The Cranes Over Illinois

llinois' wetlands are home to Sandhill Cranes and endangered Whooping Cranes. In the not-so-distant past, both Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes faced near extinction throughout North America as they battled with increasing threats of unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Thanks to widespread conservation efforts, Sandhill Cranes are now one of the most populous crane species in the world and Whooping Crane populations, while still endangered, are slowly growing. Today DuPage County residents see around 20,000 Sandhill Cranes and 80 Whooping Cranes during migration each year! Unfortunately, Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes continue to face threats in Illinois and across their flyway. Join Stephanie Schmidt, Whooping Crane outreach coordinator for the International Crane Foundation, to learn the history of the cranes of Illinois and how you can help safeguard their future. Following this presentation, you will be able to identify Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes, know the history of both crane species, understand the current work crane conservation partners are doing to protect cranes in Illinois and throughout their flyways, and find out how you can be an ambassador for cranes in Illinois as a volunteer and citizen scientist.