Rfalconcam Forum

Well, sort of.

All 20 young birds have left the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where they have been taught to follow the aircraft over the past few months. But only some of them flew to the first stopover just 4 miles away.

The remaining eight were put into special crates and driven to the roundup point last week after foul weather and the birds' reluctance to leave their comfortable pen kept them grounded.

The fitful start to the more than 1,200-mile trek now puts the team from Operation Migration several days behind schedule in what has become the latest departure in the nine-year history of the whooping crane reintroduction project.

The team had set this year's departure date for Oct. 10 but didn't get any of the majestic birds out of the refuge until Oct. 16.

Organizers' hopes were high Monday morning that the weather would break and allow the ultralight crew to lead the birds to the next stopover, less than 20 miles away in southern Juneau County, Wis.

But the clouds hung too low, preventing the aircraft and birds to take to the air as a group for the first time.

Liz Condie, executive director for Operation Migration, tried to stay positive. "It's not unlike anyone else's situation,'' she said. "There are elements of everyone's work that are frustrating and hard to deal with.''

She said the hope is that somewhere along the flight, they can make up the time.

Condie said the setbacks just make the crew more appreciative when they make the final delivery of their precious charges.

"You can't do a project with wildlife and not expect the trials and tribulations because wildlife is never predictable,'' Condie said. "It almost doubles the appreciation you have when you've clearly accomplished what you've set out to do.''

She said that those with Operation Migration signed on for one specific task: to establish a flock of 125 migrating whooping cranes, including 25 breeding pairs. That's why the crew comes to work, she said, "with the hope that every year you're one step closer.''

The whooping cranes are bonded to the ultralights from Day One as sounds of the aircraft are played for the eggs. Once hatched, the crane chicks are reared by handlers in crane costumes so they never see people.

The cranes in the "Class of 2009'' represent the largest group of birds ever to be led to Florida. For the first seven years, the whooping cranes are led to the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the Citrus-Hernando county line.

This is the second year that half the flock will be split in the Florida Panhandle to spend winter at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

In the spring, the cranes respond to their natural instinct to fly back north without assistance and many spend their summers back at the Necedah refuge in that general area.

Because of the efforts of Operation Migration and the other public and private groups that compose the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, there are 77 wild whooping cranes in eastern North America, part of the cranes' historic habitat.

The birds were on the verge of extinction in the 1940s; now there are thought to be about 500 whooping cranes in North America, with 350 of them in the wild.

Another migratory flock splits its year between the Texas Gulf Coast and northern Canada. About 30 nonmigratory whooping cranes live year-round in the Kissimmee area.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -  Twenty whooping cranes led by four ultra-light aircraft are poised to fly over Central Illinois on their way to wintering grounds in Florida.

Liz Condie, a spokesman for Wisconsin-based Operation Migration, says the geese may be able to make the next leg of their flight as early as Saturday, but weather could stall them in northern Illinois for a number of days.

The geese need calm skies to fly daily legs averaging 50 miles, and warm temperatures mean southerly headwinds that slow their progress. They spent Friday in Winnebago County.

The next rest point is scheduled for LaSalle County, and a Livingston County stop is scheduled to follow a day later.

Geese?  Am I extra "thick" today?

 :hysterical:   

I read that this morning when I was drinking my first cup of coffee and thought "HUH???"  I'm very happy to see that someone else thought the same thing as me!

 :confused:

A satellite-tracked Super Whooper swan has lived up to his name and completed the migration between Iceland and Scotland, flying 800km non-stop over the ocean in just 14 hours. The aptly named Supersonic Bill was just three hours short of the shortest ever recorded journey time by a whooper swan.
Supersonic Bill arrived at Caerlaverock on Monday, with mate C9U, just in time for the morning feed. The satellite data received today not only reveals the very quick journey, but also shows that he seemed to accelerate towards the end of his journey to Caerlaverock, almost as if he knew when the morning feed was due and wanted to make it in time. Caerlaverock Reserve Warden Richard Smith said: “We know that Supersonic Bill was travelling at 114kph past Auchencairn Bay on the Solway at 8am on Monday. He covered the final 25km in just 15 minutes before flying onto the whooper pond here at Caerlaverock to be greeted by me with a barrow of grain! Not surprisingly he looked a bit tired, but otherwise not bad given that he was in Iceland only the day before!”

The unseasonably mild conditions in mid to late October saw a lull in swan migration following the arrival on 7 and 8 October of Baldur, a WWT Welney bird, and K9H, a Caerlaverock bird to Britain after spending the summer in Iceland. Baldur has since shed his satellite transmitter, but we are confident he will soon turn up at Welney where we will be able to identify him by his leg ring. But as well as Supersonic Bill and his mate, today’s satellite data download shows us that three more of our 50 Super Whoopers have taken advantage of the colder snap since the weekend. Y6K, a Welney visitor, and Y5T (a yearling) – both tagged in Iceland in August, completed their migration to Ireland at the weekend, and Sigrunn – a WWT Martin Mere regular – arrived in Northern Ireland on 4 November.

Lest there be some confusion, the Super Whooper discussed here is not a Whooping Crane.  It is a Common Crane or Euroasian Crane that is sometimes called a Whooper, one of fifteen species of cranes world-wide.  The Whooping Crane is a North American crane.  Most crane species are threatened or endangered.

Gayle

The Super Whoopers (tm) website.  The Whoopers are Cygnus cygnus, it seems.
http://whooper.wwt.org.uk/whooper (http://whooper.wwt.org.uk/whooper)

Paul

Thanks Paul.  You dug deeper than I did!

Gayle

Somewhere in LaSalle County, Ill., 20 whooping cranes are awaiting better weather. The cranes are part of Operation Migration, a nonprofit group establishing a migrating flock of endangered whooping cranes that will nest in Wisconsin and winter in Florida.

The trip, which will drop off half the group at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the other half in Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, 65 miles north of St. Petersburg, takes a total of 23 days of flight, not including stops for bad weather.

"The birds fly at about 38 miles per hour and the ultralights weigh about 400 pounds," said Joe Duff, Operation Migration co-founder and lead pilot, about the single person planes that lead the birds south. "It doesn't take much wind before you are not going anywhere."

For now, weather has the birds stuck in Illinois, only 170 miles into their 1,285-mile trip.

They began their flight Oct. 16 and are expected to arrive sometime between Thanksgiving and the end of January.

The cranes stop in Jefferson County before flying over the town of St. Marks (right after dawn). Afterward a meet and greet with the pilots and the public takes place. As many as 2,000 people came to watch last year.

