The whooping crane is one of the most iconic and endangered migratory birds in the world and the wild population’s wintering grounds and migration corridor overlaps a significant portion of the USFWS southwest region. Rapidly developing wind energy in the Gulf Coast (wintering habitat), East Texas, Oklahoma and Great Plains (migratory habitat) has the potential to impact whooping crane habitat use and shift seasonal mortality. Balancing wind energy with species conservation is also a Regional Conservation Priority. This work will provide information about the potential impacts and mitigations of risks of whooping cranes with energy exploration, development and production activities across their wintering area and migration corridor.
