La.âs experimental whooping crane population continues to make progress during 2021 breeding season LDWF and last updated 2021-06-23 18:58:48-04 Patience has paid off for one of Louisianaâs female whooping cranes that was a part of the initial population from 2011. The female crane, designated L7-11, laid the first egg of the experimental population in 2014. However, that attempt, along with subsequent others for her, was unsuccessful. But this year, two eggs hatched and, as of this writing, both chicks are alive, according to a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) release. The chicks are two of four that hatched this spring in Louisianaâs experimental whooping crane population. Of particular note, 24 pairs nested this spring, almost double the previous high of 13. This increase in nesting is a sign of breeding progress in the project, which seeks to return the whooping crane to Louisiana, the release states.