"I think it is one of those things that gives people hope," St. Marks Refuge Manager Terry Peacock said. "We are trying to save a species from extinction."

Once in St. Marks, the cranes will be released into a pen with no top netting. Eventually, they learn they can fly away and by March, they begin their unaccompanied flight back to Wisconsin.

"The target is to start a self-sustaining population with 125 cranes and 25 breeding pairs," Duff said. Currently there are 77 birds in the flock and 12 breeding pairs.

A 2007 storm that killed 17 of the 18 birds taken to Chassahowitzka was the reason Operation Migration decided to split the flock, taking half to St. Marks for the first time in January 2009.

There is only one other migrating flock, a group of about 240 birds that nest in Canada and winter in Texas. Founded in 1994, Operation Migration's goal is to ensure the survival of the species in case something happens to the Texas flock.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The annual whooping crane migration, which will bring the endangered birds through Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky, is under way.

Led by ultralight aircraft from Wisconsin to Florida, the 20 cranes hatched this year started their journey Oct. 16 from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and are now in northern Illinois. Locally, the birds are expected to make overnight stops in Wayne County, Ill., and Union and Marshall counties in Kentucky.

The group of 20 birds in this year's flock is the largest group in the nine-year history of Operation Migration. Today, there are an estimated 350 whooping cranes in the wild, up from fewer than 20 birds in the early 1940s.

Operation Migration's ultralights have escorted more than 100 whooping cranes on the 1,285-mile trip to imprint the migratory route on the juvenile birds. Officials with Operation Migration say that in flight, the trip takes about 23 days. However, weather delays typically stretch the journey over several weeks.

The birds are in Livingston County, Ill., today and will make stops in Piatt and Cumberland counties before reaching Wayne County in Southeastern Illinois later this month or in early December. It all depends on the weather.

The exact location of the stopover point in Wayne County will be kept secret until the birds are ready to lift off for their next destination.

The secrecy is imposed to keep human contact with the birds at a minimum. However, Operation Migration officials are expected to announce the birds' liftoff location so the public will have an opportunity to see the birds in flight as they begin the next leg of their journey.

After several weather delays last year, the skies cleared and the migrating birds skipped their stopover in Wayne County to make up time.

The birds' destination is the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Officials with Operation Migration say their goal is to reach a self-sustaining level of 125 birds and 25 breeding pairs.

I spotted this over on Birdchick

Operation Migration vandalized (http://www.birdchick.com/wp/2009/11/operation-migration-needs-our-help/)

Wisconsin State Journal Article
 (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_fdbfb248-d9ec-11de-a3da-001cc4c002e0.html)

"The Operation Migration effort that is escorting young whooping cranes to refuges in Florida, already beset by weather-caused delays, received a major blow this week when a break-in and heavy damage from vandalism was discovered at its Necedah aircraft hangar..."

Published: Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 12:12 a.m.

Shoals residents should not be shocked next week if they happen to see a group of large birds following southbound ultralight aircraft.

It's not a remake of the movie "Fly Away Home" where a girl and her father teach a group of orphaned Canada geese how to migrate south for the winter. Instead, it will be the latest flock of whooping cranes to be led south by Operation Migration volunteers.

The whooping cranes that pass over the Shoals are headed to a wildlife refuge in Florida. After spending the winter there, the birds will be able to return on their own to a wildlife refuge in Wisconsin where they were raised.

Northwest Alabama became part of the migration route for the whooping cranes in 2008 when volunteers for Operation Migration, a Canada-based non-profit organization, led a flock of the rare birds from Wisconsin to Florida. The volunteers wear whooping crane costumes and use ultralight aircraft to lead the flights.

The young whooping cranes were hatched raised in captivity and must be taught the migration route. In a natural setting, their parents would teach the young whooping cranes the migration route.

From 2001 to 2007, the young whooping cranes were led from Wisconsin to Florida along a route that passed through eastern Tennessee and Georgia. The route shifted in 2008 to avoid having to fly over the Appalachian Mountains and to create a flyway for the birds. The new route includes stops in Hardin County, Tenn., and Russellville.

The migration reached western Kentucky Friday.

Liz Condie, chief operating officer for Operation Migration, said it is impossible to predict exactly when the birds will fly over the Shoals.

"We are at the mercy of the weather," she said. "We can only fly when the weather allows us to."

Strong winds make it dangerous to fly the ultralight aircraft. In 2008, the group spent more than two weeks in Russellville after bad weather and Christmas stalled the migration. A large crowd assembled at the Russellville airport hoping to watch the whooping cranes pass by each day the volunteers attempted to continue the migration. When the migration finally resumed on Dec. 29, many of the spectators gathered at the airport cheered as the cranes and ultralights flew past.

If the weather is perfect during the coming days, the flight could pass over the Shoals as early as Tuesday. A cold front that could spawn thunderstorms is expected to move through the Tennessee Valley early next week and the migration might have to be delayed. Daily updates about the progress of the migration are posted on the Operation Migration Website at operationmigration.org/FieldJournal.html

The effort to expand the whooping crane population is a joint effort of Operation Migration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies and organizations.

Whooping cranes, which grow as tall as 5 feet when mature, are one of the rarest birds in America.

Biologists believe about 1,400 whooping cranes lived in the United States in 1860. The whooping crane population declined because of hunting and habitat loss until 1941 when only 15 birds were left. Efforts were launched to protect whooping cranes, and by 1999, about 180 of the birds lived in the wild. That flock winters on the Gulf coast of Texas. In spring, they migrate to Canada.

Operation Migration and Fish and Wildlife Service officials hope that by establishing new migration routes, wintering and breeding ground for whopping cranes, the rare birds will be better protected than if they all lived in a single location and used the same migration route.

Caption:
Ultralight pilot Joe Duff leads a flock of six whooping cranes as they fly south after taking off at sunrise from a farm near Springfield in Washington County, Ky., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, where they had stopped for the night during their weeks-long migration from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin to the Chassohowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The cranes are on a 1,250-mile journey from Wisconsin to Florida that is part of an experiment to establish a migrating flock of the endangered species in the eastern United States.

They started out with 20 Whoopers: Led by ultralight aircraft from Wisconsin to Florida, the 20 cranes hatched this year started their journey Oct. 16

Now there's 6??? Where's the rest, they never said.   ??? ??? ???
 

Donna the picture caption say 2001 so its not a picture of this years flock.

DUH and Duh again....I swear I'm  :stupid:

THANKS BC!

