Pedaling the Whooper Highway
Imagine pedaling by bike, 2,500 miles through the heart of the Great Plains–following an ancient migration of one of the rarest birds in the world, powered by grit, determination, and love for a species we almost lost.
From May 11-June 28, 2026, a photographer and an ecologist did just that.
About the Journey
The Birds
Whooping cranes are five feet tall, angel white, and are the rarest crane species in the world. Once abundant throughout the Great Plains, they were nearly driven to extinction, with a staggering low of 15 wild birds in the 1940s. Today, they are making a comeback—but there is still much at stake.
These magnificent birds embark on a harrowing 2,500-mile journey, twice a year, from northern Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast. On May 11, 2026, conservation photographer Mike Forsberg and the International Crane Foundation’s Director of the Central Flyway Programs, Andy Caven, traced that migration over two months by bike, documenting the journey along the way.
The Bikers
Mike has dedicated the last seven years to telling the story of these birds, and his efforts have been made into a book, podcast, and soon-to-be-featured-length film. Andy is a habitat ecologist whose work focuses on conservation policy, delivery, and research regarding whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and their habitats. In 2023, Mike and Andy spent eight days together in side-by-side blinds deep in the Canadian wilderness, documenting whooping crane chicks hatching at a nest.
The Journey
This two-month journey began on May 11, 2026, on the Texas Gulf Coast and ended on June 28 in central Saskatchewan. Mike and Andy invited people to be part of the journey—by biking with them, meeting them along the route, or supporting the effort through a donation and other meaningful ways.
The goal of this trip is to uplift the stories, communities, habitats, and wildlife that define this narrow yet critical corridor so that whooping cranes and other species can endure for generations to come.
Route Map
They did it!
Click the link below to see where they traveled.
Whooper Highway Soundtrack
Memories
Follow Along
Follow us on social media as we continue to showcase behind-the-scenes content. Long live cranes!
Donate
Your donation will support Platte Basin Timelapse and the International Crane Foundation for the bike trip, our outreach and education efforts, and crane conservation. Thank you!
Contact
If you have general questions or inquires, want to book Mike and Andy for a Q&A, or would like to support the ongoing outreach efforts with a donation, please fill out the form below.
Mariah Lundgren, the project manager, will be in contact with you shortly.
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