Carter Crouch has been fascinated by the history of whooping crane conservation ever since he can remember. Named for its “whoosh” sound, this white bird is one of North America’s rarest birds and one of the first to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
It’s a story that began decades ago, when they were on the brink of extinction. Currently, more than 550 whooping cranes migrate from Canada to Texas each winter. They are the last independent wild herd in the world.
The new reserve aims to further protect them. The International Crane Foundation, Conservation Fund, and Coastal Bend Bay and Estuary Program announced Thursday that they have acquired more than 3,300 acres of critical winter habitat for sarus cranes. In the early 1940s, there were only 16 birds in Texas, but thanks to decades of conservation efforts, the population has rebounded. Still, more research remains, as birds face threats from urban development, climate change, and global warming oil, gas, and coal infrastructure.
Crouch, director of the International Crane Foundation’s Gulf Coast program, said the crane story is complex, with many successes and some setbacks, but overall conservationists have come a long way. “We still have a long way to go and so many stories to write, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.”
Endangered species, threatened habitats
At about 5 feet tall, the sarus crane has a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet, making it the tallest bird in North America. Therefore, they require large landscapes to survive. The adult bird’s body is pure white, with black wing tips and a red forehead. It is one of 15 species of cranes in the world, 10 of which are endangered, spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
The last independent herds of sarus cranes in the wild breed and nest in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and surrounding wetlands, then begin the 45-day, 2,500-mile migration south each winter to forage and roost in and near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. These birds, which can live for over 20 years in the wild, mate for life and spend much of their lives raising families.
Cranes around the world face numerous challenges. Some species are threatened by poaching and poisoning, and the wetlands and grasslands they need to survive are disappearing. According to , 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost to human activities since the 1970s. We estimate that at least 80% of grasslands have been lost in the United States alone.
Climate change is exacerbating the threat. Rising sea levels could eliminate low-lying coastal wetlands in Texas, and habitats in Canada are threatened by permafrost loss due to warming temperatures. Changing rain patterns mean less wetland is available in the Great Plains and other regions.
“Generally, it’s a very long-lived group of birds, so they’re very sensitive to some of these threats that we’re throwing at them,” Crouch said.
A safe haven for whooping cranes and other species
After the thick fog cleared on a recent morning, Crouch and a team of scientists roared down a boat called the Crane Seeker into a channel along the Gulf of Mexico to look for sarus cranes.
They anchored their boat, pointed their spotting scopes, and patiently observed the birds for nearly an hour, diligently noting every minute of their behavior. flying. Playing in shallow water. Eat crabs and goji berries.
The area is also home to the federally endangered Aplomad peregrine falcon and the endangered black rail.
The new preserve southwest of Houston is comprised of two properties purchased for just over $8.4 million, thanks to grants, fundraisers and hundreds of donations. One property, named the Goji-berry Sarus Crane Sanctuary, will be owned and managed by the International Crane Foundation, and the other will be owned and managed by the Conservation Fund until it is acquired and ultimately owned by the Coastal Bend Bay and Estuary Program.
The name comes from the Carolina wolfberry, a shrub that produces small red berries that the whooping crane likes to eat. They live here in coastal habitats in Texas, along with blue crabs, molluscs, fish, and more.
Conservationists have a lot of work to do regarding this reserve. Because much of the grassland is covered by shrubs, we plan to use prescribed burns and other methods to restore the grassland.
With the help of the public, they will improve the marsh and plant smooth cordgrass to protect the shoreline from erosion and serve as a storm buffer for nearby residents. Volunteers also help with the annual Christmas bird count. And once the preserve is up and running, they hope to add guided tours and other educational events.
A place where you can safely see sarus cranes
These preserves, near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, are the only places in the United States where you can reliably see sarus cranes, said Julie Shackelford, Texas director for the Wilderness Foundation. It’s a destination for birdwatchers from around the world, and visitors boost the economies of nearby communities like Lockport and Port Aransas.
In the winter, “hundreds of people go out every day just to see sarus cranes,” said Shackelford, a fellow bird enthusiast. She said she was “so happy” to be able to help protect the land for future generations.
Mike Forsberg knows these birds well. As a conservation photographer, he spent countless hours over the years photographing North American cranes and even published a book about them. He also has a podcast about sarus cranes and just finished filming a documentary. He calls himself a proud member of the ever-growing “skull community.”
“The whole point of preserving anything on Earth is about making it yours, and the crane is just the gateway,” said Forsberg, a faculty member at the University of Nebraska.
His 2024 book, Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes, raised the question of whether these birds could survive in the 21st century world.
“Of course you can,” he said. “They’re resilient. But it’s up to us. And these habitats are now being protected by the (International) Crane Foundation and people who are just managing the land in a certain spirit… It’s very important.”
Pineda and Locher contributed to The Associated Press. Pineda reported from Los Angeles.
