Date: January 12, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Moving Day #2 Location: Main Office Chassahowitzka Bound! They are OFF! Everything cooperated this morning; weather, wind, and birds. Whew! Bev reported that take-off was shortly after 7:30AM with Joe in the lead and all 12 birds following. Pen release and lift off went smoothly, and assuming all continues in this vein, the entire Class of 2006 will be in the pen at Chassahowitzka in short order. Check the Field Journal later today for all the details. Date: January 11, 2007 - Entry 3 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Quite a day. Location: Main Office Birds here, birds there, birds everywhere. After the initial crane rodeo, Brooke and Richard persuaded 3 birds each to stay on the wing. Both delivered their birds to the Chass pensite where Sara Zimorski was waiting to call them down. One bird wasn’t anxious to land, but eventually decided to join his mates. Meanwhile, back at the pensite, Bev was doing a ground version on the rodeo with 604, 606, and 623, who had all decided they weren't flying anywhere today. The third arena of activity was in the sky about four or five miles short of the flyover viewing location in Homosassa Springs where, Joe and Chris were fighting a losing battle with the remaining 9 chicks. They tried everything, including landing with them. When they took off, getting them up in the air again, one independent little fellow, 622, decided he preferred to go off on his own. And so the rodeo continued. 6 birds stayed with Joe while 2 more broke off and headed away with Brooke in pursuit. He, along with Richard had zoomed back to help. Joe, with Chris's help, managed to get 6 birds together and all back on the ground. Brooke picked up the two fly-a-ways and landed with them in a field about a half mile from Joe. The action switched to the ground again as Bev, along with Tally Love from the Tracking and Monitoring team, picked up 622’s signal and head out with a crate to pick him up and truck him back to the Halpata pen. Still in the air, Richard flew back to the Halpata pen to help to get 604, 606, and 623 into crates so they, along with 622 could be driven to where Joe was babysitting his six chicks. Then, while Bev and Tally and Tracker Stacy Kerley headed out to Brooke's location with two more crates, Richard started dismantling the Halpata pen so it could be hauled to where Joe was waiting. So, the day that started with a 7AMish take-off finally ended sometime before 5PM when the travel pen was erected and the 9 chicks were safely inside for the night. Everyone is more than a little tired and will no doubt make it an early night because they get to do it all over again tomorrow - hopefully with more cooperative birds, and less heart-stopping moments. If you missed seeing Brooke and Richard flying over this morning, you’ll have another opportunity to see a flyover tomorrow – same time, same location. I hope all goes well, and the migration we launched on October 5th, 2006 ends tomorrow. I only have one fingernail left. Thanks to Mark Chenoweth for this photo of Brooke flying over Homosassa Springs on the way to Chassahowitzka NWR. Date: January 11, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: The latest update as of 10AM Location: Main Office Six chicks are safely in the pen at Chass. 3 are in the pen at Halpata, and Bev is trying to round up a fourth. Joe is down in a field near Post Oak with 6 birds. Brooke has two in a field about half a mile away. Joe and Brooke will wait about 30 minutes and then try again to get their birds to follow them to Chass. More news as it is received. Will the drama of the '06 Migration ever end?!?! Date: January 11, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Moving Day - Halpata to Chassahowitzka Location: Main Office Today is Moving Day, but the Class of 2006 took some convincing that was the case. They weren't at all anxious to leave their interim pensite at the Halpata-Tastanki Preserve to go and check in at their winter digs at the Chassahowitzka NWR. Not surprisingly after the long layoff, the birds gave the pilots a real workout this morning. Once out of the pen and into the air they went flying off every which way. The result of course was a wild and wooly crane round-up. At last word, Brooke is leading 3 and nearing the Chass pen; Richard is not far behind also with 3 chicks. Joe and Chris rounded up 9 birds and landed with them about a mile north of the Halpata pensite. They are trying again right now to get them into the air and on the wing(s) for the flight to Chass. Bev reported that 3 chicks (604, 606, and 623) remained at Halpata and she is trying to round them up and get them back into the pen. We'll post again as soon as we have news about the 9 chicks with Joe and Chris, and what plans, if any, are being made for the three 'homebody' birds. EarlyBird e-Bulletin After a few weeks hiatus, we sent the EarlyBird e-bulletin out to Members this morning. If there has to be another attempt to fly more birds on another day we will send out a further EarlyBird email. Our sincere thanks to Duke Energy for making it possible for us to provide you with the EarlyBird e-bulletin throughout the migration. Through your many calls and emails to us we know you too are appreciative. Please don't be shy about telling them, either directly or through OM's GuestBook. Date: January 10, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Thursday is Moving Day - we hope Location: Main Office It was like old home week last night as Joe, Brooke, Richard and Chris congregated in Florida and met up with Bev. Today, while Bev is tending to the chicks, the guys will be unpacking the aircraft trailer, and re-assembling and checking out their ultralights. Tomorrow they will try to lead the Class of 2006 on the final leg of their migration, from the interim pensite on the Halpata-Tastanki Preserve to the Chassahowitzka NWR. As usual, they will launch - weather permitting - just after first light for the approximate 26 mile flight. As of 4:30 this morning the weather looks fine for a flight tomorrow. However, the aviation sites are all forecasting that today's NNE 20mph winds at altitude will have swung around and to be 15 mph out of the ESE for tomorrow morning. Not promising. Should weather or wind be unfavorable, the team will continue to try on successive days. To those interested in the possibility of seeing them flyover, we suggest you congregate in the Wal-Mart/Winn-Dixie Plaza in Homassasa Springs. The pilots will do their best to have that site on their flight path. This plan hasn't been discussed with the birds of course, but we are hoping they will cooperate. You will want to be in place around 6:30am and certainly no later than 7:00am. An update from Bev Well, I survived migration, the trip back to Chicago, and then back down again - this last leg driving non-stop with two cats. The morning after I arrived, Sara and I took the birds out for some much needed exercise. The chicks were excited to be let out, and seemed to linger over the new sights and sounds of the Halpata pen site. They leapt at sticks, pecked at ant mounds, and flew a few circuits around the area. After an hour or so we put them back in the pen with little effort but much grape tossing. Three days later we let them out again, this time walking them to a different area. It was quite the experience walking approximately a half mile surrounded by strutting, four and a half foot tall birds! It sure seemed like 'my babies' matured while I was away. More are beginning to show their masks, and one has even acquired her adult (almost) voice. Being a birder and having birded Florida on a regular basis, I knew the unfamiliar sound I was hearing was not an ordinary Florida species. Luckily the sound was repeated when I was looking right at 604! She is also one of the more mature-looking birds with a well developed black mask, has the most white on her body, and red is even starting to show through the brown on her crown. Preparations are well under way for the final flight - the move from Halpata to Chassahowitzka. Sara and I went out to inspect the pen at Chass and were very pleased at the condition and work that had been done by the refuge staff. Our thanks to them for their hard work. This emphasizes once again the 'power of partnership'. One of the toughest things about the migration ending was saying good bye to everyone. Luckily, most of the team is coming back this week. It will be good to see everyone again, and I look forward to welcoming Joe back to his 'mobile' home. I'm sure my cats are too! A few of the chicks were captured by Bev's camera on her most recent visit to the Halpata pensite. View the photos here in the 2006 Migration Photo Journal. Date: January 9, 2007 - Entry 3 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Orders have been brisk Location: Main Office Since advertising the availability of the 'Craniac Patch' orders have been pouring into OM's offices. We are delighted to be able to report that the new miracle product is providing great relief to thousands of Craniacs. (See entry #2 for January 2nd.)   Young Derrick Chenoweth of Kissimmee, FL told us the Craniac Patch he ordered from OM brought him instant relief. When he was interviewed yesterday, Derrick told our reporter that during the recent migration season he was checking OM's Field Journal several times a day. "In addition to receiving the EarlyBird e-bulletin, I was accustomed to there being multiple entries to read each day," said Derrick. "I was hooked." Peeping his obvious relief, Derrick said, "Thank heavens for the Craniac Patch, there is no way I could have gone cold crane." Date: January 9, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: White Bird report to Jan 6/07 Location: Main Office There was very little movement of the birds since the last report. (See January 2nd Field Journal entry #1) Location changes since that report are shown below. (Females are indicated by *. DAR = direct autumn release. NFT =non functional transmitter.) Alabama (2) 213 and 218* moved from Franklin County, TN to Morgan County AL. Louisiana (1) 508* moved from Pasco County, FL to roost in Tangipahoa Parish, LA on Jan  3 and 4. Florida (47) - 105 and 204* were found roosting at the Chass pensite Jan 8. - 102* left the Chass pensite to join 216 in Pasco County. - 307, 510*, 511, 512, and 519*, last detected Nov 9 in IL, were found in Alachua County. - 516 moved from Madison County to Marion County. - 505 and  506 moved from Hernando County to Citrus County. Trackers include Richard Urbanek, (USF&WS) Tally Love, Stacey Kerley, and Sara Zimorski (ICF). They and we thank to Windway Aviation, Wildlife Trust, pilots Lew Lawrence and Martin Sobel, Theresa Dailey (FWS), Brad Feaster (Indiana DNR), and Wally Akins (Tennessee WRA) for their assistance. Date: January 9, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Donate without opening your wallet Location: Main Office Did you know that Operation Migration could earn a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well we can! GoodSearch.com is a search engine that donates half its revenue to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. When you use GoodSearch to search the internet and designate Operation Migration as the recipient charitable organization, you earn $$ for us. And the more you use GoodSearch the more money OM will earn! Just go to www.goodsearch.com (or click the logo to the right) and be sure to enter Operation Migration as the charity you want to support. Just 1,000 people searching twice a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to check out GoodSearch today as OM is being featured as the Charity of the Day! Please spread the word to your friends, family, and also your co-workers. What an easy and no cost way to support a cause you care about. Date: January 7, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: INformation Magazine Location: Main Office Being in the process of putting together the Spring issue of OM's INformation Magazine, we thought it timely to pass along the following reminder regarding its distribution. When first launched, INformation magazine's architect had visions of subscriptions and advertising off-setting production and mailing costs, and so it was offered it free to members. Because no formal membership structure existed however, that meant sending it to everyone who donated to OM. Unfortunately the anticipated revenue sources never materialized, and, in order to keep the commitment made to you, we absorbed the cost of printing and mailing over 5,000 copies four times a year. We did this for the first three issues, racking up a substantial deficit on this budget line in the process. We were in a quandary. We didn't want to discontinue INformation, but recognized that we couldn’t continue to publish at a loss. The resolution arrived at was, a) to transform INformation into a semi-annual but more substantial publication, and, b) to institute a true Membership Fee, a portion of which could be allocated to cover the cost of the complimentary magazine - one of the several perks awarded Members. The long and the short of this tale is, that although you may be a MileMaker sponsor, or have made a donation supporting OM, unless you are a Member, we cannot include you on INformation magazine's distribution list. To do so would mean we would have to divert some of the funds you’ve contributed to support our work with the Whooping cranes to cover the magazine's costs. We think you will agree that we've got our priorities straight. As with most everything else related to OM's work, INformation magazine is only possible with the help of others. Guest authors contribute their time and expertise to provide interesting and informative content. The huge chore of graphic design - which unfailingly makes our publication a visual knockout - is donated by Nan Rudd of Rudd Design in Wisconsin. Port Perry Printing and Harrison Mailing give us both rock bottom pricing and great service. We hope and trust you will all be understanding of the position we found ourselves in, and the manner of its resolution. And, we hope that if you aren’t already a Member, that you will consider becoming one. As an incentive, (while supplies last) we will send you a complimentary copy of the Fall issue of INformation with your Membership receipt. We offer one, two, or three year memberships, and signing up is as easy as a phone call to our office. If you prefer, click the following link to join online using PayPal. Make me a Member. Note: The upcoming issue of INformation will feature a wrap up of the '06 migration, including the thoughts of OM crew members; the outcome of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership and Whooping Crane Recovery Team's winter meetings; commentary, photos, and forecasts from North America's Whooping crane breeding facilities; and among other articles, announcements about new programs such as: The Craniac Kids Club, Send a Chick to Flight School, and the launch of OM’s new GrassRoots Kit for individuals who want to become 'active' supporters. Date: January 6, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Anticipating 'Moving Day' Location: Main Office The next episode in our migration saga will be the move of the chicks from the Halpata-Tastanki Preserve pensite to the Chassahowitzka Refuge. We expect - weather permitting - that will happen after Wednesday of the coming week. Check back here for the exact date. We are working on figuring out one or two locations for possible flyover viewings. For those not familiar with the reasons for holding the Class of 2006 at the interim stop at Halpata, we provide the following explanation. In order to allow our young birds the freedom to come and go, the pens at the Chassahowitzka Refuge are not top-netted. This leaves them vulnerable however, to potential aggression from previous years birds, who are territorial, and who may try to steal their food, or worse, chase the juveniles off. With more than 60 birds in the reintroduced flock now migrating on their own, and most if not all headed for Chassahowitzka, we established the Halpata site to hold the new cohorts until the white birds