Whooping Crane Art at the Smithsonian National Zoo

In 2013, I had the joy and privilege of working with the art curators at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Gardens, in Washington D.C., in the creation of the interpretive art for their new Whooping Crane Exhibit at the park.  Earlier this year, I had my first opportunity to visit this exhibit--a spectacular experience!

The art images include an identification image for the species (shown on the panel below) and four watercolors for the banners (above) that depict the story of the ultralight-led re-introduction of Whooping Cranes to eastern North America.  
The re-introduction effort began in 2001 and continues today. Now more than 100 Whooping Cranes migrate from Wisconsin to wintering grounds in Florida and other eastern states.

In the early 1940's only fifteen Whooping Cranes remained in the wild migrating population that traveled from Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. That population was reported recently as having approximately 304 birds. Biologists have been concerned that a natural disaster, man-made disaster or disease could wipe out this entire population. To help ensure that this won't happen, they set a goal to establish a separate, migrating population in the east.

Each banner depicts one phase of the reintroduction story: captive-hatched chick, fall migration behind ultralights, the return to fledging grounds without human assistance, and the wild hatching of young.  It is the hatching of wild young that biologists hope will one day make the eastern population self-sustaining and help ensure that we continue to have wild Whooping Cranes.


When the Whooping Crane, Rocky, arrived at the Zoo in 2011, it was the first time in 88 years that the National Zoo had housed a Whooping Crane. One year later, Rocky was fortunate to receive a companion to join him at the exhibit. The female was hatched at the International Crane Foundation in 1992 and spent a period of time at the Calgary Zoo prior to joining Rocky.  Watching this pair of cranes together was fascinating.

Whooping Cranes are known for their bugle-like calls that can be heard for a distance of over a mile. Oddly enough, Rocky has no voice and no one knows why.

While visiting the exhibit in April, with my son, John, I watched the pair of cranes join each other in guard calls, a call that is given in warning and to sound a unified alert when an intruder is present--in this case, an exhibit attendant filling bird feeders.

Rocky threw his head back, pointed his beak toward the sky, and went through the motions of sounding an alarm call several times.  Within seconds of initiating this "head-thrown-back, open-mouthed" posture, his mate joined him, adding the vigorous, female companion call and making it sound as though both of them were calling.  If I had not known Rocky was mute, I would have never guessed this was so while watching their behavior.

Next time you are in our nation's capital, visit this spectacular park.  You will enjoy all of the exhibits, but especially say 'hello' to Rocky and his mate, and take in the art banners and interpretive panels. I am proud of the exhibit and proud of our international efforts to insure the survival of this spectacular species.

Visit my website gallery to see larger images of the banner art and more of my Whooping Crane art:  Whooping Cranes
You will also find Whooping Crane prints and art cards for sale at my online Shop
Visit my blog, Vickie's Sketchbook, to see more about the watercolor techniques used to create the banner art.
Go to Operation Migration’s Field Journal to learn about the current ultralight migration.

More about Whooping Cranes on this blog.

Whooping Crane Ultralight Migration Featured on Outdoor Wisconsin

The world's Whooping Crane population reached a low of only 15 birds in 1941, bringing this species to the brink of extinction. The Eastern Whooping Crane Partnership began the reintroduction of Whooping Cranes to the eastern United States in 2001 when Operation Migration began the first ultralight-led migration south teaching juvenile Whooping Cranes their migration route. 

"Flying South", a watercolor by Vickie Henderson, 2013.  This image is one of four of Vickie's watercolor images that appear on banners at the entrance and exit to the Whooping Crane Exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

Watch the video and learn more about this project and how Whooping Cranes learn their migration route in the east. To begin the video with the Operation Migration story, move the video cursor to minute 9:16.



To see my blog posts on the Smithsonian National Zoo project visit:  Whooping Crane art
To see more Whooping Crane art visit:  Whooping Crane Watercolor Gallery
For more about the organizations helping Whooping Cranes:
Operation Migration
International Crane Foundation
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

Whooping Crane Activity Book Gets Great Review!

Marcia Davis, bird enthusiast and Birdlife columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel, featured Operation Migration's Whooping Crane Activity Book in her column on Sunday. The article reviews the contents of the book, describes why the ultralight-led Whooping crane migration is an "against-all-odds" feat and explains why, as author and illustrator, I believe this story is a great way to inspire young minds to use their imaginations to help wildlife.

The activity book is being distributed free to classroom educators (plus $10.00 shipping) or can be ordered individually for a cost of $3.00 plus shipping. To order, visit Operation Migration's merchandise page.

