Three white birds walking through wet marshy area

Rest Areas for Whooping Cranes

Restoration Areas Make Perfect Pit Stops for Whooping Cranes

Have you ever been on a long road trip where the road ahead of you seems endless? When it feels like you’ve been traveling forever and you need to take a break, you might make a pit stop or stop at a rest area to stretch your legs, get a snack, or even shut your eyes for a few minutes before you continue on your way!  Whooping cranes  (Grus americana) feel that way too when they are migrating. A collaborative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, and partners has increased the amount of suitable habitat in Nebraska where whooping cranes can stop to rest during their migration from Texas towards Canada. Think of these places as whooping crane rest areas! There are only about 500 whooping cranes in the wild, which is a dramatic recovery from the 16 individuals in 1941. USFWS and our partners are working hard to ensure this population growth continues into the future. 

Increasing the amount of suitable habitat for whooping cranes is crucial for recovery efforts of this endangered species. Disturbances to their Gulf Coast wintering habitat like hurricanes or oil spills, collisions with power lines and fences, and even too many eyes on them during birdwatching seasons have negative impacts on the whooping crane. Threats to the availability of their wetland nesting habitat in the prairies have also impacted recovery of the species. Wetlands are the whooping cranes’ favorite place to rest. Without enough suitable wetlands on their migratory routes, whooping cranes have no place to make a pit stop. Instead, they will keep flying into the night, trying to find a wetland.  

A sign that reads "Waterfowl Production Area" in front of a grassy field
A sign that reads "Waterfowl Production Area" in front of a grassy field

Macon Lakes Waterfowl Production Area by Ben Chavez/Ducks Unlimited.

In order to maximize available habitat for the whooping cranes, wetland restoration is needed throughout the migration corridor. The USFWS managed Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District in south central Nebraska is a key migration stopover. The USFWS Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District manages 62 Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Prior to USFWS ownership, many of these wetlands were extensively modified. The USFWS actively works with a coalition of partners through the  Rainwater Basin Joint Venture  including partners like Ducks Unlimited engineers and soil scientists from Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop robust restoration plans. Over the last seven years, 20 WPAs completed restoration work including filling pits and other structures that prevented water from reaching the wetlands. 

Many surrounding landowners have received funding from Nebraska Environmental Trust, the North American Wetland Conservation Act, USFWS Cooperative Recovery Initiative, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and State of the Birds to remove terraces, modify pivot irrigation systems, and fill abandoned pits to make the areas more inviting for whooping cranes. These focused conservation efforts have resulted in record numbers of whooping cranes using the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District during this year’s spring migration!

Three white birds in flight in a brown marsh

Whooping cranes at Ritterbush Waterfowl Production Area, by Dave Bausch/Crane Trust

There is still more work to do, but we are already seeing the benefits of this project. Whooping crane sightings have increased in the area. USFWS will continue to take steps to help whooping crane populations as we continue to further our mission of “working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” 


Learn more about  whooping cranes  and  recovery efforts  on our website! 

Macon Lakes Waterfowl Production Area by Ben Chavez/Ducks Unlimited.

Whooping cranes at Ritterbush Waterfowl Production Area, by Dave Bausch/Crane Trust