had an opportunity to check in at Chass and then and disperse. Since the habitat around the release pen at Chassahowitzka is not ideal for Whooping cranes, if the older birds don't find a free meal, or any young chicks to harass, they wander off to their usual wintering grounds or to a site with better habitat. By stopping 'early', and using Halpata-Tastanaki Preserve as a temporary holding site for a few weeks, we give the older birds some added time to clear the pensite at the refuge. Class of 2006 Update Bev reported that she and Sara Zimorski (ICF) let the cohort out to play for several hours yesterday, and she told us that all the young birds are doing well. Rainfall that came with some severe weather that recently hit parts of Florida, transformed the previously totally dry Halpata pensite area. The rain left the small pond area that was dug out inside the pen with an accumulation of water that excited the juveniles. The warm weather is gradually drying up their pond. But in the meantime, the chicks are making the most of it, jumping and flapping and peeping their delight. Date: January 5, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Reviewing the past – Re-focusing on the future Location: Main Office The International Whooping Crane Recovery Team (WCRT), the joint Canada/U.S. organization established in 1976, will be meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana at the end of January to review the results of recovery efforts over the past year and to set goals for the coming season. There are six captive breeding centers* around North America protecting a total of 145 birds, and which produce all the chicks available for the release programs. They have perfected the process of raising captive-hatched birds until it is a subtle mix of science and art. At the upcoming meetings, each captive flock-manager will report on their results and make predictions about the number of chicks that could be produced in the coming breeding season. Using these forecasts, the WCRT will allocate specific numbers to each release program. *2006 Captive Population Summary Total Breeding Pairs Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland 60 15 International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin 37 11 Devonian Wildlife Conservation Center, Calgary, Alberta 22 6 Species Survival Center, Louisiana 8 1 Calgary Zoo, Alberta (using AI) 2 0 New Orleans Zoo, Louisiana 2 0 San Antonio Zoo, Texas 8 1 Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa, Florida 2 0 Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 2 0 Jacksonville Zoo, Florida 2 0 Totals 145 34 As the 15 surviving birds from the late 1940's included just 4 breeding pairs, the genetic material available is severely limited. As a result, a priority of the WRCT is to ensure as much genetic diversity as possible is maintained at each captive breeding site. In years past, many captive pairs have had limited breeding success while others have been more productive resulting in their pedigree being over represented. This has made some birds genetically significant, and caused others to be designated as 'surplus' - if such a term can be applied to these rare creatures. In order to increase the diversity of the captive flock, the Recovery Team recommended that it be expanded to 153 individuals over the next decade. This means that each year, a few of the ‘more valuable’ birds will be held back from the  number that hatch in captivity. Due to high mortality and low fertility in recent years, no chicks were allocated to the Florida non-migratory release program this past season, however, that population did set new records in 2006. In 2006, twenty-two eggs were allotted to Operation Migration's ultralight-led program, and seven to the supplemental release pilot program, now renamed 'direct autumn release' or DAR. Due to infertile eggs, mortality, health issues, or genetic holdbacks, the two programs ended up with 18 and 5 chicks respectively. At autumn release time, a further DAR chick was removed from that program for health reasons. Despite increased egg production in the captive population, space limitations at propagation facilities and stretched human and financial resources continue to restrict the number of eggs/chicks that can be assigned to both the ultralight-led and DAR programs. On an environmental note, all of the Whooping cranes that exist today are descendants of birds hatched in Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Northwest Territories of Canada. This isolated area is the nesting-grounds for the only naturally occurring population of Whooping cranes, and the habitat is considered crucial to their survival. Arctic fringe areas are particularly susceptible to the effects of global warming. The recorded mean annual temperature there has increased by 5.4F degrees over the past five decades. What effect this could have on the water levels of the area is not known, but it will undoubtedly impact vegetation, predation, food availability, and , the Whooping cranes’ nesting habitat at a time critical to their life cycle. So, despite this year’s record numbers, the Whooping crane is not out of the woods yet. Date: January 4, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Asking for your help Location: Main Office How can you help our conservation and preservation measures? We are prompted by the many calls and emails we receive reporting