A photographer’s journey documenting the hidden lives of one of the most endangered species in the world and conversations along the way.
Preview
Season 1 Finale
Father Crane
For our final episode of the season, Mike sits down with Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, a visionary conservationist, and a long-time friend.
All Episodes
Episode 0
Introduction
Welcome to the Whooping Crane Chronicles podcast, hosted by Mike Forsberg. In episode zero, Mike reads the preface of his book Into Whooperland, a personal journey that uncovers the hidden lives of whooping cranes.
Episode 1
White Birds on Halloween
Mike and bird biologist eldest daughter, Elsa Forsberg, discuss the nuances of bird research and recount their tradition of searching for cranes on Halloween.
Episode 2
Crane City
Mike speaks with Anne Lacy and Hillary Thompson of the International Crane Foundation. Listen as they discuss whooping crane reintroductions, internship opportunities, and stories from the field.
Episode 3
Counting Cranes
Mallory Jaymes and Bethany Ostrom are two Nebraska biologists who are tasked to monitor the numbers of sandhill cranes and whooping cranes each migration season. Tune in for stories of cranes, kitties and whooper decoys!
Episode 4
Whooper Highway
In April 2022, Mike and his buddies Jeff Dale and Chris Boyer flew the migratory path of the whooping crane. Listen as they recount stories from what they call the “Whooper Highway”, a 2,500-mile journey from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Boreal Forest in Canada.
Episode 5
Where the Whoopers Winter
Dr. Liz Smith is a Texan and a retired biologist with the International Crane Foundation. In this episode, Mike and Liz discuss climate change on the coast, bird behavior, art, and the special way people view whooping cranes.
Episode 6
Cloud, Spirit, and Sheena
The Holzmans are landowners in Baraboo, Wisconsin who have a pair of whooping cranes that nest in their wetland. Listen as Dan and Cathy recall the dramatic stories of Cloud, Spirit, and Sheena–the interloper.
Episode 7
Eight Days in a Blind
Andy Caven, Dylan Jones, and Mike spent eight days in the Canadian wilderness, observing and documenting whooping cranes at the nest. Tune in to learn how they did it, why they did it, and what they learned.
Episode 8
Whoopers on the Platte
Nebraska landowners Don Cox and Rick Rasmussen talk with Mike about their shared whooping crane experiences along the Platte River. Listen as they recount stories of a remarkable bird known as Lone Juv, along with memories from the blinds and birding from the back porch.
Episode 9
Look Around for a Whooping Crane
Susan Lindfors Taylor recalls stories of her husband, Eric Taylor, who was an American singer and songwriter from Texas. Eric began writing music before he was 14, and one of his earlier songs Whooping Crane ultimately found Mike Forsberg, 60 years later.
Episode 10
El Campo
Texas Parks & Wildlife biologist Clint Faas shares thoughts on hunting culture. He and Mike also talk about a group of whooping cranes with a unique tradition of overwintering inland from the Gulf Coast.
Episode 11
Crane House
Coastal landowners Al and Diane Johnson talk with Mike about the joy of waking up to cranes each morning, familiar birds they’ve known over the years, and their thoughts on the future of habitat along the Gulf Coast.
Episode 12
Whooper Captains
Kevin and Lori Sims know the cranes. Years of leading photography and birding charters on the Lamar Peninsula have given them intimate knowledge of whooping cranes’ winter behavior, coastal diet, and familiar birds like Husker Red.
Episode 13
Capturing Cranes
Veterinarian Barry Hartup and Wildlife Biologist Dave Brandt, both recently retired, discuss capturing whooping cranes for science with Mike. Barry and Dave have captured more whooping cranes than any other individuals, affixing bands and telemetry technology to track the birds’ movements.
Episode 14
Building a Better Bird
Richard Dunn and Becca Grieser are “growing birds” at the Freeport McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, they are building a more genetically diverse population by dressing in crane costumes to raise chicks and teach them how to be whooping cranes.
Episode 15
A Great Experiment
Not all heroes wear capes, but some wear costumes. In this episode, Mike chats with Eva Szyszkoski and Sara Zimorski, biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, who have been working on whooping crane reintroduction efforts for over 14 years.
Episode 16
Long Live Cranes
From a Tai Chi class with cranes to becoming the President and CEO of the International Crane Foundation… Mike sits down with Rich Beilfuss, who has spent decades working to protect cranes across the globe and the wild places they depend on.
Episode 17
Whoopers First Watch
Thomas Labedz, Gary Lingle, and Greg Wingfield are longtime conservation champions of the Platte River–a river that has shaped their lives and hearts. With more than a century of combined experience, they sit down with Mike to share stories from the early days of crane conservation and explore what the future holds for the river and these birds.
Episode 18
Connected by Cranes
Andrew Pierson and his parents, Conn and Donna, are multigenerational ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills, where whooping cranes are frequent visitors to their land. In this episode they share stories of ranch life, a whooper named Husker Red, and how cranes connect not just landscapes, but people too.
Episode 19
Cranes in Canada
Mark Bidwell and John Conkin are respected wildlife biologists from Saskatoon, Canada. In this episode, they discuss the innovative and often arduous whooping crane research techniques in Wood Buffalo National Park, a badass bird named Brutus, and the future of cranes in Canada.
Episode 20
Father Crane
For our final episode of the season, Mike sits down with Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, a visionary conservationist, and a long-time friend.
Podcast Credits
Host
Mike Forsberg
Executive Producer
Mariah Lundgren
Producer & Editor
Carlee Moates, Grant Reiner
Graphic Designer
Sidney Parks
Music
Universal Production Music
Special Thanks
George Archibald, Rich Beilfuss, Mark Bidwell, Chris Boyer, Andy Caven, John Conkin, Don Cox, Jeff Dale, Richard Dunn, Clint Faas, Elsa Forsberg, Becca Grieser, Barry Hartup, Cathy Holzman, Dan Holzman, Al Johnson, Diane Johnson, Mallory Jaymes, Dylan Jones, Thomas Labedz, Anne Lacey, Gary Lingle, Bethany Ostrom, Andrew Pierson, Conn Pierson, Donna Pierson, Rick Rasmussen, Kevin Sims, Lori Sims, Liz Smith, Eva Szyszkoski, Susan Lindfors Taylor, Hillary Thompson, Greg Wingfield, Sara Zimorski, Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, The Crane Trust, The International Crane Foundation
Get Involved
Your donation will help the Platte Basin Timelapse team continue the efforts of this podcast and website–sharing the stories of these magnificent birds. We are grateful for your contribution. Long live cranes!