One of the forum members here.."Joanne" has sent me a message with all the info...(Cam) for the Whoopers. Right now the cam is focused on the 20 that are grounded until they take flight again..(possibly tomorrow, weather permitting). They set up temp quarters for them during their stop-overs, This is an awesome website. Thank you so much Joanne for this. Now I can get my numbers straight and get a "Whoop eye view" of them in flight when they take off again.  :clap: :2thumbsup: :thanks2:

http://www.operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html (http://www.operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html)

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/09/BandingCodes.html (http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/09/BandingCodes.html)

Meet the class of 2009....whooper babies....all 20. So cute.

Dec 9

Cayuga, IN - The US Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to a conviction in the shooting of an endangered species.

It happened near Cayuga in Vermillion County. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is also investigating.

The crane was shot sometime between Saturday, Nov. 28, when it was observed by an International Crane Foundation staff member, and Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, when an ICF volunteer found the carcass along West County Road 310 North, just west of North County Road 225 West.

The crane was identified by a leg band, and determined to be the seven-year old mother of "Wild-1," the only whooping crane chick successfully hatched (in 2006) and migrated from captivity.

There are approximately 500 whooping cranes left in the world. The crane and its mate were among 19 whooping cranes migrating from their summer grounds in Wisconsin to their wintering grounds in Florida.

"To kill and abandon one of 500 remaining members of species shows a lack of reverence for life and an absence of simple common sense," said John Christian, FWS Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds. "It is inconceivable that someone would have such little regard for conservation."

Anyone with information on the shooting should call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources 24-hour hotline at: 1-800 TIP IDNR (800-847-4367), or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 317-346-7016. Callers can remain anonymous.

In addition to the Endangered Species Act, whooping cranes are protected by state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weather Grounds Whooping Crane Migration in Tennessee
Wednesday, December 09th, 2009, by Blake Farmer

An ultra light pilot guides the flock of whooping cranes south. (credit: Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership)

An ultra light pilot guides the flock of whooping cranes south. (credit: Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership)
Rainy weather has stalled a flock of 20 whooping cranes in Tennessee. The endangered birds are on their first migration south for the winter. An ultra-light aircraft leads the way from Wisconsin to Florida.

A dozen biologists and crew members are waiting out the rain with the birds northeast of Jackson in Carroll County. Liz Condie of Operation Migration says it’s not unusual for weather to get in the way.

    “30% of the time we’re able to fly, and the other 70% of the time we’re on this migration we’re stuck on the ground, either waiting for favorable winds or for the rain to let up.”

It takes roughly 25 flying days to make the trip, but last year the human-led migration lasted three months because of unfavorable weather conditions.

The Whooping Crane Recovery Team is working to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. These 20 juveniles were hatched in captivity. The project is halfway to its goal of reintroducing 150 individual cranes into the wild.

The pilots wear white suits and masks. Condie says they remain silent so the birds don’t get accustomed to humans.

    “On one hand, they wear a mechanical crane puppet that looks like an adult crane head, and that’s what the birds focus on when the costumes are around them.”

As the flock remains grounded, Condie says the human crew limits contact with the birds who are caged in an open field. In the spring, they will make the return migration trip north unaided.

Some of the birds reintroduced by the Whooping Crane Recovery Team have wintered in the wetlands of Bells Bend, just outside Nashville. Others spend the winter in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

:clap:

Amen to that

with a very dull knife. So its more painful.  ;)

   December 10, 2009 - Entry 3   Reporter:    Bev Paulan
Subject:   Engine Gremlins: 3 - OM: 0   Location:   Carroll Co. TN

Seems the bad luck just keeps on coming. It’s almost as if someone has asked for extra helpings of it. And not unlike eating three helpings of Thanksgiving turkey, I’m stuffed with it. Full to the brim with the bad luck. Wishing for a trip to the purgatorium to be rid of it.

Yesterday, our morning started out with trying to hold on while getting dressed in a swaying motorhome. Not swaying in a gentle , isn’t this cozy way, but more in a holy moly we’re goin’ over way. The winds were howling out of the northwest across several fields running into nothing until it hit our snug little home. Riding out a typhoon on a sailboat would have been less rocky. Thank goodness the occupants of said camper are pilots and love rollercoasters. No airsick bags were needed!

So right at the get go of the still dark day, we knew we weren’t flying, so it was off on a quest for pumpkins. The 20 pre-adolescents we are hosting had gone through all the pumpkins and had sent out an SOS for more, so Brooke and I mounted up to go retrieve some generously donated unfrozen, un-squashed squash. Waiting until a more civilized time of day and having arranged for the pick-up, we set off in the here-to-far trusty tracking van.

After attempting to navigate as Brooke drove (I say attempting because I was trying to read Brooke’s handwriting), and correcting for a wrong turn, Brooke suddenly said “It died”. “Who died?” was my response and the quick answer along with a look that said way more, was “The van, did, Ms. Genius”. Sure enough with absolutely no warning and definitely no fanfare, the van just up and quit. No chugging, no squealing, just that awful sudden silence that goes along with any engine failure.

And if any of you are keeping score, this is now Engine Gremlins 3, OM-0. Luckily, unlike Chris and Don and Paula, we were already on the ground and had to merely pull over to the side of the winding narrow hilly country road, ensuring we were safely out of the flow of traffic.

Our first phone call was to the provider of the pumpkins---and here is where I would like to thank Mrs. Rushing not only for her kind donation of orange-juvenile-Whooping-crane-distracters, but for also providing us with the name of a tow truck service to come to our rescue. After a quick call and explaining our dilemma, a wrecker was dispatched to our location. A very short time later, the flat bed came, loaded us up and we were on our way to an auto repair shop for what would hopefully be an immediate repair. With the hope of flying the next morning (this morning) we needed the van, especially crucial with the absence of top cover.

After first one stop where the soonest we could be helped was the next day, we were toted to another shop, where upon hearing our plight of potential flight, we were ushered into the waiting room and told no problem. And no problem it turned out to be for the wonderful people at Cowan’s Auto Repair---thanks to Jeff and his staff, they diagnosed the problem (bad fuel pump), ordered up a part, drove to get the part and had it in all in a half days work. Not only did they get us back up and running in short order (I never got to see all of Oprah), but they replaced a bad headlight as well and wished us luck with our birds.

We eventually got to pick up the pumpkins, got our other errands done and finally made it back to camp in time to prepare for the next morning’s pre-flight scramble.

Since I am a big believer in things coming in threes, I feel we are now done with the engine issues and will make the rest of the trip with no problems. I can at least hope, can’t I?

