Cutest Nickname Ever: Whoopsie the Hybrid Crane Chick

June 8, 2015 in Conservation, Cranes and Cute Bird News with 7 comments

Crane fans in Wisconsin are talking about a unique chick being raised by a mixed pair of cranes in Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The chick appears to be the offspring of a male Whooping Crane (identified as DAR 16-11) and a female Sandhill Crane.

The chick, who has earned the nickname "Whoopsie" from crane fans, may be the first of its kind. It is certainly the first documented offspring from a mixed Whooping-Sandhill pairing in the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes.

In the 1940s there were just 21 Whooping Cranes left. Since then, groups have been working to save the species and bolster the various flock populations. As of 2011, there were almost 600 birds, including both wild and captive birds.

Whooping Crane DAR 16-11, given the nickname "Grasshopper", was hatched on June 15, 2011. He was costume-reared by International Crane Foundation handlers. At about five months of age, he and his 2011 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) cohorts were released at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in the presence of wild Whooping Cranes. The wild birds show the DAR birds the migration route from their northern breeding grounds to their winter home in Florida.

Whoopsie the Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane hybrid chick

Comments

Jody Kuchar on July 28, 2015 at 5:24 PM wrote:

Did you know that US Fish & Wildlife captured "Whoopsie" last week and the hybrid is now in a zoo? If you, like many crane and bird people are opposed to the capture of this bird, I have a petition at change dot org and would love to share it here. Please advise on whether this would be OK with your administrators. Thanks

charlotte mullen on July 28, 2015 at 11:27 PM wrote:

Whoopsie is definitely not the first Sandhill/Whooping Crane hybrid. There have been a number documented in the Western Flyway over the years

Birdorable (Amy) on July 29, 2015 at 11:42 AM wrote:

Hi Jody, thanks for letting us know about the petition. For others: the petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/us-fish-amp-wildlife-service-and-the-whooping-crane-eastern-partnership-stop-the-capture-of-wild-hybrid-whooping-crane-and-sandhill-crane-chicks

Louise Warner on February 28, 2017 at 6:43 PM wrote:

cranes are COOL!

Andrew rizzorecepient on March 28, 2019 at 5:12 AM wrote:

love birds in on the town

Spurwing Plover on June 11, 2022 at 6:09 AM wrote:

Interesting

Rauf Mohammed on March 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM wrote:

The whooping crane should not be extinct! I love animals!

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