Whoopers

The results of the winter survey of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Whooping Crane population are here! The January 2025 survey on the crane’s wintering grounds estimated a record number of 557 individuals in the primary survey area within and near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast. Another 68 birds were documented outside the primary survey area.

The number within the main area shows modest growth from the previous survey two years ago (536 in January 2023), and the increasing number of birds found outside this area (14 in January 2023) indicates that the population is growing and expanding into new winter territories.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conducting this critical survey! #whooperwednesday