Whooping crane sightings, to remind everyone how crucial it is that the birds not be approached. Please bear in mind that while we and others make every effort possible to keep and teach them to be wild, we are restricted by our human capabilities. We cannot possibly teach them the what and where of 'safety zones', or exactly when to fly away from potential danger. These are vital lessons a parent would normally teach its chick. After raising and training the chicks in isolation from humans and man's paraphernalia, and making every effort to insure they never hear a human voice, we can only hope we have instilled in them a fear of the unknown. If they are to have ANY success at remaining wild, humans must remain unknown and represent danger to them. Please do not approach any Whooping cranes or try to 'get a bit closer' for a better photograph. Please do not call to them, or attempt to feed them. Not long ago a bird was lost to a powerline strike when it was flushed by someone who 'meant no harm and only wanted a photograph.' A huge amount of time, and financial and physical resources have been invested in this project in an attempt to safeguard this species. Please enjoy your sightings from a safe and respectful distance, and afford these birds the privacy they need to remain wild and survive. Date: January 2, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Get the 'Patch' Location: Main Office It has been brought to our attention that OM's Field Journal (FJ) promotes a powerful physical and psychological dependency in many people. If you've ever tried to quit smoking, you know it's one of the harder habits to break. Past experience, not to mention the emails we received, have taught us that daily exposure to OM's Field Journal is no less addictive, especially after a lengthy and drama filled migration season. Over the years Craniacs have told us they have tried everything from going 'cold crane,' to supplementing their diet with mealworms or, hibernating with Brooke in a Wal-Mart store until the new season begins. We are, of course, deeply concerned about the welfare of all our Craniacs, and while we would hate to see you kick the Field Journal habit entirely, our R & D department has been working on something to help alleviate your FJ cravings. Despite having tasted failure (pun intended) last season with their less than popular chocolate covered mud minnows, Operation Migration's mad scientists are now confident they have successfully perfected a treatment to help you cope with FJ withdrawal symptoms. Aptly named, the 'Craniac Patch' is a small bandaid-like device that you wrap around your primary mouse clicking finger. When applied correctly, the Craniac Patch releases controlled amounts of a patented secret ingredient that reduces cravings for Field Journal entries to a tolerable level. Be assured no creatures were harmed in the development and testing of the Craniac Patch. As it contains all natural ingredients it can be worn safely for long periods, and it has no known side effects - - other than an increased appetite for blue crabs. However, should you develop an irresistible urge to stand on one leg in the bathtub overnight, please consult your personal physician or immediately return to the Field Journal. CRANIAC PATCH FREE SAMPLE (For longer lasting treatment order one of OM's logo injected Certified Craniac T-shirts)   Date: January 2, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: White Bird Report to Dec 30/06 Location: Main Office Just in this morning, the Tracking Team's latest report. Thanks to the Tracking Team Richard Urbanek (USF&WS), Tally Love, Stacy Kerley, and Sara Zimorski (ICF) we are able to bring you the latest locations of the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). Thanks also to Windway Aviation, Wildlife Trust, pilot Jorge Neumann, Theresa Dailey (FWS), and Wally Akins (Tennessee WRA) for tracking assistance and to staff of Indianapolis Zoo for care of 208. Females are indicated by *. DAR = direct autumn release. NFT = Nonfunctional transmitter. The EMP contains 64 birds; 35 males, 29 females. Mortality Whooping crane 208 expired suddenly Dec. 27 in the Indianapolis Zoo veterinary hospital from respiratory blockage after tube feeding. He had been under intensive care since Dec. 23 for stress-induced myopathy resulting from an apparent powerline strike. His mate, 313*, continues to remain on a migration stopover in Greene County, IN. There was little movement over the past week. Locations at the end of the week were: Indiana (4) - 209* and 416, 420*, remained with large numbers of Sandhills in Jackson County. - 313* remained in Green County after the loss of her mate 208. Tennessee (5) -DAR527* and DAR533* remained with thousands of Sandhills on Hiwassee WR, Meigs County. -DAR528* remained with Sandhills in Obion County. -213 and 218* remained on their winter territory in Franklin County. Alabama (1) - 508* remained in Baldwin County,  and/or an alternate site in Santa Rosa County in the Florida panhandle. Her former mate, 407, was found Dec. 28 in Pasco County, FL. South Carolina (3) 301* and 311, and 310 remained on their winter territory in Colleton County, SC. Undetermined (9) - 212 and 419* have not been detected since they began migration undetected from Wood County, WI Nov. 30. - 307, 510*, 511, 512, and 519* have not been detected since they roosted Nov. 9 in IL. - 318 remained on a large