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.

It's not Woodstock but Icestock.

Jeff asked me if I wanted to go next year with him. He said they are looking for painters. I would LOVE to go except for 1 thing......I'm not flying! You have to get to New Zealand or Australia then go from there to Antarctica. I would need to be knocked  out for the whole flight. I'll have to think more about this.

Looks a lot warmer there than here.

http://shakymon.com/kodaktower.html

Remember this?? 

http://www.awi.de/en/research/new_technologies/marine_observing_systems/ocean_acoustics/palaoa/palaoa_livestream/

Some of you will remember this. The research of Alfred Wegener. Pretty cool sounds right now. Click on MP3 Audio stream

Thanks Baerbel...

[Go Scratch...smart chic!]

That was a great show.
Scratch watched most of it with me, but she wasn't to keen to see and hear the Gyr.
She got quite vocal everytime they were on. Lots of "danger" warning sounds!
She does know her " birds of prey:

Go Scratch...smart chic! 

http://vodpod.com/watch/1103512-nature-white-falcon-white-wolf-mother-on-the-hunt-pbs

What a great show....WOW!!

A Gyrfalcon and White wolf raise their families in the Arctic.

Scout is on ledge right now.

http://ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/falcons/live_ledge_video.aspx

http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/4043

Click on forest camera 2   

Snow and 8 degrees in Rochester but I'm sure with windchill, it's worse. Right now it's colder here than in Antarctica 

Never heard of a Ural owl  this is in Estonia

A Goshawk on Deer in Looduskalender

Falcon at Harrisburg

Snow in DeMortel

Snow in Looduskalender

[“The wings are all broken in the same place on the same side and they’re all washing up on the beach indicating that whoever’s doing this is out on a boat,� Rogers said.]

No cause established for broken wings

By Amy Hotz
Amy.Hotz@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.

Ten pelicans in the past ten days have washed up on area beaches with broken wings, according to Mary Ellen Rogers with the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Oak Island.

Rogers said passersby began calling her about the birds on Dec. 17. So far, injured pelicans have been found on Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach and Caswell Beach, she said.

“The wings are all broken in the same place on the same side and they’re all washing up on the beach indicating that whoever’s doing this is out on a boat,� Rogers said. (Sick people)

Usually only the left wings have been broken, but a few of the birds are injured in their right wings. One bird was found with both wings broken.

Rogers said this is the second time several brown pelicans with broken wings have shown up on area beaches. About two years ago seven brown pelicans with injured wings were brought to the Wildlife Shelter in a 24-hour period. Rogers said time the birds are showing up later in the season. Because of the injuries’ characteristics, she believes humans are responsible.

“I don’t know what’s going on but it’s really, really discouraging that someone could be this incredibly cruel,� Rogers said.

If you find an injured shorebird on a local beach, Rogers can be reached by calling 278-7871.

For more information about the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter go to

http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news|Sports|Lifestyles/story/46226/turkey-vultures-cause-concern