Adopt A Whooper Kick-off by Friends of Patuxent

Adopt A Whooper Kick-off by Friends of Patuxent

The Friends of Patuxent, the non-profit organization that supports Patuxent Research Refuge, is hosting a kick-off event for the revitalized Adopt A Whooper Program at the Patuxent National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attend this special event to learn about the magnificent Whooping Crane and the Adopt A Whooper Program. Follow the life cycle of these birds from an egg to an adult with amazing pictures of Patuxent Whooping Cranes. Talk with a member of the Crane Crew and try on a special suit used to prevent Whooping Crane chicks from imprinting on humans. Children can compare their height to that of a life-size picture of a Whooping Crane and have their picture taken. They can also exercise their artistic talents at a coloring table. Door prizes will be awarded hourly. The Adopt A Whooper Kick-off is free and open to the public.

Whooping Cranes are one of America’s most endangered birds. The population of Whooping Cranes reached a low of less than 25 in the early 1940’s. Currently, fewer than 500 wild whoopers exist. The US Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center is playing a key role in the recovery of these magnificent birds. Each year it raises an average of 25 chicks and releases 90 percent of them into wild populations.

You can help the Whooping Cranes by visiting the Friends of Patuxent Adopt A Whooper table and initiating an adoption. These symbolic adoptions through the Adopt A Whooper Program will support Whooping Crane research, education, and interpretive programs at Patuxent. For more information about Friends of Patuxent and Adopt A Whooper, please visit www.friendsofpatuxent.org.