September 2023
Stefanie Schmidt helps raise awareness about endangered Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes in our communities to inspire us to care for cranes and support greater protections for these birds. Cranes are facing increasing threats of habitat loss, collisions, and poaching throughout their flyway. Each year in Illinois we will see over 40,000 Sandhill Cranes and 76 Whooping Cranes from November through March, including in our own communities, and the International Crane Foundation aims to ensure these birds are protected on our landscapes for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.
Stefanie will show us how to identify the two species of cranes in Illinois, teach us a bit about their history, the threats they face, and the habitats they use. She will also describe the Whooping Crane reintroduction program that the International Crane Foundation runs.
Stefanie often works closely with naturalists and nature enthusiasts across the Whooping Crane flyway as they are catalysts for protecting cranes, helping to spread the word, and acting as eyes and ears on the ground to safeguard cranes from harm.
NOTE: This video is audio only.