The whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest bird in North America, has existed near the brink of extinction for decades, with its wild migratory population having dwindled to a single flock of 15 birds in the 1940s. However, following years of dedicated conservation work targeting illegal hunting and habitat loss, the wild population has grown to more than 500 birds.
This short film features tracking data tracing a whooping crane family during an annual 2,500-mile migration over the North American plains in 2022, from the Texas Gulf Coast to Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, Canada. Along the way, they must navigate a narrow and fraught flight path, dodging storms exacerbated by climate change and the ever-growing footprint of humanity. The result is immersive and engaging – a remarkable example of how data visualisation can be used to tell stories that elucidate complex issues.
