Whooping Cranes Historic Observation Records 1722-1941

The endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) historically had a wide distribution that covered diverse ecoregions across North America while retaining consistent habitat preferences. Conservation programs have relied on a monograph published in 1952 (R. P. Allen, 1952, The Whooping Crane, National Audubon Society). Additional records that have come to light since then that, when combined with new analytical tools and resources, can shed new light on the historic range and habitats important to the species. We compiled records contained in Allen (1952), added other records that have been published since 1952, for a re-evaluation of the historic distribution in relation to landscape and ecological features at an ecoregional level.