In a unique conservation effort to save some of the world's most threatened birds, dedicated staff at a Wisconsin foundation are raising crane chicks while disguised in full-body costumes. This unusual method is critical to prevent the young birds from identifying humans as their parents, a process known as imprinting.
The Art of Being a Crane Parent
Marianne Wellington, a senior aviculturist at the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo, Wisconsin, describes the physically demanding work. The ICF was founded in 1973 with a mission to safeguard all 15 global crane species, most of which are endangered or vulnerable. The primary threats are habitat loss, climate change, and hunting.
Whenever possible, chicks are raised by their biological or adopted crane parents. However, when this isn't an option, the aviculture team must step in. Their goal is to teach the chicks natural crane behaviours, especially if they are destined for release into the wild. It is vital these birds learn to avoid people and other predators for their future survival.
From Bedsheets to Elaborate Puppets
The costume technique was born from necessity. Initially, staff tried feeding chicks from behind a barrier, but this proved impractical. A breakthrough came when a colleague simply threw a sheet over himself. Despite initial scepticism, the chicks responded positively, following him as they would an adult bird.
This evolved into the detailed costumes used today. "The outfits we use now have detailed puppet crane heads on one arm. The other arm is our 'wing'," explains Wellington. Feathers were removed for easier laundering. Now, all time spent with the chicks is done in costume to maintain the illusion.
The work is tiring, often causing sore arms, so staff rotate every hour or two. The anonymity of the costume allows them to "ham it up" and fully embody a crane. They even use hidden MP3 players to play authentic adult crane calls, and the puppet heads are coloured to match real species. For example, a whooping crane's red head patch can be tilted to warn an overly curious chick to back off.
Teaching Flight and a Hopeful Future
Preparing chicks for life in the wild includes coaching them to fly. The team uses a prairie area, running and flapping alongside the birds to encourage take-off. "Whenever I see a video of us running and flapping, it does look kind of ridiculous, but the chicks get the idea," Wellington admits. She describes the profound pride of a "proud parent" when she sees them successfully take flight.
The long-term results offer hope. While 10 of the 15 crane species remain threatened, intensive efforts have yielded success. The global whooping crane population has climbed from just over 20 birds 80 years ago to more than 800 today.
The ultimate aim is to establish self-sustaining wild populations where all chicks are reared by real cranes, rendering the costumes obsolete. "Although I would miss my interaction with the chicks, what an amazing outcome that would be," Wellington reflects. For now, the tiring work in crane disguise continues, a vital and extraordinary chapter in global wildlife conservation.
