Whooping Crane Conservation Efforts
By Lizzie Condon
The story of Whooping Crane conservation is dramatic. In this talk Lizzie will give a brief overview of the history of Whooping Crane populations and human efforts to bring this species back from the brink of extinction. This will include an update on the Eastern Migratory Population reintroduction project, which has gone through many changes in recent years. She will also talk about the International Crane Foundation’s ongoing research efforts and how the International Crane Foundation applies scientific knowledge to provide working conservation solutions. Recent research at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin has shed more light on why this flock has not yet become self-sustaining, and pointed to new management actions.
Although Whooping Cranes have come a long way from their brush with extinction, they still face many threats. The survival of Whooping Cranes depends on the actions of people—people protecting the ecosystems where Whooping Cranes live and people living in harmony with the birds. Lizzie is working to create communities that give a whoop about Whooping Cranes through using social marketing tactics to raise awareness and pride in these beautiful birds. Lizzie will explain the tactics used for this campaign, which she worked on in Alabama and Indiana.
Lizzie grew up in Glenview, Illinois and received her degree in biology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She then completed her master’s degree at University of Minnesota. While Lizzie enjoys outreach and education work, she also has a background in ornithological field work. She has participated in research studies in six states and in Brazil, and her master’s project focused on diversity and abundance of Neotropical migrant songbirds at urban stopover sites. Lizzie now works for the International Crane Foundation as their Whooping Crane outreach coordinator. Through partnerships, media outreach and education, Lizzie hopes to help make Whooping Cranes feel welcome in communities that share their landscape. In 2017, Lizzie accepted an award for the Whooping Crane Outreach Program on behalf of ICF from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Date: 11-27-2018
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Lions Field House (310 Elkhorn Road WI-67 Williams Bay, Wisconsin)
Cost: None, this program is free and open to the public.