Man!   :crazy:  I'd be over-the-top by now!

Date:    December 11, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   
Subject:   MIGRATION DAY 57   Location:   Hardin Co. TN

Had to put extra woolies on this morning to deal with the 15F temperature. Last night's forecast for minimal surface wind held, and the only possible fly in the ointment was what was waiting for us aloft - a possible headwind.

The weather models showed winds aloft as light, but there's only one way to find out what actually is happening at altitude; launching a test trike. That meant we were all galvanized into the usual early morning scramble. As I drove the several miles from camp to the flyover location, I hoped the faithful folks who kept coming out each morning to view our departure actually got to see it today.

Just before 7:30am we saw trikes approaching in the distance, and shortly thereafter the aviation radio crackled. It was Chris asking the ground crew to release the birds. What remained to be seen was would the gathering actually get to see anything. The position of the pen and gates meant a release to the east. Today's launch was going to be an air pick-up. Would the birds follow and latch on to lead pilot Chris' wing? A launch to the east lessened our chance of getting a good flyover view, while a turn to the west enhanced it.

It turned out to be an 'organized' rodeo if that isn't a bit of an oxymoron. Chris was leading the birds to the southwest to turn on course when they broke and headed back for the pen. He zoomed wide to get back in front of them and they grabbed back on to the wing. As he turned again they followed, but then a group broke away again. Some faithfully followed as Chris cut the renegades off and gathered them back behind him once more.

After that it was text book. Within a very short distance they were flying beautifully off both wings, and to the delight of the viewers, flew right over our heads. We watched until the perfect formation disappeared from sight.

Having said goodbyes to the little crowd of viewers, it was time to hit the road - but not before taking a few minutes to see if I could snag a signal to upload this posting. The answer was, no, despite three attempts.

Once flight was underway, the pen was dismantled and packed up; the camera trailer hauled out of the field; and trailers hooked up to vehicles for hauling. Within an hour or so all the ‘breaking camp’ duties were accomplished and everyone was on their way.

The decision as to whether a skip is possible is usually made by pilot consensus as the cranes and planes approach the next stopover. If the conditions ahead and the birds' performance permit, they sometimes elect to carry on past the next stopover. This was not the case this morning. The cranes and planes are all safe on the ground in Hardin County.

This officially puts us past the halfway mark of the migration, albeit by only 2.5 miles, but we're more than half way nonetheless. As Martha Stewart would say, "That's a good thing."

Date:    December 11, 2009 - Entry 4   Reporter:   
Subject:   PREDICTING   Location:   Hardin Co. TN
Sorry folks, I have no lead pilot report to post for you. But, thanks to flyover attendee, John Bendall, I do have a super photo to share.

We were unable to deploy the CraneCam this afternoon. Heather has been suffering with a pain in her right side ribcage for some time, and lifting some pumpkins today did her in. Once we reached Savannah,  I drove her to emergency where x-rays revealed she had a cracked rib and some badly pulled muscles. A couple of injections later, a stop to fill prescriptions, a quick bite to eat, and it was off to bed for a very drowsy Miss Heather.

Now for tomorrow. Even if the weatherman isn't 100% right, we can almost 100% guarantee you we will not be able to fly. South winds and rain that may turn to ice pellets appear to be the order of the day.

why does that picture make me want to cry?

Great news!  The Direct Autumn Release whooping crane chicks are finally on their way!  From the International Crane Foundation:

http://www.savingcranes.org/remainingdarbirdsbeginmigrationdecember132009.html

Gayle

And here's today's ~Whooper~ news

Date:    December 13, 2009 - Entry 2   Reporter:   
Subject:   GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS   Location:   Hardin Co. TN
On December 9th, a reporter from the Toronto Star newspaper called for a telephone interview concerning the recent break in at our Necedah, WI hangar. Before I go on with this story, you have to appreciate that despite the idea for ultralight-led migration being initiated by Canadians, and researched and developed in Ontario, Canada, Operation Migration rarely attracts any coverage from Canadian media. This makes what I'm about to tell you even more extraordinary.

The Good News: As a result of the story appearing in the Toronto Star, several other Ontario media, including the Scugog community newspaper from OM’s Canadian home base of Port Perry, have called and have done or are doing articles. Although the stories focus on the break-in, there is collateral benefit in that they also describe the work of the reintroduction project.

The Great News: While the entire crew was all sitting down to breakfast after standing down from December 10th’s aborted flight, my cell phone rang. The caller was Mary Desjardins, the Executive Director of the Toronto Dominion Bank’s Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Mary said, and I quote, “I am happy to offer a donation of $15,000 from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation to cover the cost of damages resulting from vandalism of your Wisconsin hangar. Our team was shocked by the story in this morning’s Toronto Star and felt moved to take action. Protecting species at risk is one of our funding focus areas. We hope that word of this donation may also spur additional donations for your worthwhile cause.”

Later in the day Mary emailed to tell me that she had since issued a response to the Toronto Star reporter who wrote the article, (link to it is below) indicating to him that it was the Foundation’s hope that their contribution would kick start additional contributions.

And Mary's wish would be our wish too – along with raising greater awareness for the plight of the Whooping crane with more of the Canadian public and media. Click here to read the Toronto Star article.

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. They have helped to turn a dark cloud over our heads to one with a silver lining.

Date:   December 13, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   
Subject:   Migration Day 59   Location:   Hardin Co. TN
It was already in the mid 40's at 4am this morning so no need to check a windsock for the wind direction. As for the rest of it, the weatherman was right again; its the 'R' word, and it's coming down steadily. Aloft, even it if was blowing in the right direction - which it is not - it's about 10 times as powerful as we like to see.

Today will be Down Day #2 in Hardin County, TN.

migration trivia compliments of vi white and steve cohen
HARDIN COUNTY, TN
The story of Hardin County begins with the prehistoric mound builders of the Woodland and Mississippian Periods. Savannah, the modern county seat, is built partially within a wall and trench, and amid a line of fourteen mounds on a bluff parallel to the Tennessee River.

These prehistoric peoples also built a considerable structure covering approximately four acres in the northwest corner of the county near Middleton, and several mounds at Pittsburg Landing in what is now the Shiloh National Military Park. After the Mississippian era, Hardin County, along with most of the rest of West Tennessee, became an area shared by various

 goodnews:  This makes me happy this morning!   :happy:

Date:   December 17, 2009 - Entry 2   Reporter:   Joe Duff
Subject:   LOSSES COVERED   Location:   Hardin Co. TN
Few of us at Operation Migration have the luxury of having only one responsibility. Along with working with birds, we have the added obligation of school presentations, equipment design or aircraft maintenance, and more. Of all the jobs that a non-profit requires of its staff and volunteers none are as challenging as raising the funds needed to make it all happen.