And while you're there, visit the Operation Migration field journal to see the latest developments in the migration. The Whooping Crane Class of 2009 arrived in Florida today! If the weather cooperates, half of the class will arrive at their destination in St. Marks tomorrow and the other half will continue on to Chassahowitzka NWR.

Soon these twenty young Whooping Cranes will add their numbers to the wild migrating population of Whooping cranes in the east. What a great way to celebrate the power of imagination!

Whooping Crane Migration Training at Necedah NWR

I've just returned from what always feels like a whirlwind trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. While there, I had the pleasure of seeing our juvenile Whooping crane Class of 2009 training for migration behind their ultralight parents--Operation Migration's (OM) pilots and planes--and participating in Necedah's Cranefest, as well as, reuniting with Operation Migration crew members, volunteers and fellow Directors.

Saturday morning (Sept 19th) was chilly and cloudy, but overall the weather was wonderful for both training and the Necedah Whooping crane festival that followed. Above you see Richard Van Heuvelen testing the wind and visibility prior to the morning training. And below, (left to right) Heather Ray of Operation Migration and several of OM's volunteers, Dale Richter, Director; Bob Rudd, Director; and Nan Rudd, a volunteer in many capacities, including the layout and design of OM's InFormation magazine. And the moment we were all waiting for?--ultralight migration training and a wonderful look at the fledged juveniles who will soon be making their way south, learning the migration route they will use in future migrations.Low light and thick overcast in the early morning didn't make for award winning images but the excitement of seeing juvenile Whooping cranes , who will soon add their numbers--21 in the class of 09--to the eastern population of migrating Whooping cranes, always brings both spine tingles and smiles of awe.
Against all odds, Whooping cranes have been returned to the eastern flyway and this year will mark the ninth ultralight-led migration, with an estimated departure date of October 10th. Having numbered only 15 in 1941, Whooping cranes have taught us many lessons about the fragile nature of species ecology and survival. That we continue to enjoy Whooping cranes in our world today offers a powerful symbol of hope and tenacity.

Let's hope that we, their human guardians, continue to examine these lessons--both the historical ones and those currently unfolding--and in doing so, become wiser in our efforts to protect and preserve the richness of our natural world.

Next: Necedah NWR's meadow! (then back to my visit to Ijam's meadow in TN!)

Operation Migration Launches CraneCam!

Ever wanted to see endangered Whooping cranes but couldn't get to their location? Or wished you could watch the just-fledged juvenile Whooping cranes learning to follow their ultralight parents as they ready for their first migration? Now you can! Operation Migration has launched the first ever CraneCam, providing an opportunity for viewers all over the world to see the juvenile Whooping Crane class of 2009 train for migration at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

This morning I watched two beautiful cinnamon and white juveniles resting in the pen, catching insects in the air and preening. I also saw two adult Whooping cranes standing outside the pen, curious about the juveniles. All of this without traveling at all!

In the early morning, between 6-7:00 CDT you will also have an opportunity to watch training. You may even catch a juvenile's fledging flight! (I'm starting to wonder how I will ever get anything else done!)

Today is the launch date of the live streaming video and audio CraneCam provided by the Duke Energy Foundation and Operation Migration.

Operation Migration (OM) is also poised to realize an avian and aviation milestone. While leading its ninth generation of Whooping cranes, the Class of 2009, on their fall migration, OM will log its 10,000th air-mile while teaching another class of juvenile Whooping cranes the migration route south.

The innovative organization is asking everyone worldwide to "Give a WHOOP!" and help them collect an Honor Roll of 10,000 WHOOPS! - one for each migration mile that has been flown with the endangered Whooping cranes following ultralights.

You can put these buttons on your blog, too. By doing so, you will be helping us spread the word as we promote worldwide conservation, open a window into the world of the endangered Whooping crane and celebrate these two milestones! Just send me an email with subject line: "cranecam" at viclcsw (at) aol (dot) com and I'll send you images and links for your website or blog.

Let's all GIVE A WHOOP!

Operation Migration Receives US Dept of Interior Partners In Conservation Award

Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar presented Operation Migration a Partners in Conservation Award at the Department of Interior on Thursday, May 7th and as Chair of the Board of Directors, I had the honor and pleasure of participating in the ceremony. Operation Migration's efforts to save the endangered Whooping crane exemplifies the esteemed award's emphasis on partnerships.

A founding member of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, Operation Migration partners with numerous government and private organizations in the United States and Canada to successfully lead juvenile Whooping cranes on their first fall migration. These efforts have resulted in eight successful migrations and 81 wild Whooping cranes living and migrating in the eastern United States.

