Thanks for posting this, Patti.  Godwits are amazing.  Our Point Reyes Bird Observatory are also following these incredible flights.  I also enjoyed the video of the shorebirds coming in for a landing.  Beautiful.

Gayle

I received this response to my query of Johannah Barry, President of the Galapagos Conservancy:


"While ongoing genetic studies are helping to determine the best analog species with which to
repopulate Pinta, we believed it was  important that tortoises be released onto Pinta as soon as possible to begin the ecosystem "engineering" work.  The decision was made to use the hybrid tortoises held in corrals of the Galapagos National Park on Santa Cruz and Floreana for this purpose. These tortoises are the offspring of tortoises of unknown origin held in captivity during the early years of the GNP (late '60s). Given that one of the main goals of the GNP is to conserve the evolutionary integrity of the archipelago’s biodiversity, release of hybrid tortoises into the wild is unacceptable. Therefore, these tortoises were destined to spend their entire lives—as much as 150 years or more—in captivity. By sterilizing these tortoises, they can now be released into the wild on Pinta as non-reproducing contributors to the restoration of the island’s ecosystem."

Gayle

More breeding news...

http://www.savingcranes.org/nesting-news-june-9-2010.html

Gayle

I did find this job posting for migration trackers if anyone has timr to spare!

http://www.stopdodo.com/environment-jobs/whooping-crane-tracking-intern.849.htm

Gayle

Thanks for posting that video, Paul.  I am continually amazed at the human effort expended to save this species (and others, such as the condor and the peregrin.)

Gayle

There are three new chicks!  Complete with phototgraphs.

http://www.savingcranes.org/whooping-crane-chicks-at-icf-june-6-2010.html

Gayle

Here is another article from the Milwakee Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/95382539.html

Gayle

Linda, I think this first stage is to restore the island.  i haven't read the total plan.

Gayle

Two whooping crane chick hatched on May 31, 2019.  A photograph and article, including the interesting back story of the female, can be found here:

http://www.savingcranes.org/two-whooping-crane-chicks-hatch-at-necedah-nwr-june-2-2010.html

Gayle

Many of you have heard of Lonesome George, the last surviving tortoise from the island of Pinta.  Efforts to breed him with a closely related female have failed.  I have just heard from the Galapagos Conservancy that a group of animals of a closely related species, raised at Darwin Station, have been released on Pinta.  NBC's Today Show recorded the release.  You can see it here:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/37466585#37466585

Gayle

This has been an exceptional year for Horseshoe Crabs and shorebirds in Delaware. DE-Birds reported an estimated 15,000 RED KNOTS in Delaware Bay the past week and an estimated 5,000 RED KNOTS at Mispillion Harbor Preserve, Sussex Co, DE.

Paul

This is great news  Paul.  A few days ago, I again watched the PBS Nature program "Crash: A Tale of Two Species," the account of the relationship of the horseshoe crbs and the red knots.  I discovered that Nature episodes can now  be viewed on line.  Here is the link to that one:

http://video.pbs.org/video/1200406235/

This was filmed n 2008 when few red knots made it to their Arctic nesting grounds.  Lets hope that there is a different result this year.

Gayle

Your headgear is impressive!  Lou, you are guite the engineer!

There is an informative article in the New York Times about lengthy bird migrations and efforts to monitor them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/science/25migrate.html?8dpc

Gayle

Happy birthday, Carol!  Thank you for all you do for us!

Gayle

The June 2010 issue of National Geographic magazine contains a good article on whooping cranes.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/06/whooping-cranes/holland-text

Check out the photo gallery and the map as well.

"Whooping Cranes, Journey North" gives a good analysis of probable success rates of reproduction.

http://learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/Eggs_HowManyMakeCrane_BJ.html

Survival rates are likely similar for other species too.  The Journey North site contains a wealth of information.

Gayle