Whooping Cranes of Texas

Did you know that a dinosaur with a wing span bigger than Shaquille O'Neal spends 4 months out of the year eating blue crab along the coast of Texas?

Ok so it's technically a bird, not a dinosaur... but this one time I did a road trip from Chicago to Austin so I could see more states I hadn't been to before, and as I was driving south across Iowa, I almost screamed at the sight of these pterodactyl-sized birds flying over my car. Even so high up in the air, they look gigantic. I didn't fully appreciate it then, but that was an extraordinary, once in a lifetime experience. That wasn't the first time I saw a whooping crane, however.

About the Whooping Cranes of Texas

Before I get into my story of how I stumbled across this bird for the first time, a few quick facts about this prehistoric totally modern and not-at-all-a-dinosaur creature:

Why are Texas Whooping Cranes Special?

This is one of those rare happier ending conservation stories. The specific population I am referencing here is migratory; they fly down to Texas from Canada for the winter, and then fly back to Canada for summer. If you ask me, they've got the right idea there.

Back in the late 1930s - early 1940s, researchers estimated the dwindling population size to be around 20 birds. Let that sink in - only 20 left.

Thanks to conservation efforts, the current wild population is now estimated to be over 500 birds, with another 100+ birds in captivity. That is why whooping cranes matter in Texas - they are a contributor to our local ecosystems as well as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of conservation success and ongoing threats. All that said, whooping cranes are still considered an endangered species and conservation measures must still be taken to address ongoing threats to population sizes.

According to the Saving Cranes website (see here), whooping cranes are threatened by:

• Loss of critical wetland habitat

• Sea level rising (contributes to habitat loss)

• Low genetic diversity

• Power line collisions

• Illegal shootings

• Federal regulatory changes that threaten the Endangered Species Act

Whooping cranes are incredibly special and rare birds. If you are lucky enough to come across one in the wild, cherish the moment, then report it to the International Crane Foundation and also make sure to respect the bird's space!

What do Whooping Cranes Sound Like?

According to my bird book, the sound they make sounds like a long "ker-lee-oo". With modern technology, you can also listen to real whooping crane call recordings on this Whooping Crane Sounds page from allaboutbirds.org - they describe it as:

"When startled, Whooping Cranes give a loud, single-note bugle call lasting less than one second. They call in unison when courting. While feeding they give a frequent low purr to keep in contact with each other."

What do Whooping Cranes Eat?

Whooping cranes are omnivorous - they eat plans and meat. Given their preference for wetland habitats, you may see them eating shrimp, clams, and crabs as well as insects, roots, and berries (source: Audobon Field Guide).

The Texas Gulf Coast population loves their blue shelled crabs, but whooping crane diets will vary depending on where they live, what season it is, and what is accessible to them - another reason protecting wetland habitats is so important to conserving this endangered species!

Where to See Whooping Cranes in Texas

The whooping crane is one of the most iconic Texas birds, attracting birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and conservationists alike to what may otherwise be considered a kitschy beach town. As a super fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, bird photography, and kitschy beach towns, I immediately fell in love with this ginormous endangered bird species.

In 2019 I decided to drive to the coast and see what all the hype about Port A (Port Aransas) was. Looking at Google Maps, I noticed a green section of land along the water with the label "Aransas National Wildlife Refuge" and I didn't need any more reason than that to select it as my destination.

Back then, the entrance to the refuge looked like it was someone's back yard. No sign of water, just a grassy area behind a small structure that looked like someone's house (and I believe it was someone's house). If it weren't for a wooden sign with a map on it confirming the location, I would have thought I had missed it. Stretching my legs, I went for a walk and stumbled across these majestic winter visitors of the Gulf Coast.

In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a massive renovation of the entrance and it is really cool. There's a new building with interactive displays, fancy (read: clean) restrooms, and a gift shop manned by knowledgable staff. It's still a great place to explore on a solo adventure, but I could totally see families with kids having such a blast there. If you are ever going to see the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (and here's their website if you'd like to plan a trip), there are 3 things you should know: 1) Bring Insect Repellent. You will be eaten alive by mosquitos unless you bring bug spray. A lot of it. The good stuff, with the bad chemicals (or at least what the CDC says is okay - Preventing Mosquito Bites)

On my first visit, I learned that mosquitos will continue to suck your blood until they literally explode. Gross. Another time, I tried wearing 2 pairs of pants, including a pair of jeans, and the mosquitos still got me through all the layers. The last time I went, I remembered the bug spray and it worked, except for a small section on my backside - about 4in x 4in covered in hundreds of mosquito bites. And it doesn't matter what season you go in - the above situations mainly happened on the coldest days of the year! 2) Be Alligator Smart.

Know before you go! Many alligators call the gulf coast of Texas their home, and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is home to some massive gators. When you step into the refuge, you are entering their home, and therefore they have the right of way.