In his comments, the Secretary stated, “Operation Migration has successfully reintroduced whooping cranes into their historic range in eastern North America by teaching them to migrate; few other organizations have such a direct interaction with the species they are trying to preserve.”

The above image was taken just after Joe Duff, CEO and project leader, was congratulated by Secretary Salazar. Pictured, beginning second from left: Liz Condie, Bev Paulan, Tom Strickland, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Vickie Henderson, Secretary Salazar, Joe Duff, Deke Clark, Heather Ray, Walter Sturgeon and Brook Pennypacker.

And above you see another of my favorite images, myself with John Christian, Assistant Director Region III, US Fish and Wildlife Service and voice of wisdom, stability and encouragement, along with two young conservationists, Alex Duff and Taylor Richter, on the Secretary's balcony at the Dept of Interior.

This image brings to mind the other important partners in Operation Migration’s conservation efforts, our many loyal supporters of all ages. Supporters are the energy, the funding and the encouragement that keeps Operation Migration’s work going.

There is nothing easy about ultralight-led migration and no end to the unpredictable obstacles that both cranes and planes may face. The story of a Whooping crane chick’s journey from hatchling to a fledged ‘ultracrane’ juvenile migrating on his first journey south behind ultralight 'parents' is a story that captures the hearts and imaginations of children and adults of all ages. And when you put together the hearts and imagination of thousands of people, you have created boundless energy in support of conservation.

In a time of rapid climate change and complex demands on our natural resources, every wildlife species needs a champion. For me, Whooping cranes have become that champion, exemplifying in their tenacious survival what man and nature can overcome with a little imagination and a lot of hard work. This truly is the future of conservation.

Top image:  Ultralight migration departure from the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge near Dayton, TN, 2004
Bottom image:  Pilot Brook Pennypacker leads a young Whooping crane fledgling on a solo practice session at Necedah Wildlife Refuge, 2004.

Visit Operation Migration's field journal to stay up to date on migration progress and read more about the challenges our whooping cranes face.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #37 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

Ultralight Migration Moves into Alabama

After spending a week in west Tennessee, the 2008 class of ultralight trained whooping cranes has finally moved into Alabama. With the change in Operation Migration's southerly migration route, this marks their first journey through the state of Alabama which greeted them with fresh snow. Richard van heuvelen describes the reaction of the juvenile cranes in his lead pilot's report. Also visit the photo journal to see some beautiful migration photos and the juveniles standing in the snow.

Painting: "Peaceful Morning", 29" x 21" original watercolor by Vickie Henderson, 2004.

Whooping Cranes Still in Tennessee

The ultralight migration is still located in west TN as I write this post and was grounded for another day today by too strong winds. In the photo above taken Sunday morning before I departed again for east TN, Richard van heuvelen tests the lower wind levels while the other three trikes, visible to viewers at points in the distance, test the level of wind disturbance at other elevations. It was decidedly a "no-go" as the winds were gusty and too strong, even though they were coming from the right direction.
As Richard flew over the viewers, his trike's passenger pod rocked in the wind beneath the wing which makes for a very rough ride and impossible conditions for flying with birds.
Above you can see the viewing site in Hardin Co. with some of the viewers gathered in Sunday's early morning cold. Below Liz Conde answers questions as we wait for the final decision.

Today's field journal post by Bev Paulin is accompanied by some photos of the birds exercising as the crew is expecting rainy weather in the next few days. During exercise, the juveniles are released in the early morning when the air is more calm and thermals have not yet begun to rise.

Under these conditions, the young birds will not venture far from the security of "parents" represented by the white costumes. The costumed handlers also carry vocalizers that play the contact call, a reassuring whooping crane communication that stimulates the young chick to stay near its costumed parents.

While the crew is waiting for good flying conditions, take the opportunity to visit the Operation Migration mile-maker page and read about how you can support our whooping cranes and the juvenile class of 2008.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #15 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

A "Try" Migration Morning

It was a "try-go" this morning at 26 degrees in west Tennessee as the ultralights took off with thirteen birds on Richard van heuvelen's wing and one on Joe Duff's wing.

Many of the birds had their feet tucked under their feathers so that if you didn't know what you were looking at you would think they were geese.

We were already back at the RV and talking about heading for Alabama when Liz got the call that the birds didn't want to fly against the headwind they found aloft and they were turning back. As we stood outside the RV, we could see Joe flying over head with his one bird coasting on his wing.

Check the Operation Migration field journal for a full update on today's flight.

