Whooping cranes adjusting to life at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

DODGE COUNTY, Wis. (WLUK) -- Big white birds are settling in to their new home at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.

Whooping cranes are endangered throughout North America, but they are making a comeback at the marsh near Waupun.

"The beeping you hear right now is a signal from a transmitter that they're wearing," said Ted Thousand of Sauk City.

Down a gravel road at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, Thousand is tracking an endangered species.

"That's the male, adult male whooping crane I'm listening to right now," he said.

Thousand is a volunteer with the International Crane Foundation.

"I'm guessing 200 yards. He's right behind the trees over there," he said.

The big white bird and one of its chicks stroll across this field.

"They look really relaxed on the landscape. They don't seem to be upset at all. They've settled in nicely. Things look good for the future of them," said Thousand.

"It's always nice to see whooping cranes in the wild. It's a special thing. Not everyone will ever see one in their lifetimes, so it's pretty special to see one," said Hillary Thompson, International Crane Foundation North America Program Crane Analyst.

Experts say whooping cranes tend to be somewhat particular when it comes to choosing a mate, and once they do, the birds typically bond for life. But this partnership is a little different.

Thompson say the male whooping cane actually nested with a Sandhill Crane at the Horicon Marsh a couple years ago. Reintroducing that male to a new female whooping crane was a gamble.

"We're not sure that it was really going to work. It's not something we've ever done before," said Thompson.

Thompson says it did work. Two adults, known as Grasshopper and Hemlock, and two chicks were delivered from their captive nesting grounds in Florida last week. The birds will spend the next couple months getting used the marsh.

"So he will teach the rest of the family how to migrate south for the winter. and then hopefully keep returning here to Horicon," said Thompson.

Whooping cranes are very rare. Estimates put North America's wild population at fewer than 700, including about 100 in Wisconsin.