Whooping Crane Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: I've seen one (wild) Whooping Crane in my life. I've photographed one Whooping Crane in my life! All the photos below are from an encounter I had on April 26th, 2019 near Fort Thompson, South Dakota. While driving to a work conference in Pierre, I was driving along the Missouri River right after dawn when I saw a large white bird flying parallel to the road in front of me. Given I was seeing many pelicans along the river, I immediately assumed "pelican", but upon getting closer, the chills and goosebumps told me what I was seeing was my first ever Whooping Crane in the wild. After initially losing sight of him as he flew over a hill, I re-found the bird and ended up spending the next two hours watching him. The photos were nearly all very long distance, and none are award winners, but the experience will always be one of the highlights I've ever had birding.

Whooping Crane 1 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 2 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 3 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 4 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota
Whooping Crane 5 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 6 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 7 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota	Whooping Crane 8 April 26th, 2019 Near Fort Thompson, South Dakota

Click here for the species description page for the Whooping Crane.

All photos copyrighted!  Click for information on commerical usage, or usage for other personal purposes.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl