Whooping Cranes Dan Kaiser
Whooping Cranes, by Dan Kaiser
Indiana Wetlands Are Key for Whooping Crane Recovery
Written By: Mary Callaghan
Date Published: August 26, 2026
Mary Callaghan
Mary Callaghan, Assistant Outreach Biologist with the International Crane Foundation, was our featured speaker for the August Golden Hour. She provided this guest post about the importance of conserving wetlands.
Each year, millions of migrating waterbirds use Indiana wetlands as migratory stopover and wintering grounds. This includes both species of cranes native to North America, the Sandhill Crane and endangered Whooping Crane.
Whooping Cranes are North America’s tallest bird – standing at 5 feet tall, with bright white feathers, a featherless red crown, and black wingtips. Their long legs and beak are adapted for wetland habitats, where they nest, forage, and roost throughout different stages of their annual cycle. Prior to unregulated hunting and rapid habitat loss in the 19th century, there were an estimated 10,000 Whooping Cranes across the continent. By the 1940s, the species was faced with near extinction as the population had dipped to just 20 individuals, limited to a narrow flyway from Canada to Texas.
Today, there are over 650 Whooping Cranes in the wild, thanks to conservation efforts led by dedicated nonprofit organizations, zoos, government agencies, and community members. In 2001, a population of Whooping Cranes was reintroduced in the eastern U.S., known as the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). This population of around 65 birds breeds in Wisconsin in the spring and utilizes wetlands primarily in Indiana and Alabama for their migratory journey and wintering. Poaching and collisions with powerlines continue to threaten this population, as does habitat loss across the flyway.
Wetland acreage in Indiana has shrunk by more than 85% due to agricultural and urban development, creating severe habitat fragmentation on the eastern flyway. Whooping Cranes rely on wetlands with short herbaceous vegetation and shallow water. Dense or woody vegetation can make it difficult for them to walk through and create visual barriers, making them more susceptible to predation.
Central Indiana Land Trust’s Browning Marsh is a great example of suitable crane habitat and has been known to harbor Sandhills during their migration. Properties like Browning Marsh can serve as an oasis for cranes and other migratory waterbirds who face long journeys with many obstacles along the way, especially as they pass through urban areas like Indianapolis.
Whooping Cranes are known as an umbrella species, meaning that efforts to protect them can benefit other wildlife and the places they call home. By preserving the wetlands that cranes rely on, we also support ecosystem services like floodwater retention, pollution mitigation, and carbon sequestration. Preventing further loss and degradation of wetlands in Indiana serves both wildlife and people. Whooping Cranes and wetlands need your help! Here’s how you can “Give a Whoop”:
- Learn more! Attend an ICF event in Indiana, watch an educational webinar, or read more about Whooping Cranes.
- Spread the word! Talk to your friends and family about cranes and wetland conservation, and follow and share crane and wetland-related content on social media.
- Become an Advocate! Advocate for crane-friendly power lines and local legislation that protects wetlands.
- Join our community science! Report whooping crane sightings to bandedcranes.org.
- Get Involved! Support the International Crane Foundation and Central Indiana Land Trust by donating or volunteering.
Provided by the International Crane Foundation
Mary Callaghan
Assistant Outreach Biologist, International Crane Foundation
Mary Callaghan is an Assistant Outreach Biologist for the International Crane Foundation. Her work aims to educate Indiana communities on Whooping and Sandhill cranes, their habitats, and how we can all work together to mitigate threats that these birds face. She is responsible for monitoring populations of these species on their wintering grounds across Indiana, most importantly tracking movements of the endangered Whooping Crane. Her Golden Hour presentation was one of our most popular events of 2026.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Board Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Director of Advancement
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. Now he enjoys working with CILTI donors, helping them to protect nature through their giving. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Robert McCrea
Land Protection Director
Robert grew up in Bloomington, IN, where he opted for exploring the hills of southern Indiana rather than the expected high school extracurricular pursuits. This formative time set the tone for his career in conservation. Most recently, Robert was an attorney at Conservation Law Center and provided counsel to land trusts and conservation partnerships throughout Indiana. As CILTI's Land Protection Director, he works to protect Central Indiana’s remaining natural areas.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Manager
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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