Whooping Cranes Approve of County Restoration Efforts

Three endangered Whooping Cranes have been spotted on the former Sauk County Health Care Center property, the first confirmed sighting on the property. Restoration efforts began at the 80-acre parcel of county property in 2000 to return it to a wetland/prairie configuration and provide an educational opportunity to local schools and residents.

Restoration and Partnerships

This former pasture and idle lowlands is traversed by Narrows Creek and is a model of natural resource conservation in the immediate watershed area as well as the county. The wetland restoration project restored nearly 30 acres of valuable wetlands and waterfowl nesting habitat. It displays many conservation and restoration practices such as wetland restoration, prairie restoration, fish habitat, stream restoration, stream corridor management, and wildlife shrub plantings.

Restoring the wetlands involved the construction of earthen ditch plugs and berms with an overflow pipe and grassed spillways. Five excavated wetlands scrapes were also installed as part of the wetland restoration and are providing shallow, open water. Twenty-four acres of prairie have also been restored on the property.

The Sauk County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department, in conjunction with numerous local, state, and federal partners, led the restoration efforts. This could not have been done without the support of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, the Health Care Committee, and the Land Conservation Committee. A major part of these restoration efforts was a partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to restore and stabilize 3,200 linear feet of eroding streambanks, providing habitat for smallmouth bass and other fish species.

The Whooping Crane Story

Whooping Cranes were nearly extinct by the late 1890s and reached a population low in the early 1940s, with only 16 Whooping Cranes left. In 1999, governmental, non-profit, and private organizations united to form the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) to establish a new, migratory flock of Whooping Cranes to the core part of their historic breeding range. This flock now migrates between Wisconsin and coastal Florida

It was extremely difficult to re-establish migration routes and flocks that were completely lost. The chicks were conditioned to follow an ultralight aircraft at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin. Once conditioned, the young Whooping Cranes, along with a team of pilots and biologists, begin the 1,200 mile journey to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The birds spend the winter in Florida and return unassisted to Wisconsin in the spring. In 2006, this flock numbered over 60 birds (International Crane Foundation).

Increased Biodiversity

Restoration projects do have significant impacts in Sauk County, increasing the biodiversity of our ecosystems as well as augmenting the county’s natural beauty. This particular restoration project has drawn a large variety of species. In addition to the endangered Whooping Cranes, many wetland-loving birds have been observed using the property. These include sandhill cranes, mallards, pintails, lesser scaup, northern shoveler, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, Canada geese, great blue herons, American coots, northern shovelers, white pelicans, buffleheads, wood ducks, gadwalls northern harriers, bald eagles, great egrets, and trumpeter swan. The wetlands are interlaced with native plants such as Joe-pye weed, cup plant, New England aster, red milkweed, blue vervain, Indiangrass, and big bluestem, attracting a variety of frog species. These include spring peepers, chorus frogs, leopard frogs, and bullfrogs.

Additionally, the uplands adjacent to the stream have been planted with a variety of wildlife shrubs such as highbush cranberry, silky dogwood, red osier dogwood, American plum, American Hazelnut, and Service Berry. The restoration has provided a high quality habitat with food and cover for songbirds and other wildlife species. This site created a transition zone between prairie, stream riparian buffer, and wooded upland sites.

Viewing Opportunities

One of the primary goals of the project has been to provide educational opportunities. For this reason, a large interpretive sign was installed adjacent to the parking lot, installed 1/4 mile south of the intersection of Pine Bluff Road and County Road CH. This provides an overlook and safe viewing area for the public.

The Crane’s arrival at the former Health Care Center property is a welcomed surprise, serving as a reminder that sound conservation practices and teamwork make lasting, valuable contributions to our local, regional, and national environments.

For more information about this restoration project, please contact Serge Koenig at the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department at 355-3245, conservation@co.sauk.wi.us, or check out the website at www.co.sauk.wi.us. 

For more information about Whooping Cranes, please contact the International Crane Foundation at 608-356-9462.