Matt Mendenhall uncovers the silly antics of whooping cranes, from their strange “whooping” call to their captivating mating dance. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how, as “goats” of the wetlands, whooping cranes will munch on whatever food is available. He also reveals how their large size, about 5 feet tall, lets them bully other creatures yet how one tiny creature, a common fly, annoys the bird so much that it drives these massive birds off their nests. Listen and learn what makes whooping cranes so special, how these endangered birds are making a comeback from a population of just 16 individuals in the 1940s, and what scientists are going through – from dressing up in whooping crane costumes to teaching the chicks their migration route by following ultralight planes -- to turn this story of near extinction of a species into one of hope and success. Matt Mendenhall is Associate Editor of Birder’s World magazine. He has written about all sorts of birds — from the common Northern Cardinal and Varied Thrush to the endangered Whooping Crane and California Condor to the presumably extinct Imperial Woodpecker. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and is a graduate of the journalism program at Marquette University. This episode of “The WildLife” aired on The Radiator, WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont on January 4, 2010.
The WildLife: Dung Beetle Adventures, Part II, Doug Emlen
The WildLife: Dung Beetles & Weaponry, Part I, Doug Emlen
The WildLife: Whooping Cranes, Matt Mendenhall
The WildLife: Moon Bear Farming & Rescue, Jill Robinson
The WildLife: Sun Bears, Siew Te Wong
The WildLife: Mongabay.com, Rhett Butler
The WildLife: Corals & Coral Reefs, Kristian Teleki
The WildLife: Illegal Reptile Trade, Bryan Christy
The WildLife: Domestic Asian Elephants in Thailand, John Roberts
The WildLife: Orangutans & Conservation Approaches Part II, Michelle Desilets
The WildLife: Orangutans Part I, Michelle Desilets & Shawn Thompson
The WildLife: Killer Whales & Vocalizations, Ari Daniel Shapiro
The WildLife: Wildlife Friendly Certification, Julie Stein & Elephant Seal Update, C. Heinrichs
The WildLife: Tiger trade & farming, Grace Ge Gabriel
The WildLife: Illegal Parrot Trade in Mexico & CITES, Juan Carlos Cantu
The Wildlife: Wildlife Health, Steve Osofsky, Part II
The WildLife: Wildlife Veterinarian in Botswana, Steve Osofsky, Part I
The WildLife: Wild Cats, Lisa Tekancic & Creature Call Contest Answers
The Wildlife: Amphibian Trade, Alejandra Goyenechea
The Wildlife: Wildlife Biologist Adventures, Susan Jewell
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