Endangered Elegance: Photographing Whooping Cranes in Texas

"Papa" Gray-Green and his mate, foraging just before sunrise in the pastel colors of dawn. This season (Winter 2024/2025) is one of the very few this couple has not returned with offspring.

Since the 2020/2021 winter, I have been habitually traveling to the Texas coastline during the winter months to photograph one specific species - the endangered whooping crane. This winter, while not over yet, has already seen me visiting these beautifully rare birds several times.

The Allure of Whooping Cranes

Whooping cranes are truly magnificent. Standing at nearly five feet tall, with a wingspan exceeding seven feet, they are the tallest birds in North America and rarest crane on the planet. Their striking white feathers, accented by black wingtips and a bright red crown, create a visually stunning subject for photography. Their trumpet-like call, when used, heralds images of older, wilder times.

A whooping crane looks up briefly from foraging. We do not disturb the birds, but part of their behavior is to poke around in the shallow water for a few moments before then looking up for any potential threats that may have moved in while their heads were down. Taking advantage of this behavior, I'm able to capture images that make it look like they are posing for the camera.

Photographing whooping cranes is a challenge, primarily due to their natural habitats, which are predominantly wetlands. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best locations to encounter them, however, for the best viewing, a boat is required. Preferably one that has been custom built with photographers in mind so that we can access shallow areas and have platforms for tripods if needed.

Preparing for the Shoot

Preparation is crucial for any photographer, especially when working with wildlife. Understanding the behavior and ecology of whooping cranes has added incredible depth to my experience. For instance, knowing their migratory patterns allows me to gauge when the best times to visit the refuge are based on the winter weather that takes place further north, between their breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and the Texas coast. If winter has not set in up north, the cranes do not hurry south.

Additionally, whooping cranes keep territories even in winter, unlike most other cranes that flock during the non-breeding season. Understanding this allows me to set expectations (I'm not going to see 50 whooping cranes in one frame) and prepare for behavior when pairs or families do cross into each others territories.

A mated pair, photographed at close proximity from a blind, use inland fields to access fresh water sources and supplemental food - such as deer corn or cattle feed.

Equipped with my trusted Tamron 150-500mm lens for Sony E-mount and a Sony A1 body, I pack light for the day. These essential tools allow me to capture stunning details from a distance without causing stress to the birds. As we keep our distance from this endangered species, having a variable lens and a camera body I can use both in crop mode (which gives a visual reach of 1.5X in camera making that 500mm converted to 750mm and still retaining 21mp file) and full frame, allows for a wide variety of images to be captured.

Before venturing out, I dress for the unpredictable Texas winter weather. Layers are essential here, as conditions can shift from warm sunshine to cooler breezes, particularly in the early morning and evening. Being comfortable allows me to concentrate fully on the birds and my craft.

The Experience of Observation

Upon arriving at marina at o'dark-thirty, I am warmly greeted by Captain Kevin and Captain Lori of Aransas Bay Birding Charters. Out on the water, we reached the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as the sun began to peek over the horizon, it cast a warm inviting glow across the wetlands. We settled near a shallow pond where a mated pair are just starting to wake and forage for their breakfast of Carolina wolfberries and blue crab.

Breakfast foraging in the pastel dawn light, I took advantage of the upper deck on the boat to be able to capture the full reflections of the birds in a more environmental image, rather than the tighter, eye level style I typically use.

Every tiny sound stands out in the tranquil environment—the rustle of leaves, the gentle splashes of water, and the distant calls of other cranes waking. These peaceful moments heighten my awareness and add to the overall experience that comes from photographing these magnificent birds.

As the morning light continues to rise, burning off the fog that was acting as a beautiful soft box, I continually have to monitor my live histogram to ensure I am not over exposing any of my highlights. It is an easy thing to do with such bright white subjects against darker backgrounds and in golden light.