Sandhill staging area in Calhoun County, MI and nearby Eaton County until the first week of December. No subsequent reports have been received. - 107* was last confirmed among large numbers of Sandhills in Jackson County, IN. prior to Dec. 7. Recent reports of an unidentified crane on Hiwassee WR, Meigs County, TN may have been 107*. Florida (42) – Last Known Locations Citrus County – 101 and 202*, 521* Hernando County – 105 and 204*, 505, 506, 211 and 217*, and Wild601* Volusia County – 306 and 201* Pasco County – 205, 216, 309*, 401, 407NFT, 408, 501*, 514, 520*, DAR626, DAR628 Sumter County – 317 and 303* Lafayette County – 402, 403, 412, DAR627, DAR632* Alachua County – 316 and 312* Lake County – 509 Madison County – 514*, 516 Levy County – 502*, 503, 507*, 523, 524 Dixie County – DAR532 Chass Pensite – 102* First Family in Hernando County DARs626 & 28, 309, 407, 520               Photos by Sara Zimorski Date: January 1, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: The OM Team Subject: Celebration Time Location: Main Office Date: December 28, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Long Odds Location: Main Office There is nothing more inspiring than a story of triumphing over long odds. We look around us and behold the beautiful and bountiful country we live in, it's many creatures large and small, and have a tendency to think of all that we see as being timeless; that it will be around forever. Not true, as the history of the Whooping crane teaches us. Because we work with them every day, we never forget how remarkable it is that there are any Whooping cranes at all. In a sense, we humans have become strangers to the land we live in, and this is amplified the more 'citified' we are. Being distanced from it, we become cut off from our land’s history for the simple reason we often don’t stop long enough to contemplate it; to learn lessons from it. History is of no value if it is locked away in old books gathering dust on shelves and not learned from. History has to be felt, sensed, understood and appreciated, for it to become part of our lives. The reintroduction project to safeguard the Whooping crane from extinction offers everyone such a chance; an opportunity to reconnect with the land. It also provides us a direct contact with our past; one that seizes the imagination, triggers hope for the future, and engages us with the earth and its living things. It reminds us of everything that existed; everything that lived here long before we did. And it prompts us to acknowledge the wrongs in our history, and our responsibility to right them for future generations. The successfulness of this reintroduction project is a stellar example of what can be done when hands and hearts come together. For though it is all about a wild creature, the comeback tale of the endangered Whooping crane has a very human side. It puts us in touch with ourselves, and with thousands of like-minded others. It raises awareness and teaches us lessons. It reminds us of man's past follies, and encourages us to make reasoned, thoughtful, and unselfish choices for now, and for the future. Years ago, Bill Lishman and Joe Duff triumphed over long odds to convince everyone that the unconventional techniques they had pioneered could help save a species. The necessary international and inter-state co-operations and agreements were put in place against long odds. Operation Migration has struggled mightily to finance each ultralight-led migration since 2001, and survived, against long odds. In the 1940's when there were but 15 Whooping cranes left in existence, who would have dreamt that preservation and restoration measures could raise that number to today's 500+? The odds offered would have been so long no one would have touched that bet. So as much as it is about saving the Whooping crane, this project is also all about prodding us to heed the lessons of history. In a real and highly visual way, it teaches us that both wildlife and their habitats can be saved if we have the will and mindset to do it. This project is also about the initiative, courage, sacrifice, and the 'never say die' attitude of many, many hands, and the giving hearts of you, Operation Migration's staunch supporters. These too are things that it takes to triumph over long odds. Date: December 27, 2006 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Mortality Location: Main Office 208 died this morning at the Indianapolis Zoo. (See Entry 2 for December 25th.) His remains are being sent to the National Wildlife Health Center for necropsy. Chair of WCEP’s Health Team, Dr. Barry Hartup, said he was hopeful of knowing more about 208's injuries/demise once the results of the necropsy were received. Date: December 27, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Tracking Team Report to Dec 23rd Location: Main Office Thanks to Trackers Richard Urbanek (USF&WS), Tally Love, Stacy Kerley, and Sara Zimorski (ICF) for the information enabling us to compile and provide report. The Tracking team thanks Windway Aviation, Wildlife Trust, pilot Martin Sobel, Theresa Dailey (FWS), and Wally Akins (Tennessee WRA) for tracking assistance, and Brad Feaster (Indiana DNR) and Jan Ramer and staff of Indianapolis Zoo for assistance with 208. In the highlights below, females are indicated by *. DAR = direct autumn release. There are 65 birds (36 males and 29 females) in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). There