Whooping Crane

Whooping Crane standing among the plants on an island.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/11; 1/1600 sec. -1 exposure bias

This page is for the Whooping Crane (Grus americana). At one point (1941), there were just 21 of these massive birds left in the wild. Today, through conservation efforts, there are over 800 birds in the wild, so this comeback is something to celebrate. We were lucky to see a family unit of three cranes on the first day.

Three Whooping Cranes out in the middle of a field. Therre are two adults and one immature bird.
Whooping Crane, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX, February 22, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1250; f/10; 1/1000 sec. +1 Exposure Bias
Whooping Crane with a crab in its bill.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
Four Whooping Cranes wading in the shallow water near the shore.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/1250 sec.
An adult and a juvenile Whooping Crane wading near the shore.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/10; 1/2000 sec.
Three Whooping Cranes standing near the shore. One appears to be a juvenile.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/11; 1/1600 sec. -1 exposure bias
Juvenile Whooping Crane standing among the plants on an island.
Whooping Crane, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-2500; f/11; 1/2000 sec.
Two adult and one juvenile Whooping Cranes wading in the shallow water of a tidal flat.
Whooping Crane, Charlies Pasture, Port Aransas, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/1000 sec.