There are those with a natural talent for engendering benevolence in others. Born with the capacity to inspire people to support a worthwhile cause they are in high demand and as rare as Whooping cranes. Teaching birds to migrate and leading them south takes hard work and lots of patience, but is not rocket science. Fundraising however requires pure talent.

After struggling all year to generate enough money to cover our costs it seem counterintuitive to ask you to stop, but that is what we are about to do.

Operation Migration is blessed with a munificent support base who follow our slow progress south. With each obstacle we face, or setback we endure, our Craniacs step forward and dig deeper to help us meet the challenge of the day.

The break-in at the hangar in Necedah is an example of that support. The senselessness of that act angered many people, and motivated some to send in donations to cover the losses. As a non-profit we are unable to collect money for the personal property that Brooke, Bev, Richard and Geoff lost, but then we started to receive checks endorsed directly to them.

An article in Canada’s largest newspaper prompted a donation from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, a donation large enough to pay for the damaged wings. Between the Necedah Lion’s Club, the Juneau County Crime Stoppers and two OM supporters the reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators is now up to $3000.

Although the break-in is still disturbing, we have now received enough money to cover all of our losses, OM's and those of our team members. We would like to thank you all for your kindness and generosity.

In fact we will be returning some of the personal checks with a letter expressing our sincere thanks. In good conscience we can not accept any more donations for the losses incurred as a result of the break-in, but that does not mean we are fully funded for all the rest of our expenses. We still have half the migration to complete (MileMaker has 300+ unsponsored miles) and next generation will begin hatching in less than 5 months. Your support is critical to safeguarding Whooping cranes and we are truly grateful.

Date:   December 17, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   REWARD TRIPLED FOR INFORMATION ON SHOOTING    Location:   Hardin Co. TN
Wildlife law enforcement agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources continue their joint investigation of the shooting of Whooping crane 217*. She is the First Family matriarch, who, along with mate 211, are the only Whooping cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population who thus far have successfully reared young.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents are conducting a joint investigation into the shooting incident which took place near the town of Cayuga in central Vermillion County, Indiana. In addition to the Endangered Species Act, Whooping cranes are protected by state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

It was announced yesterday that in addition to the initial $2500 reward posted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, contributions from two organizations have tripled the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot and killed 217*.

Defenders of Wildlife, a national non-profit conservation organization, and the Indiana Turn in a Poacher or a Polluter Program have each donated $2,500 bringing the total reward monies to $7,500.

Anyone with information should call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources 24- hour hotline at: 1-800 TIP IDNR
(800-847-4367), or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 317-346-7016. Callers can remain anonymous.

“To kill and abandon one of 500 remaining members of species shows a lack of reverence for life and an absence of simple common sense,” said John Christian, FWS Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds. “It is inconceivable that someone would have such little regard for conservation.”

Date:   December 16, 2009 - Entry 2   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   PREDICTING   Location:   Hardin Co. TN
We have a much improved forecast for tomorrow. Without wanting to jinx things, it looks like a sure bet that we'll be leaving Hardin County, TN for Franklin County, AL in the morning.

Once again, here's the flyover site information. The viewing location is off 13780 Hwy 69 South, Savannah, TN on the property of Horse Creek Wildlife Refuge and Animal Sanctuary. Use the entrance marked 'North Gate' (which will be opened by 6:45am) and follow the road in and to the right going down the hill. Turn right where the sign says Watermelon Hill, and proceed up the hill to the viewing stands.

Date:   December 16, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   MIGRATION DAY 62   Location:   Hardin Co. TN

Wish I had better news. We had a nice cold 22F this morning and what we thought were reasonable surface winds out of the NNE. What we were unsure of was if the cranes and planes could handle the strength of the NE winds aloft (~20mph).

The pilots left for where the trikes were hangared at the Savanah airport a few miles away. Then camp became a ghost town as the rest of us headed out to take up our positions. The three attempts it took to get out of this site last year were in the forefront of all our minds as we pulled away.

Chris Gullikson's last words to me before I left for the flyover site were, "If it's as rough as I think it might be, folks could be in for a long viewing period." In short, he meant it could be quite a rodeo. As it turns out there was no rodeo, in fact no flying whatsoever. Joe called from the airport to say conditions were so poor that it was not even worth putting a test trike up.

Richard, who was last year's lead pilot out of this location, would have been on lead again today. He's been taking our good natured ribbing about it being because he needs the practice, with a grin.

Today will be Down Day #5 in Hardin County, TN. C'mon Tennessee...let our Whooping cranes go!

Note to CraneCam viewers: We pulled the camera trailer out last evening in anticipation of a launch this morning as it could have presented a danger to the birds. In anticipation of a launch tomorrow morning we are not re-deploying it today, but will take advantage of having it back in camp to re-charge the batteries and do some routine maintenance. Broadcast tomorrow will be via the hand-held and the TrikeCam - assuming a flight of course.

MONTGOMERY | A group of endangered whooping cranes landed Thursday in Alabama, led by an ultra-light aircraft that is leading the juvenile cranes on their first migration to wintering grounds in Florida.

According to Operation Migration, the birds and their leader plane landed near Russellville in Franklin County and will depart for Walker County only when the rain clears.

“We fly, weather permitting,” said Liz Conde, an Operation Migration spokeswoman.

After leaving Walker County, the cranes will land in Chilton, Lowndes and Pike counties before entering Georgia and then the Sunshine State.

The cranes will spend the winter at wildlife refuges in Florida.

“Then in the spring, they initiate their own migration and return to where they started in Wisconsin,” Conde said.

Conde reported on the Operation Migration Web site from the migration’s lead pilot that rain is probable in Walker County, possibly throughout the day today.

“Even if we were lucky enough to be able to sneak out of Franklin County ahead of any rain (Friday), a flight wouldn’t be possible,” she said. “We think our odds of being able to depart Franklin County (on Friday) are zero.”

Conde said the 20 juvenile whooping cranes, which were hatched at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, are being led to Chassahowitzka and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The endangered birds, the tallest in North America, left Wisconsin on Oct. 23, following the ultra-light aircraft as they would follow their parents.

The crane migration program is in its ninth year. The goal is to reintroduce them to their former Southern habitat.