was little movement during the week. Distribution at the end of the week was: 5 in Indiana - 209* and 416, 420*, 208 and 313* (see note below) 5 in Tennessee - DAR527*, DAR528*, DAR533*, 213 and 218* 1 in Alabama/panhandle Florida - 508* (Her mate, 407 has not been detected since Nov. 29 in Marathon County,WI) 3 in South Carolina - 301* and 311, 310 10 Undetermined - 307, 510*, 511, 512, 519*, 212, 419*, 318, 107*, DAR 532 41 in Florida Note: 208 and his mate 313* remained in Greene County, Indiana, during the week. On December 16 the pair was observed in a marshy area, and through the following week a single crane was reported approximately 3 miles SW of that location. On December 23rd the single bird was identified as no. 313*, and 208 was found immobile under a powerline. He was transported to the Indianapolis Zoo veterinary hospital for examination and treatment. No fractures were found, and his immobility appeared due to myopathy. 313* remains just W of the apparent collision site. Date: December 26, 2006 - Entry 2 Reporter: Richard vanHeuvelen Subject: Rescuing 615 Location: Main Office Although a little after the fact, we think you will nonetheless enjoy Richard's account of finding and rescuing 615. With all the jobs that had to be done, followed by driving the Flair motorhome and some of the crew to Maryland before catching a flight from Baltimore to Toronto, and then making the two hour drive home, (only arriving late on the 23rd) Richard had his hands full. After Christmas Day with his family he was back to thinking about OM, and you, our Field Journal readers. Here is his story..... Well here we are at Halpata; we made it! It feels great to not care what the weather brings. It's time to pack up and get out of town. There were health checks to do, aircraft to disassemble and pack, RV’s to reorganize and get ready for the drive home. While some crew members were doing health checks, others worked on the multitude of other things that needed to be done. But 615 was still out there somewhere, and his whereabouts weighed heavily on all of us. Often being accused of being stubborn, hard-headed, and all sorts of other not so flattering attributes, I decided to head out on a 'wild crane chase,' while every one else stayed back to do tackle the work that needed to be done. Charlie and Marie had tried the day before with Don and Paula's aircraft fitted with tracking antennas flying overhead. But they came up empty. Don and Paula, who had left the migration in Indiana, had come down to see us arrive, and after the festivities they volunteered to help out for the afternoon as they needed to be home the next day. My plan was simple enough; take the tracking van, go back to where 615 was last seen and try to pick up its telemetry signal. If it wasn't there, then I would head back up the migration route hoping it would stay in familiar territory - sort of like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. I was almost to where 615 was last seen when Don called and asked what I was doing. He had heard about my quest from the crew over breakfast. He told me that the weather was better than expected and he and Paula had a couple of hours to spare that morning and were willing to help out. Never one to pass an opportunity, I eagerly accepted their offer. So far I had heard nothing through the buzz of the receiver. Not even a single beep. As it would take them about an hour to fly up to where I was, I continued searching, driving around back roads in the area 615 was last seen, and where a questionable signal was heard the day before. Still nothing. As I headed farther out searching and listening for the beep that wouldn't come, Paula's familiar voice came over the icom radio, "We're almost there, and we've been listening as we flew up but haven't heard anything." Hope of finding 615 began to fade. "Well, we're here, so lets continue searching enroute to the previous stop," I replied. Paula agreed, that they had enough time to do that much, so I headed north trying to stay with in radio contact of the aircraft. "Still haven't heard anything," I barely made out over the crackling radio. As we continued on I began to feel guilty for shirking my duties back with the crew. Perhaps 615 had come to harm in the back of the white pickup seen leaving the area yesterday, I thought. More crackle came over the radio. I was too far behind to make out what was said but I replied anyway, thinking they might be able to hear me. "Can’t hear you. Will continue north till I can." I sound desperate. About ten minutes later I when tried again I heard, "We think we have a faint signal towards our last stop." Wow! I was 30 miles away, my palms were sweating on the steering wheel, and it was all I could do to not punch the pedal to the floor and race up there. A few minutes later Paula's voice is much clearer, "We definitely have a signal!" The cursed highway seemed never ending and the traffic incredibly slow. "I think were on top of him," said Paula, "The signal is really strong now." "I’m still 20 miles out," I replied. Around a bend, then another, then behind a logging truck - could this get any slower?!? Down a dirt road and I was getting closer. Don and Paula were circling the area where the bird was waiting for me to get there. Then I picked up the signal as well! I was getting really close. Don and Paula spotted me barreling down the dirt road and