 Tom Stehn Reports: Hoping for Eggs May 2, 2008 << Back to
Update  As you read Tom's report this week . . .   1. How many
Whooping Cranes are currently in captivity?   2. When do
Whooping Cranes lay eggs, and what prompts them to lay?   3. How
many eggs can a female in captivity be expected to lay per year?
4. How do cranes incubate their eggs?   5. What is the concern
about egg production this spring?  Dear Journey North,  Every
April the flock managers of the five facilities in North America
that breed Whooping Cranes get together on weekly phone calls to
share information about egg production. These folks and their
staffs (maybe 40 people overall) are responsible for caring for
the 148 Whooping Cranes currently in captivity.  Timing is
Everything Whooping Cranes start laying eggs as early as April
in southern captive locations, such as New Orleans, Louisiana
and San Antonio, Texas. In the north, egg laying generally takes
place later. It extends into June, equivalent to the timing of
the wild Whooping Cr