For the Record (2)

The world's largest flock of whooping cranes has returned to Texas from Canada with two and possibly three more birds among their number. This would make the flock number 80 or 81, according to Ken Butts, assistant manager of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Biologists usually count the cranes from a small airplane flying at about 100 feet.

The birds "appeared to be pretty healthy" after the 2,500-mile flight to the Texas Gulf Coast from the Summer nesting grounds in Canada, Mr. Butts said.