Annual Wisconsin-to-Florida whooping crane migration makes fitful start

[valhalla]

   This makes me happy this morning!   

[Donna]

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.

[Donna]

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.

[Donna]

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.

[Donna]

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.

[Donna]

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."

[Donna]

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.

[Donna]

   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.

[Donna]

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.

[Bird Crazy]

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

[Donna]

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.

[valhalla]

Well, they're getting closer!

[Donna]

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!!

[Paul Hamilton]

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

Paul

[Donna]

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.