Whooping Cranes

Every fall, the Whooping Crane will migrate thousands of miles south to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where they spend the winter and early part of spring. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is world renowned for hosting the largest wild flock of endangered Whooping Cranes each winter, as well as one of the only places in the nation where Whooping Cranes can be observed in the wild. Whooping Cranes spend summers in the Northwest Territories of Canada where they nest and rear their young.

The Whooping Crane, standing at 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 7 feet, is the tallest bird in North America. Adult Whooping Cranes can easily be recognized by its bright white body plumage, black-tip wing feathers that are only visible in flight, a red patch on the crown, and their long black legs and bill. Whooping Cranes get their name from their loud and very distinctive "whooping" sound made as a call.

With the population nearly vanishing in the early 1900s, the Whooping Cranes are among the most endangered species of birds.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/?o=whooper

Visit the annual Whooping Crane Festival website for events and dates.  http://www.whoopingcranefestival.org/