥檇 follow the plane back to Wisconsin!
鈥嬧€婭n addition to the year-round Florida flock and the one that migrates from Florida to Wisconsin, another flock flies from Texas to Canada and back again each year. These whooping cranes are really spreading their wings!