Why protect the whooping crane and their habitat?

Dec 5, 2009 | Community Questions

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3 Answers

  1. The health of the whooping cranes are a barometer for the health of the ecosystem. Usually there are one or two whoopers that die in a winter– and last winter there were 23! To me, that’s a huge red flag that fresh water just isn’t getting to the bays and estuaries. That poses a really big problem for this region economically and environmentally.

    December 8, 2009 | Beth from Austin, TX

  2. I am originally from Wisconsin, and grew up near where the International Crane Foundation is in Baraboo. Some of my fondest memories from elementary school were field trips to see the cranes. I think it is worth protecting their habitat because they are spectacular to see in person, especially to a young child who’s only ever seen small birds. Seeing them incites wonder, and allows a young person’s imagination to run wild. I liked them so much the first time I saw them, I got a crane t-shirt and wore it non-stop for weeks after because they were the biggest birds I ever saw. I look forward to following your progress!

    December 8, 2009 | Edward P. from Austin, TX

  3. I have a house in Seadrift and have been fishing/hunting in the areas for 30 years. There is no doubt the bay system is in trouble, and no doubt the whoopers are going hungry.

    Where in Seadrift (to the north) we used to only occaisionaly see a whooper, now there are tons of whoopers moving north in search of food. This also puts them into areas that are not protected from hunting.

    However, I believe – along with most locals – that the closure of Cedar Bayou is having more of an effect on the ecosystem that diminished freshwater flow.

    In fact, the recent floods in the past few years have dumped millions of gallons of freshwater into the bay and with the bayou being closed, this freshwater takes much, much longer to drain – the whole water flow has changed!

    It used to be that the majority of the water drained SOUTH, along the Aransas shoreline, and out through Cedar Bayou. Now the water flows NORTH, and empties through Pass Cavallo. Plus, whereas the flood water used to drain in a few weeks, it now takes MONTHS. This “hanging around” of fresh water has killed most of the shell in upper SAB.

    Very little water movement through the whoopers area. This has SIGNIFICANTLY impacted the crabs, berries, and most food sources – as well as making the fishing terrible.

    IMHO, you cannot address the freshwater issue without also addressing the Cedar Bayou issue.

    So, my question would be: How is your organization working with the “Save Cedar Bayou” folks?

    December 9, 2009 | John H, Plano Texas from Plano, TX

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