Working on the crane gang

"Cranes are one wonderful creature," George Archibald, director and co-founder of Baraboo's International Crane Foundation, tells contributing writer David Tenenbaum. After 16 years of striving to preserve the world's 15 crane species, the center has been chosen to house and reproduce 22 endangered whooping cranes; its global mission is to establish preserves, protect habitat, breed crane species and educate the public. "To work on cranes," Archibald explains, "you have to work on all aspects of existence - leaders, local people, contamination, legal and ethical issues." Archibald steps down as director in 2000, but now chairs the World Conservation Union's crane specialist group. The ICF hosts its Cranes of the World Festival this Saturday, Sept. 26, with guided tours, lectures, food and the foundation's annual business meeting. For details, see