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The '''whooping crane''' (''Grus americana'') is a species of crane found only in North America.  Never a common bird, whooping cranes are extremely rare; the 500+ birds alive today - the subject of several intense, yet slow, breeding and management programs - are descendants of the last 15 remaining cranes that were found wintering in Texas in 1941.

The '''whooping crane''' (''Grus americana'') is a species of crane found only in North America.  Never a common [[bird]], whooping cranes are extremely rare; the 500+ birds alive today - the subject of several intense, yet slow, breeding and management programs - are descendants of the last 15 remaining cranes that were found wintering in [[Texas]] in 1941.

==Description==

==Description==

==Diet==

==Diet==

Whooping cranes are omnivorous feeders. They feed on insects, frogs, rodents, small birds, minnows, and berries in the summer. In the winter, they focus on predominantly animal foods, especially blue crabs and clams. They also, forage for acorns, snails, crayfish and insects in upland areas.

Whooping cranes are omnivorous feeders. They feed on [[insects]], frogs, rodents, small birds, minnows, and berries in the summer. In the winter, they focus on predominantly animal foods, especially blue crabs and clams. They also, forage for acorns, snails, crayfish and insects in upland areas.

==Reproduction==

==Reproduction==

==Current status==

==Current status==

The whooping crane population, estimated at 500 to 700 individuals in 1870 declined to only 16 individuals in the migratory population by 1941 as a consequence of hunting and specimen collection, human disturbance, and conversion of the primary nesting habitat to hay, pastureland, and grain production. The main threat to whooping cranes in the wild is the potential of a hurricane or contaminant spill destroying their wintering habitat on the Texas coast. Collisions with power lines and fences are known hazards to wild whooping cranes. The primary threats to captive birds are disease and parasites. Bobcat predation has been the main cause of mortality in the Florida experimental population.

The whooping crane population, estimated at 500 to 700 individuals in 1870 declined to only 16 individuals in the migratory population by 1941 as a consequence of hunting and specimen collection, human disturbance, and conversion of the primary nesting habitat to hay, pasture land, and grain production. The main threat to whooping cranes in the wild is the potential of a hurricane or contaminant spill destroying their wintering habitat on the Texas coast. Collisions with power lines and fences are known hazards to wild whooping cranes. The primary threats to captive birds are disease and parasites. Bobcat predation has been the main cause of mortality in the Florida experimental population.

Rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the killer of three whooping cranes found dead from gunshot wounds near Albany, Georgia in December, 2010.<ref>http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2011/jan/13/fws-offers-reward-info-about-whooping-crane-killer-ar-1337588/</ref>

Rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the killer of three whooping cranes found dead from gunshot wounds near Albany, Georgia in December, 2010.<ref>http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2011/jan/13/fws-offers-reward-info-about-whooping-crane-killer-ar-1337588/</ref>