Since first encountering cranes in northwest Canada in 1965, George Archibald has been involved in the study and conservation of these charismatic birds.

His doctoral research at Cornell University involved the ethology and evolution of cranes. In 1973, George and his colleague at Cornell, Ron Sauey, co-founded the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Baraboo, Wisconsin. George was President of ICF until 2000, when he passed the position to his former Deputy Director for Programs, Jim Harris. ICF has grown to include 50 employees and helps support field conservation projects in 44 nations. George continues to work full time for ICF and concentrates on programs related to the conservation of the Korean Demilitarized Zone and to the restoration of Siberian Cranes in west Asia. He lives in the countryside near Baraboo, and together with his wife, Kyoko, enjoys gardening and aviculture. He spends approximately half of his time traveling to various meetings and field projects.

George has led the SSC’s Crane Specialist Group since 1972. He and his colleagues at ICF and abroad have encouraged the formation and growth of working groups including for the European crane, Eurasian crane, North American crane, Indian crane, China crane, and Siberian crane, and for the African Wattled Crane Programme, and Wetlands and Waterbirds. Several hundred people from a diversity of backgrounds yet united through a shared interest in cranes, are involved in these groups.

“Major challenges include destruction of wetlands and grasslands, changes to hydrology of protected areas, the illegal traffic of cranes in Africa, and the hunting of cranes in several west Asian nations”, says George.