American alligator

This also means you need to pay attention to your surroundings. My space cadet brain could have gotten me un-alived on one of my trips to Aransas - too busy looking at the pterodactyls whooping cranes, I almost walked into a gator that was at least 10 feet long. The gator was just basking in the sun, its body covering the entire walking path, and it was peacefully minding its own business. Luckily for me, that gator was not hungry nor bothered by me being in its space, but it's not a risk I would take again. Once I realized who was in front of me, I slowly backed away and continued back the way I had come from. While alligators only eat once a week, you never know what day of the week that is! Also, like all other animals (people included), alligators can attack if they feel like they need to defend themselves.

The moral of the story is, don't be like me! Pay attention to your surroundings, give alligators plenty of space, and learn about the warning signs gators give when you are too close.

Here are a couple of helpful articles on gator awareness and general wildlife safety:

"Alligator Safety" by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

"Wildlife Safety Tips for Enjoying the Great Outdoors" by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

3) Whooping Cranes are NOT a Guaranteed Sighting

I got lucky and saw a pair of whooping cranes (yes they mate for life and its super cute) not far from the boardwalk on the Heron Flats trail. They were feeding along the marshes, nearby was a massive group of roseate spoonbills and a whole flock of interesting looking birds. Of course, I lost the SD card from this trip (something that haunts me to this day), and in later years I discovered that is not at all the normal experience in whooping crane watching.

In 2021, I came back with a friend and discovered that whooping cranes don't usually hang out that close to people (totally fair whoopers, I feel the same way). Since that first trip, I have only seen whooping cranes here 1 other time, and that was from the water on a boat tour (more on that in a moment).

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is an amazing place to see, even if you don't get to see a modern day feather covered dinosaur, you may get to see other migratory and coastal birds, javelinas, alligators, and more! Below are some of my favorite non-crane wildlife moments from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (you can also see them in my project galleries here):

A white tailed deer

A javelina (collared peccary)

A crested caracara and a great blue heron

Where Else to Find Whooping Cranes in Texas

So there we were, wandering around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge with our binoculars and no cranes in sight, when we ran into some local birders. They told us about a place called the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, about 1 hour away, so off we went and found not 1, but 2 separate whooping crane families (each consisting of a mated pair and their juvenile, about 1/2 a football field apart) among the marshes there.

As it turns out that was also not a normal experience - sometimes I think I'm just an incredibly lucky bird watcher. In 2022 I returned to the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in search of whooping cranes, and I was so confused when there wasn't a pair immediately visible from the boardwalk at the entrance to the center. A couple of local birders laughed at me when I asked where the cranes were, one of them even said to me "You'll never find them here! You have to see them from the water!". At this point I would like to note to any readers who have made it this far into my obsessive whooping crane story that while I fully encourage taking advice from local birdwatchers, sometimes you need to listen to your own instincts. I already knew that guy was wrong, I had seen them at the birding center just a year prior!

According to the City of Port Aransas's website page for the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center (you can check it out here):

"[There] are two boardwalks totaling 1,225 feet over the freshwater wetlands.  The boardwalks feature two shaded observation platforms, benches, and two spotting scopes.  Take the boardwalk that parallels the shore to the end and you can take a longer walk... which continues 1.25 miles over salt marsh and grassland prairie habitats."

I am not endorsed by the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, but I will talk about that place all. day. long. If you are passionate about birdwatching, you need to add this spot to your bucket list.

This is all a long way of saying I knew there was more of the birding center to see than just that initial boardwalk, so acting on instinct in spite of what the local birders said, I walked further along the boardwalk. Sure enough, after about a 20 min walk, I saw them in the distance:

2 adult whooping cranes and 1 juvenile

Now, like I said, it is good to listen to the local birders, and I did not forget the man who laughed at me's advice: the best place to see whooping cranes is from the water.

Aransas Bay Adventures

After a ton of online research, I got in touch with Kevin - he and his wife own Aransas Bay Adventures (website here) and run boat charters specifically for whooping crane nerds like me. While not a self-proclaimed bird fanatic like my dad (who joined me on this expedition), Captain Kevin was incredibly knowledgable about whooping crane behaviors and habitats. He knew where to look for them and was able to point out other interesting bird species like this Belted Kingfisher:

A belted kingfisher

And that is how, on the coldest day Texas has seen in decades, in below freezing temperatures, Captain Kevin braved the cold and brought us out to the water for this once in a lifetime experience.

A juvenile whooping crane eats a blue crab while its parents supervise

I took pictures of whooping cranes until I couldn't feel my hands. Captain Kevin kindly provided me with hand warmers so I could go back (note - this is not part of the boat tour service, he just had extras on hand). I took over a thousand more photos until I finally got the right shot - my favorite pic, the one above, with a juvenile holding a crab and the parents showing their faces towards the camera. It was even more special because my dad could finally add this bucket list bird to his lifer list.

If it's not abundantly clear, I highly recommend the Aransas Bay Adventures boating tours - we met Lori on our way back into shore and she also seemed incredibly kind and knowledgable about the whooping cranes. 10/10.

In Conclusion

If you made it this far into my article, you are now a whooping crane expert! Go tell your friends all about the tallest birds in North America, the pterodactyls of Texas, and of course don't forget to tell them all about the amazing photographer* who introduced you to this gorgeous species. Whoop whoop,

Snoops Photo

*If you’d like to license photos or commission bird related content, contact me here!