Stephanie Schmidt, International Crane Foundation

Presentation Streaming from Baraboo, Wisconsin
Join us in-person or via Zoom: us06web.zoom.us/j/86703578381

February 9: “Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population.” In the 1940s, Whooping Cranes, once native to Minnesota, faced near extinction as a result of increased threats from habitat loss, hunting, and more. It wasn’t until 2001 that Whooping Cranes returned to the eastern U.S. following a collaborative reintroduction program led by the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Today around 76 Whooping Cranes make up this population, and a few individuals have made their way into Minnesota each year. Stephanie will talk about what the ICF and crane conservation partners are doing to safeguard their future. Following her presentation, you will be able to identify Whooping Cranes by sight and sound, understand the historic threats towards Whooping Cranes that led to their decline, know the ins and outs of the reintroduction program and the current work crane conservation partners are doing to protect cranes in Minnesota and throughout their flyways, and find out how you can be an ambassador for cranes in Minnesota.

Stephanie grew up in the Kettle Moraine area in southeastern Wisconsin, a region known for its many Sandhill Cranes, which ignited her early love for birds, wetlands, and nature. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Monthly chapter meetings are held the second Thursday of the month, September-May, at 7:00 p.m. They are open and free of charge to everyone. They include time to socialize and brief chapter announcements, followed by featured presentations each month on a range of topics.

An option for viewing the presentations remotely will also be provided.