I recently went by boat to visit the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, the winter home of the endangered whooping crane. This is the only natural wild migrating group of whooping cranes in the world. I believe the guide said including those in captivity and the eastern migrating group created by marine biologists there are only around 500 known whooping cranes in the world. Around 270 birds made the migration here this year. We have lost 17 this season. The conditions have been rough for the whopper this year because the lack of fresh water in the bay limits the blue crab population, their major food source. The cranes need to get enough nutrition here to survive their long trip back to their Canadian breeding grounds. I managed to get some photographs. I hope you enjoy them. Click on any photo to enlarge.