“This is a great example of how conservation partnerships work to benefit wildlife,” said Corky Pugh, director of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

The Florida refuges are crucial wintering grounds for the cranes, which were once nearly extinct, Conde said.

More than 500 cranes exist, 350 in the wild, including 77 in the eastern United States. About 30 stay year-round in Florida.

Date:   December 19,2009 - Entry 3   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   PREDICTING   Location:   Franklin Co. AL
We're hoping for a flight in the morning. The winds are out of the northwest, and while this afternoon they still look as if they might be a tad strong aloft, we are optimistic about our chances.

C'mon out for the departure (we hope) flyover.  The viewing location is at the airport's old parking lot - just off Hwy 243, right beside the fuel tanks. You will want to be on site for 7am. Also remember that you could make the early morning trip for naught if the weather/wind turns out to be unfavorable.

The first 100 people will receive a gift of a pair of binoculars. They are compliments of one of our generous sponsors, Southern Company.

Date:   December 19, 2009 - Entry 2   Reporter:   Don & Paula Lounsbury
Subject:   Top Cover Pilots’ report of December 4th’s flight   Location:   Florida
Friday, December 4th began like every other migration day with an early start on a very cold, calm morning. We made our way to the Effingham airport to prepare our aircraft for the morning flight of overseeing the cranes and ultralights on another leg south on migration.

As we completed our preflight checks, we quickly removed the wing covers, now heavy with frost, and stowed them in our car parked in the adjacent lot. The covers would have to wait until we returned to be properly defrosted and repacked. We had to keep moving before more frost formed on the now exposed flying surfaces.

Just before 7:00 AM, we were airborne as the rising sun was shyly peeking out from the eastern horizon. In the pale light, we made our way to the pensite where we would begin our observation duties and found the ultralights still on the ground with their frost covers in place. We began to circle the field to wait until conditions were right for the ultralight crews, and, in the meantime, made some airborne message relays to and from the pilots and the crew at the pen; to Heather and Liz at the public flyover location; and, to Bev and Sharon in the tracking van.

At last, everyone was ready and the birds were released from the pen. Brooke was leading, and before long the entire flock formed a trail of pearls off his right wing. We watched as he led them over a small crowd assembled on the ground and treated the stalwart early-risers to a sunrise spectacle. And ,so began another day on migration.

For over an hour we made large shallow circles high above the ultralights until the decision was made to overfly the first planned stop and proceed to next stopover on the route. It was a break we sorely needed. At last, the Weather Gods were on our side. When, at last, the stopover site came into view Richard went ahead and landed, creating an arrival target for Brooke and the birds.

Reluctant to end their idyllic morning flight, the birds lazily continued to circle even after the others were waiting for them on the ground. It was our favorite kind of morning. The weather was excellent and the birds cooperated beautifully, giving us nothing much to do but observe. It was perfect.

We said our goodbyes and, “We’ll see you later,” and turned northward to retrace our flight to our car and motorhome waiting for us 100 miles away. We looked forward to having a shower and breakfast, walking our dog, and preparing to join the crew at the Sturgis airport, our new rendezvous point.

Remarking at what a great flight we’d just had, we were not prepared for what happened next. The engine suddenly surged and then became very quiet. The next three or four minutes were both interminably long and incredibly short. We, unfortunately, found ourselves in a large muddy field upside down but, fortunately, were completely unharmed. What followed was a flurry of activity with the “first responders” of White county arriving on the scene quickly and efficiently.

Kudos to these wonderful, dedicated people. Our thanks, also, goes to the occupant of a nearby home who had some unexpected guests who needed to use the phone And thanks , too, to the property owner who helped immensely over the next few days.

We now find ourselves in our Florida condo doing what everyone else does; that is, to tune into the daily updates on the OM website to see how the cranes and planes are progressing.

Note: We are happy to be able to tell you that within a couple of weeks, Don Lounsbury will team up with Top Cover pilot Jack Wrighter, and to return to the migration. We'll be thrilled to have them back with us.

Date:   December 19, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   MIGRATION DAY 65 = DOWN DAY #2   Location:   Franklin Co. AL

The wind was almost with us this morning, WNW 4mph on the surface but gusting to +9mph. Between the low ceiling and the stiff winds aloft however, it was not favorable for planes and cranes. It wasn't even a day for a test trike.

Date:   December 20, 2009 - Entry 3   Reporter:    Liz Condie
Subject:   EASTERN MIGRATORY POPULATION UPDATE   Location:   Franklin Co. TN
On Migration - Where are they now?
The Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) is currently estimated to consist of 48 males and 37 females, for a total of 85 birds. All the Whooping cranes in the EMP are on migration. According to WCEP trackers, as of December 12, there were two Whooping cranes in each of Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia. Eight birds were in Tennessee, 33 in Indiana, the locations of 27 birds were unknown, and seven cranes are long-term missing.

WCEP Tracker Jess Thompson visited with us last evening and let us know that 712 and 829, both males, had reached Florida.

Date:   December 20, 2009 - Entry 2   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   BREAKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS   Location:   Franklin Co. TN
With the inability to fly a migration leg this morning, and the advent of several days of south winds, the decision has been made to stand down for a few days to allow members of the migration crew to travel home to be with family and friends for the holidays. In fact, with the very long drives ahead of them, most have already left and are on their way.

Intern Geoff Tarbox, Patuxent’s Robert Doyle, and I, will hold down the fort here in Franklin County, AL. Geoff and Robert will tend to the Class of 2009, and I to the CraneCam in addition to my regular duties.

The entire team will reconvene on Monday, December 28th for what we hope will be a ‘fly day’ on Tuesday, December 29th.

The CraneCam’s regular schedule of live broadcasts will remain unchanged, that is, mornings from 7:00 to 11:00 CST, and from ~3:00 to 4:00 afternoons.

As usual, I will continue to post entries here in the Field Journal as information of interest, or news comes in.

After tomorrow morning, EarlyBird emails will be suspended until December 29th.

Date:   December 20, 2009 - Entry 1   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   MIGRATION DAY 66 = DOWN DAY #3   Location:   Franklin Co. AL
We had too much of a good thing this morning. Desirable northwest winds, but both on the surface and aloft they were way too strong for cranes and planes. There are a bunch of disappointed faces in camp as you can imagine. So much for yesterday evening's optimism.

Today will be Down Day #3 in Franklin County, AL.

migration trivia compliments of vi white and steve cohen
FRANKLIN COUNTY, al
Dismals Canyon is located in the town of Phil Campbell. It is a privately owned nature conservatory designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. Dismals Canyon features a natural swimming pool and natural shelters used by various Native American tribes for over 10,000 years.