Whooping crane with a blue crab for breakfast! Sony A1 | Tamron 150-500mm | 1/1250 | f/8 | ISO 1600

Afternoons brought a change of pace as I have cultivated a working relationship with a private landowner who has a blind on their property where whooping cranes come to rest and supplement their crab-based diet with a bit of corn from their deer feeder. Here, crane behaviors change as this is viewed more as a communal area and there are frequent squabbles depending on who arrives first and who wants the field to themselves.

"Doubles" - two pairs visited the field at the same time meaning it was only a matter of time before one pair pulled rank and ran the others off either through posturing or actual chasing action.

Photographing Whooping Cranes

Photography is all about freezing a moment, and the sight of whooping cranes in flight makes time feel as if it stops. Their dance battles are nothing short of poetry, each flap of their wings reflecting beauty and reminding me of the fragility of our ecosystems. I focused on techniques like utilizing a fast shutter speed combined with careful exposure adjustments to capture these moments in vivid detail.

"Dance Off "- White-Red-White, also known as Husker Red, has had a long history of being a bully in the area for years. Last season we didn't see her at all in the field as she had finally paired off and successfully raised and returned to Texas with her own offspring. Unfortunately, this season that was not the case and she (and her mate) is back to her old ways, commanding control of the field whenever she can. She seems to only defer to one family that does have a juvenile with them.

Switching up my angles while photographing also proved beneficial. Sometimes I crouch low to frame the cranes gracefully walking through tall grasses, while at other times, I positioned myself higher on the upper level of the boat to capture their full reflection in the water as they forage.

The Importance of Respect and Conservation

Being so close to these stunning birds reminded me of the responsibility inherent in wildlife photography. The endangered status of whooping cranes highlights the need for ongoing conservation efforts. I committed myself to maintaining a respectful distance, ensuring I did not interrupt their natural behavior, especially during our afternoon blind sessions.

This past December, I hosted a one-day conservation workshop in partnership with Girls Who Click, a non-profit organization focused on helping young women enter the male-dominated nature photography career field. During this workshop, participants were able to photograph whooping cranes with me and we discussed how to utilize wildlife images to help further conservation efforts for various species. The girls who participated were from all over the state and many did not realize how interconnected the local ecosystems are. For example, how high water usage in Central Texas during the summer can impact the bay ecology, including blue crab populations, which in turn then impacts the survival and breeding success of the whooping cranes when they are here during the winter.

Girls Who Click workshop participants December 2025

Although the whooping crane population is slowly recovering, it still requires our attention. These continued experiences I enjoy are both a privilege and a responsibility that I take to heart and I am stepping efforts up by offering further conservation workshops, open to all photographers. Proceeds will benefit the International Crane Foundation and more details can be found on my Photo Adventure page.

Reflecting on the Experience

While the focus of my visits and tours to the area are for the whooping cranes, we do have the opportunity to see how many other species protecting the habitat for whooping cranes will also help. The smaller cousin, the sandhill crane is a frequent visitor to the field just outside the refuge where we photograph from the blind.

Photographing whooping cranes in Texas is a fulfilling adventure filled with discovery and a deeper understanding of our environmental responsibilities. I encourage fellow photographers, nature lovers, and travelers to seek out similar experiences. To go find beauty in the wild and actively engage in conservation efforts. The elegance of the whooping cranes deserves to be captured and celebrated, and their survival is a cause that we should all stand behind. To protect them means to protect fresh water levels in Texas, bay ecology and water quality, barrier island environments, and many other aspects of conservation that all play critical roles in maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem overall. The whooping crane just gets to be the best face for it.

Would you like to photograph whooping cranes? I offer both scheduled photo adventures and custom tours and workshops. Check out my Photo Adventure page for any upcoming tours or contact me to set up a private tour (offered December through March - when the cranes are in Texas).

A pair of whooping cranes forages at sunset. Eighty percent of their winter diet is blue crabs so they do A LOT of foraging throughout the day.