Walter

Walter the whooping crane is town mascot in the Village of Govan, Saskatchewan. 

The fibreglass and steel structure is dedicated to the Last Mountain Wildlife Area located about fifteen miles northwest of town at the northern end of Last Mountain Lake.  This wildlife area was established in 1882 and is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America.

At the time "Walter" was unveiled in 1987 there were only 137 whooping cranes in existence.  Current statistics estimate there are now 506 left in the wild with another 79 in captivity.  They are doing a little better now thanks to protected wildlife sanctuaries. 

Growing up in southeastern Saskatchewan in the 1950's and '60's I can remember seeing them flying over the farm in spring on their way to Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and then again in fall on their way back to the County of Aransas in Texas.  Now that I live in southeastern Alberta, I miss seeing these graceful fliers on their migration route.

Information courtesy of Parks Canada and the Village of Govan.

Photographed on March 23, 2022.