Fledged Plumage

We refer to fledged whooping crane chicks as "juveniles". It is always heart-warming for me to see these beautifully marked, graceful juveniles flying, but astounding to hear their tiny voices calling, “peep, peep”. Despite their enormous size, they don't acquire their adult voices until nearly one year of age. The 2008 ultralight migration class of whooping crane fledglings is on its way to wintering grounds in Florida. Whooping cranes are naturally soaring birds that ride thermals and can make this voyage in as little as nine days. But while these juveniles are learning the migration route, they will only fly in the early morning hours before the thermals rise and while the air is very calm. This is because their surrogate parents are ultralights with costume-clad pilots.

Instead of soaring, they will flap their wings and glide, using the vortices from the ultralight wing for lift, or the slight lift from the wings of the bird just in front of them to aid their flight.

The ultralight migration is now located in Wisconsin and has been grounded a few days due to unfavorable winds for ultralight flying. But some recent photos have been posted that will give you an awesome look at the beautiful plumage of the juveniles, and give you an idea of what its like when the juveniles are let out of their safe enclosure for exercise. You will also see the baggy white costumes worn by pilots and handlers alike, that disguise the human figure enough that our juvenile "ultracranes" do not become accustomed to or feel safe around humans.

To follow the ultralight migration and its daily ups and downs, visit the Operation Migration field journal. For more of my posts on the ultralight migration, click here.

In my next post I will show you why whooping cranes are not backyard birds.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #9, at Birdfreak.com, a weekly photography bird listing to promote bird conservation

White Birds at Necedah NWR

My whooping crane biologist friends often refer to mature whooping cranes in the east as “white” birds, distinguishing them from juveniles. The palette of cinnamon among new white feathers and black wing-tips is truly beautiful on whooping crane fledglings. Add to this combination a young peeping voice and magestic wings that span nearly seven feet and you have glimpsed some of the wonder of this tallest bird in North America. Gradually, by the end of their first year, these young whooping cranes lose their cinnamon feathers and develop the facial mask that is characteristic of adults.They also lose their peeping voice and develop the distinctive whooping calls that earned this species its name, a call that can be heard as far away as two miles.
While visiting Necedah for Cranefest, I had the enjoyable experience of touring the refuge with several other Operation Migration directors. Our knowledgeable guide and storyteller was Brook Pennypacker, Operation Migration crew member, photographed here while wearing the costume that helps keep our captive-reared whooping cranes wild and unaccustomed to the human figure.Among the other white birds we viewed was this family of trumpeter swans.
Not only was it a pleasant surprise to get a glimpse of this family, the photo itself was a surprise.It was taken from a moving vehicle with the camera stretched across another passenger to access the open window. I have to give the credit here to my talented camera, the amazing Canon Rebel Xti!
There are three signets in the photo but you have to look a bit more carefully to find the third. There were many wonderful things to see at the refuge that I missed and will look forward to seeing the next visit, among them the endangered gray wolves and karner blue butterflies.But black-eyed Susans and blue asters were easily accessible, scattered along forest edges and meadows, never failing to catch my attention.
Soothing to the eye and close at hand, their splash of color complimented a rich landscape rapidly changing into fall foliage.

Whooping Crane Migration Training at Necedah-II

We now have 69 rare whooping cranes living in the wild and migrating through eastern North America. The sight of these birds never ceases to thrill me. I have had the good fortune of visiting the wild whooping crane population at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the gulf coast of Texas and this week, the re-introduced wild population at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, and I am grateful every day for the men and women whose dedication and persistence have helped this species recover from the brink of extinction.
A natural survival mechanism combined with man's innovation has made this eastern migratory population possible. Through a natural instinct called imprinting, a newly hatched chick bonds with and follows the first figure that it sees. It is this natural instinct that makes it possible for captive reared hatchlings to accept costumes and ultralights as though they were parents, so that migration training can occur.
I positioned myself at the bottom of the tower the morning of Necedah's Cranefest.It offers a different perspective and some challenges...hungry mosquitos and high foliage.
But both tower level and ground level give you excellent views.
Mature whooping cranes are white with black wing tips, a bare patch of red skin on the top of their head and a black facial mask.
Juvenile whooping cranes still have cinnamon feathers on their head, neck and body and no facial mask.
There will be 15 juvenile whooping cranes and four ultralight parents beginning their migration south on October 17 or as weather permits. This will add another generation of whooping cranes to the world's rarest crane species. You can follow their journey by viewing Operation Migration's field journal. And for kids, check out Journey North's reports on the whooping crane migration.
Click here for more posts on whooping cranes.
Submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #5.