Foundation Goals

In 1973, graduate students George Archibald and Ron Sauey met in ornithology at Cornell University. Their dream was to create an organization pledged to five essential activities: research, education, habitat protection, captive breeding and restocking. The ICF has retained its non-profit status since its inception in 1973, moving to its current location in Baraboo, WI, in 1984.

One of the premier goals of the ICF is to create a "species bank" where "cranes could be kept safely," says Marianne Wellington, Assistant Curator of Birds, "until the factors causing their decline, such as loss of habitat and indiscriminate hunting, are corrected." The Foundation tackled the extensive task of captive breeding of cranes, of which little experience or knowledge had previously existed, resulting in a succession of firsts. Hooded and Siberian Cranes produced young for the first time in captivity, and young Brolgas and Black-necked Cranes hatched for the first time in North America. The Foundation was also the first to hatch an endangered species from an egg fertilized by cryogenically preserved semen. Currently, the ICF remains the first and only facility to successfully breed all 15 species of cranes in captivity.

The ICF's staff realized that mere reproduction would not sustain dwindling crane populations; since protection of crane habitat was critical in crane preservation, they have travel to and work with conservationist colleagues in countries throughout the five continents where cranes are found--including Korea, Japan, Russia, India, China, and Vietnam--working with governments and wildlife biologists in preserving the wetlands and grasslands that cranes prefer. The ICF is currently involved in over 22 conservation projects throughout 40 countries.

At home, the ICF is involved heavily with both species of crane native to North America, the Sandhill Crane and the Whooping Crane. The ICF is also a partner of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Program, dedicated to the breeding and release of the endangered Whooping Crane into an Eastern Migratory Flock. This flock summers in Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, WI, and winters in Chassahowitzka NWR, FL. On June 22nd, 2006, two wild Whooping Crane chicks hatched in Necedah NWR, the first Whooping Cranes to naturally hatch in the midwestern United States in over 100 years.

Concurrently, the ICF offers numerous volunteering and seasonal internship opportunities in aviculture, education, and field ecology. The ICF receives thousands of visitors every season, and retains thousands of members from around the world. For detailed information, please visit the ICF's web site link provided below.

Location and Visiting

The Foundation's 225 acre (911,000 m²) Baraboo site consists of research labs, education facilities, 60 large pens, as well as native natural tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and wetlands. Open to the public, the ICF's naturalist-led and self-guided tours offer the rare opportunity to see breeding pairs of all 15 of the world's crane species, living in a natural and safe environment. It is the only facility in the world that contains all 15 species of crane in one location.

To find the International Crane foundation, take route 12 north from Baraboo four miles and turn east on Shady Lane Rd. approximately one mile to E11376. ICF is open 9AM to 5PM daily for self-guided tours from April 15th through October 31st. Guided tours at 10AM, 1PM, and 3PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day and weekends only in May, September, and October. The tour includes approximately 30 minutes overview and slide show, and 60-75 minutes touring the grounds. Visitors planning to attend the 3PM tour may wish to arrive early to leave additional time to view the cranes or visit other facilities on the property such as the educational displays and the gift shop, as the tour may end not long before closing time.