Nature trails, rare luminous insects, and natural rock formations also are attractions. "National Geographic Map Guide to Appalachia" and the April 2005 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine featured Dismals Canyon. The canyon was selected as one of the shooting locations for the filming of the Discovery Channel special, "When Dinosaurs Roamed America". Its vegetation and broad leaf trees are typical of those that existed in the dinosaur age some 100 to 200 million years ago. The canyon's tall trees and ferns are similar to fossils paleontologists have found near dinosaur relics.

Published: Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 7:06 a.m.
Every fall for the last nine years, Operation Migration pilots have taken to the skies over Neceda, Wis., in ultralight aircraft with whooping crane chicks following closely behind learning how to migrate.
This year, 20 of the endangered birds began their 1,250-mile trip to Florida on Oct. 16.
"They are all just great," Operation Migration Chief Operating Officer Liz Condie said. "They proved to be terrific followers of the aircraft, despite not such a stellar start. They tend to latch on to the wing of one trike and stay with that trike the whole of that migration leg."
Each year there are challenges to be surmounted, and this year is no exception. But in spite of equipment mishaps that have plagued the staff almost from the outset, the birds continue to perform well.
The chicks - 12 males and eight females - are grounded in Franklin County, Ala., waiting for crew members to return from a brief holiday hiatus with their families.
But if the weather cooperates, the whoopers will go airborne again Tuesday, heading to their winter homes in Florida. Half the chicks will end their trek at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Panhandle. The other half will continue to central Florida, where they will fly over the Dunnellon Airport, allowing the public a glimpse of these rare birds as they wing to their way Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Crystal River, their final destination.
Come spring, the birds will return north on their own.
The 20 chicks are part of a project undertaken by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, a consortium of government and private agencies from Canada and the United States, including Operation Migration, that works to ensure the survival of the endangered species.
"Over the years, we have led more than 100 birds south," Condie said.
A number of the birds have fallen to predators and other catastrophes. In 2006, all but one in that year's migration died when a storm surge drowned the birds trapped in a pen designed to keep them safe from predators. The lone bird to escape the pen later was killed by a predator.
But there have been many successes as well.
Right now, there are 85 birds in the eastern migratory flock, 48 males and 37 females, Condie said. When the current group finishes its migration, there will be more than 100 whoopers in the eastern flock.
"At the beginning of this project, scientists and biologists projected if we could get up to 125 individual birds in this population, including 25 breeding pairs, they believe the population could be self-sustaining," Condie said. "A couple of more years and we will have worked ourselves out of a job."
Breeding has been an issue. Only one pair from the 2002 migration, affectionately dubbed "The First Family," has successfully bred, hatched a chick and taught that chick to migrate. Sadly, this year someone shot and killed bird Number 217, the mother of that chick, in Indiana.
"It's the only female whooping crane in the population to successfully hatch and rear a chick," Condie said. "This is an enormous loss."
There have been others who have mated and produced eggs, but have abandoned the nest. Many of those eggs have been taken from the abandoned nests, successfully hatched, and trained by Operation Migration, and are now migrating on their own.
This has been a tough year for Operation Migration.
"Lots of drama," Condie said.
Pilot Chris Gullickson was flying in Winnebago County, Ill., when a piece of the ultralight broke and went into the engine.
"He had to put down," Condie said. "That meant we had one trike out of commission and had to get a new engine."
Shortly after, the crew learned someone had broken into their hangar in Wisconsin and stole and damaged equipment.
Then, Don and Paula Lounsbury, volunteers who have flown their Cessna 182 airplane as top cover for the birds in every migration, had their plane go down and flip in southern Illinois. The cause has yet to be determined, but it is believed there may have been a fuel problem.
"Both of those air mishaps - everyone touched down beautifully and walked away without a scratch," Condie said.
While the Lounsburys suffered no injuries, their plane was damaged severely.
At the beginning of the new year, Don Lounsbury will join Jack Wrighter, who also has flown as top cover for the birds, and the two men will continue the migration in Wrighter's plane.
Aside from the mishaps, the migration is going well, Condie said.
"We're a little behind last year's schedule," she said.
The birds arrived in Franklin County, Ala., on Dec. 17. Last year, they arrived at that location on Dec. 12. But last year they flew out on Dec. 29, after a Christmas break, and it is possible they could fly out the same day this year and make up the lost time.
Last year, the migration took 88 days and ended Jan. 23, the second longest migration in the 9-year history.
The longest was in 2007, when the migration was 97 days. The shortest was in 2001 when it was 48 days.
"Hopefully, we can do the next 500 to 600 miles pretty quickly," Condie said. "We always have to hope."
But exactly when the birds will fly over Dunnellon depends on weather.
The birds already are shedding much of their cinnamon-colored feathers. Adult birds are pure white with black wing tips and legs. They have patches of red skin on their faces. They have lived to age 60 in captivity, one even reaching 90. They are the largest bird in North America, standing five feet tall. They weigh 14-17 pounds and their wing span is about 7-8 feet. They fly at about 38 mph, but can reach speeds of 70 mph.
They mate for life and, when they reproduce, generally hatch two eggs, but usually only one survives.
Before the birds are born, the sound of ultralight aircraft is played near the eggs. After the birds are born, they are fed and cared for by people wearing whooping crane costumes and carrying crane puppets. No one speaks near the birds to prevent them from attaching to humans.
The hope is the birds will imprint on the ultralight planes and their costumed pilots so they will follow the aircraft and learn to migrate. The goal is to create a second migratory flock of whoopers in the event the only existing wild migrating flock, which flies from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast, should become diseased or die off.
In 1941, there were only 15 whooping cranes in North America, where they are indigenous.
Right now, the eastern migratory flock has about 12-13 breeding pairs, but they have not had great success. Studies have been done and the results should be forthcoming in February. One thought is that black flies may be hindering parents from staying on nests.
"We have photo evidence from last year. They were just covered. The eggs were just blanketed in black flies, just swarms of them," Condie said. "WCEP is looking at alternatives to see if there's something humans can do to help their success."  so sad
The Texas flock, the only totally wild flock of whoopers in the world, lost 20-30 birds last year.
"They are hoping that population will hit around 245 this year when they complete the migration," Condie said.
Even when one counts the whoopers in both flocks, the numbers are not large.
"There are still less than 500 whooping cranes in the world," Condie said. "That's not very many."

