It was in 1907 that the last reported sighting of a whooping crane occurred in Indiana. Although probably never common here, this magnificent species did migrate through and perhaps even nested in the marshes and prairies of northwest Indiana. With widespread habitat destruction and unregulated hunting, the crane population plummeted throughout its range. By 1942 only a single migratory flock of only 15 birds remained.

Those 15 birds nested in far northern Canada and migrated to coastal Texas to spend the winter. With protection and careful management, that flock reached a milestone last year—a population totaling 216 individuals.

But the species still is precariously close to extinction. One catastrophic event—such as disease, a chemical spill in their winter habitat, or a major storm—could spell doom.

Knowing the dangers of having all the cranes together in one place, the conservation community wanted to establish a second migratory flock in a new location. But how could it be accomplished, since knowledge of a migration route must be passed along from one generation to the next?

The answer was to have humans teach the young whooping cranes to migrate. If a primary group of cranes could be taught to move from a northern nesting area to a southern wintering area, then future generations of cranes could teach their young, ultimately leading to a second migratory flock.

Enter the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP)—a consortium of not-for-profit organizations and government agencies dedicated to bringing a migratory flock to eastern North America.