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Wisconsin: Baraboo, Seeing Cranes on Our Own Family Fieldtrip. 638BarabooCranes The International Crane Foundation, near Baraboo and not far from Wisconsin Dells, offers naturalists and families with budding naturalists a front row view of more than a dozen crane species in their natural habitats.
 
Fun fact: The International Crane Foundation (ICF), is the only place in the world where visitors can see all 15 species of cranes and because the birds do not migrate, and are available to visit throughout the visitor season. Because of development and habitat loss, many species that once thrived in much broader ranges among them, the red-crowned, black-crowned, and white-naped are now restricted to fragments of protected land in parks, sanctuaries, even demilitarized zones between hostile nations.

A family fieldtrip made simple. I love whooping cranes and this is a place to see them up close.  Mom and I arrived just before 10 am, in time for a walking tour. We started in a theater where I learned that a Russian artist painted the walls and ceiling with a scene from the Platt River Basin in Nebraska. I had never heard about the Platt River nor I had ever heard what kind of sound cranes makes, but soon I did as sounds of cranes filled the room. This is where we learned about the history of saving cranes and just how the International Crane Foundation began.
 
After the orientation and a few questions our guided tour began. We walked through an area blanketed with wild flowers and I heard our guide say behind the fence more than fifteen different species of cranes are living. While standing in front of each pen, our guide explained about the unique qualities of the cranes we were seeing. My favorite crane was one that had a red cap on its head. I thought that I would be able to see cranes flying, but they don’t do that all of the time. 638BarabooCraneBabies It happens only at certain times of the year. They just eat and come up to the fence to check out people looking at them. We walked over to a baby chick viewing area where volunteers were feeding a baby. The baby looked pretty big to me.
 
Mom’s note: For adults it is exceptional and an ideal experience to share with three generations. I had no idea that some Sand Cranes, not those found in Florida, travel in one year up to 15,000 miles and migrate from Central Mexico to Siberia. I can see why they would symbolize long life, wisdom and good luck in Asia. In the whooping crane exhibit area a video is presented every half hour explaining the whooping cranes struggle in the world. Need to know: The entire paved trail system through our crane exhibit area, including the Schroeder Exhibit Hall is approximately half a mile long. Keep in mind that the walking tour is very slow-paced but if need be there are benches along the way. About midpoint through the walking tour, visitors are encouraged to visit the Amoco Whooping Crane Exhibit, a covered amphitheatre with benches, pit toilets, and a water fountain.
       
Make it happen. The International Crane Foundation offers guided tours (about an hour and a half) three times daily. And there is plenty of background information on their website. The facility is ideal for children older than 10 who do not need interactive stations for information.

Location on the planet. International Crane Foundation E-11376 Shady Lane Rd. P.O. Baraboo, WI 53913 USA. (608) 356.9462  or www.savingcranes.org

Worth reading.
Just before I left for a trip to Wisconsin, I read a book about cranes, Sadako written by Eleanor Corer. The story is so sad but the birds were so beautiful that seeing them in person is worth the effort.  Eleanor Corer’s book tells the story of a little girl that dies from the radiation she got from a bomb. While in the hospital a friend tells her the story about 1,000 cranes and that if she makes 1,000 paper cranes she will live forever. Bonus points: At the IFC website you will see directions on how to make an origami crane. Obviously it is for me a symbol of hope and a really cool activity to share with children. Our family likes to make sets of paper cranes and connect them with a long string then hang them from the ceiling making it appear as if they are flying. For instructions go to www.savingcranes.org/origami-cranes.html

In the area. Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce, 600 W. Chestnut St., Baraboo, WI 53913, 1-800-227-2266 or www.baraboo.com/chamber

Content originally written by Jaime Kamps-Duac; updated in 2010; images provided by ICF. Copyright 2010.



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