The Crane - Shared Bath
The Crane has a queen bed with a down comforter. Located on the second floor, the views overlook the front garden of the home. It has a shared hallway bathroom with the Swan room. This room gives homage to the migratory Sandhill & Whooping Cranes.
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The Sandhill has had a dramatic comeback and there are currently approximately 1 million in the wild. At one point in the mid 20th century there were only several thousand birds in the US. There are several subspecies that are highly threatened still, including the Mississippi and Cuban subspecies.
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The Whooping Crane has had a much more difficult recovery. In 1941, the population of Whooping Cranes plummeted to a recorded low of just 15 birds wintering in Texas. All Whooping Cranes today are descended from this remnant flock. Current wild populations: As of 2025, there are over 800 Whooping Cranes, with about 557 in the main, self-sustaining migratory flock that travels between Canada and Texas. Conservation efforts: The species' recovery is a major conservation success story, with the population slowly increasing through captive breeding programs, habitat restoration, and reintroduction projects.
Overhunting: Market, subsistence, and sport hunting pushed the species to the brink of extinction.
Habitat loss: Settlers converted native prairie and grassland habitats for agricultural production.
Habitat fragmentation: The construction of roads, fences, and railroad tracks disrupted ancient migration corridors, which are vital for pronghorn survival.
Recovery and modern challenges
Following the early 20th-century low conservation efforts and hunting regulations allowed the pronghorn population to rebound significantly. However, while the overall population is now considered stable, modern challenges threaten specific subspecies and local herds.
Regional declines: Recent studies show that productivity has declined in many herds in Wyoming due to habitat fragmentation from oil and gas development, invasive trees, and climate change.
Endangered subspecies: The Sonoran pronghorn, which lives in the arid Southwest, is an endangered subspecies with a very small population. It faces ongoing threats from drought and human development.
New energy projects: Renewable energy projects, such as large solar and wind farms, are also now fragmenting pronghorn habitats and blocking migration routes.