RUSSELLVILLE, Alabama - A migrating flock of the world's rarest cranes has been grounded again in Alabama.

Rain kept the flock of 20 Whooping Cranes grounded on Wednesday. Thursday's forecast doesn't look any better.

   January 03, 2010   Reporter:    Liz Condie
Subject:   PREDICTING   Location:   Franklin Co. AL
Oh how great it would be to just once type in this space, "We're flying tomorrow - guaranteed!" But unfortunately, neither Mother Nature nor Old Man Weather gives guarantees, so here we are once again reduced to second guessing both of them.

The latest check of what's in store for us tomorrow looked awfully similar to what we saw yesterday at this time. If the wind velocity was less, it was marginal, and if there was a difference in cloud cover, it too was imperceptible. This led Chris G to repeat his odds from yesterday; that is, an 80% chance of flying.

Once again it is virtually certain that the pilots will not attempt to lead the birds dead into the wind in order to provide a flyover. After today's struggle, as quickly as they can get them on the wing they will be turning to get on course.

Date:   January 03, 2010   Reporter:   Liz Condie
Subject:   MIGRATION DAY 72 = DOWN DAY #9   Location:   Franklin Co. AL
At 4:00am it was a brisk 18F and an even brisker 9F with the windchill. The weather stations were reporting a 7mph NE surface wind, and up to 20mph at altitude. Strong winds but perhaps doable, so everyone was in motion to get into position.

Four trikes launched and Chris reported bumpy air through 2700 feet. He finally found some smooth air above that, but the trick would be to get the birds through the trash up to that altitude. Brooke, today's lead pilot, launched shortly after 7am with all 20 birds. Several times they turned back in to the wind, and several times Brooke maneuvered to get them back on the wing.

The birds continued their reluctance to climb, so just in case, the pilots called for the Swamp Monster to get in place. By 7:55, more than a half an hour after launch some birds were lagging, leading the pilots to discuss breaking up the birds onto more than one trike. Still engaged in a rodeo, the pilots radioed to the ground crew to continue to stand by at the pen.

Matt, flying well above the rest, reported 'ripples' at 3200 feet and Brooke acknowledged there was a lot of trashy air between his altitude and where Matt was flying. With the little prospect of smoother air at higher altitudes, and after the trikes had been airborne for more than an hour, and the birds for 42 minutes, the pilots made the decision to call it a day.

There was a collective groan here on the ground when Chris radioed the crew at the pen to get ready for their return. At 8:22 the birds were back on the ground at the pen. We will all - crew and birds - be spending at least one more day in Franklin County.

One bird went down. The pilots radioed the coordinates to the tracking van and Bev and Barb sped to the site. Costuming up, before going to its location, they will crate it, and transport it back to the pen.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. -- A flock of whooping cranes whose assisted migration to Florida was halted in Alabama last month have finally taken flight again.

The 20 birds left Russellville Tuesday morning en route to Chilton County. Bad weather and a break for the holidays had kept them grounded since Dec. 17.

Pilots of the ultralight aircraft leading the flock fought frost buildup on the plane's wings and plan to make their next scheduled stop in Jasper.

The assisted migration began in Wisconsin on Oct. 17.

The endangered cranes were raised in captivity and in the absence of parents to teach them the migration route, ultralight aircraft are used to lead the birds to Florida.

After making the trip once, the cranes will be able to migrate between their winter and summer homes on their own.

at this rate it will almost be time to turn around and come back by the time they get there.  ???

Twenty juvenile whooping cranes and several chilly pilots in ultralights reached Decatur County on Thursday on their ultralight-guided migration from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuges along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Well, they're getting closer!

Updated 8:20a.m 1-12

Officials say the whooping cranes are not flying to St. Marks Tuesday because icy weather conditions do not permit it.

The cranes may come in to town Wednesday.

We will update you with more information as soon as it becomes available.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wait is almost over. The flock of whooping cranes is nearing St. Marks.

Eyewitness News is told the giant endangered birds left Georgia Monday morning and of the afternoon they were in Jefferson County.

Officials with the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge say they expect the ten cranes to fly over St. Marks around 8:15 Tuesday morning.

Anyone trying to go out and catch a peek at the whooping cranes should dress very warmly!!

Fly with the cranes.  Right now.
http://www.operationmigration.org/trike-cam.html (http://www.operationmigration.org/trike-cam.html)

Paul

Twenty Wisconsin whooping cranes have made it to Florida – and they’re getting close to their final winter nesting spots.

The baby cranes landed yesterday in Jefferson County Florida. They’ll soon break into two groups and fly to a pair of national wildlife refuges, where experts hope they’ll mate with other cranes.

It’s part of a nine-year-old project called “Operation Migration.” The goal is to re-introduce the endangered whooping crane in the eastern U.S. The baby cranes will be joined by others who’ve made the trip before them. The veterans fly on their own – just like the baby cranes will, when they head north this spring.

here's a pic from just now of a Whooper in flight with Ultra Light

And another picture of a crane.

Paul

That was fun to watch...they landed a few minutes ago.

Missed it - I was in a meeting.  Glad they are getting to their distination.  ;)

Ultralight-led Whooping Cranes Arrive at First Wintering Destination in Florida! January 14, 2010
Ten of the 20 “Class of 2009” ultralight-led Whooping Cranes arrived yesterday at their wintering grounds at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Wakulla County, Florida.  The other 10 cranes will continue their migration behind Operation Migration’s ultralights to the birds’ final destination at the Chassahowitzka NWR in Citrus County, Florida. 


This is the second year the cranes have wintered at two separate locations.  The decision to split the flock came after the loss in February 2007 of 17 of the 18 Class of 2006 Whooping Cranes in a severe storm at Chassahowitzka NWR.  The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) hopes the two wintering locations will help reduce the risk of another catastrophic loss.
 

Amen!  They finally made it - big applause for all the humans involved  :clap: :notworthy: :bow:

 :clap: :thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

 :mbanana:     Excellent!      :clap:

The remaining ten whooping cranes have reached their winter destination.  This account contains some cool photographs!

http://www.savingcranes.org/remainingtenarriveatchassahowitzkanwrjanuary202010.html

Gayle

I'm so glad it's over...they all made it after a fruitful start. I love how they train them in their Whooper costumes. Great job they all did. Thanks.

A great effort and I'm so happy that they all made it!  :2thumbsup:

A health check, banding and transmitter attachments were accomplished on the final ten whooping crane chicks:

http://www.savingcranes.org/chassahowitzkanwrhealthchecksnextstepreleasejanuary262010.html

Gayle