radioed, "Keep coming and take the first paved road to the right, I think we've spotted the bird." Did any one ever tell you what a wonderful voice Paula has? We call her the Sky Goddess. I careened onto the paved road. "Keep coming, I'll tell you when to turn," boomed Don's voice over the radio. Don and Paula guided me through dirt roads and two track trails to a small lake and then I heard, "He should be in front of you and to the left, standing on something in the water." Pulse racing, I donned my costume, grabbed the loud hailer, hauled a crate out of the van and headed down to the water. As I ran toward the water an egret flushed and flew away; then another. Worried that I might flush 615 before he saw me I put the crate down next to a tree, turned on the loud hailer and walked to the waters edge to let him know it was me. And there he was - standing off to the left on a small mound in the water. He looked at me and began to chirp excitedly, but he wouldn't fly to me. While the birds are familiar with the sound of the loud hailer they are not familiar with the sight of it. Guessing this might be the problem I left the hailer on, but set it down out of sight behind a stump and then walked a few steps farther out on the spongy ground. Then 615 immediately flew to me crying its chirp. Then as I began leading him towards the box, I remembered that in my excitement at finding him, I hadn't opened the door, so I walked ahead and opened it. This seemed to make him nervous and he stayed out of arms reach. I squatted down and began to play in the dirt with my puppet head, tossing bits of wood toward him and this seemed to calm him down. After a few minutes the standoff came to an end when, with my long arms, I was able to grab him and steer him towards the crate. He wasn't enthusiastic about getting in, but with a little encouragement and some jostling we managed. After sliding the door down I ran to the van to let Don and Paula know over the radio, 'mission accomplished,' but they already knew. They had watched from above while circling in their aircraft. I thanked them and began putting things back in the van. Before putting the boxed bird in the van I checked to see if it was okay, and to make sure I really had captured it. The feeling of success was euphoric - sort of like scoring the winning touchdown in the final minute of the Super Bowl. Our quest accomplished and feeling all proud, I turned back for the two and a half hour drive to Halpata where 615 would be reunited with his classmates of 2006. Finally, I was able to put some of my not so positive attributes to good use. Date: December 26, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Saving the best for last Location: Main Office During the 2006 migration we tied and broke several records. As most related to down days, they were records we would rather not have met or set. But the final record of this season is a case of saving the best for last. For only the second time in the six years of the project, all of the birds in the ultralight-led cohort arrived safely in Florida. With the exception of 2003, in each of the last project years one less chick than departed Necedah with us arrived safe and sound in Florida. Here are the numbers: Migration Year Birds Departed Birds Arrived 2001 8 7 2002 17 16 2003 16 16 2004 14 13 2005 20 19 2006 18 18 Another record set this season was the successful migration to Florida by the 4 direct autumn release (DAR) birds. In 2005 WCEP launched the experimental DAR program which involves releasing chicks among older Whooping cranes with migration experience. Last year two of four DAR birds migrated with Sandhills as far as Tennessee; the other two wintered in Florida. This year, all four DAR birds departed Necedah on migration in the company of Whooping cranes that learned their migration route following OM's ultralights, and all four made Florida their southern terminus. WCEP's Bird Team and the Project Direction Team will continue to monitor and evaluate the DAR program. It is hoped that this supplemental method will allow us to build the growing flock at a faster rate, and the odds of more DAR birds successfully migrating increases exponentially with the number of birds with migration experience that we can provide for them to associate with. Looking Ahead Despite there being a myriad of tasks and reports to be completed to wind down the 2006 project year, we cannot help but think ahead to the new season. At our winter meeting in January, all the WCEP teams will be filing their yearly summations. These summations are compiled into WCEP's annual report document for submission, along with WCEP's recommendations for 2007, to the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team (IWCRT) which also meets in January. Operation Migration is hoping the outcome of the IWCRT's deliberations will be a greater allocation of eggs for the ultralight-led Class of 2007, and that the early but encouraging results of the direct autumn release technique will prompt an increased allotment of eggs to that program as well. There are however, two critical factors which determine the number of eggs which can be accommodated in both the ultralight-led and DAR programs. Space at USGS Patuxent's propagation facilities is limited, as are both their and OM's financial and human resources available to devote to hatching, rearing, and early conditioning. Similar limitations face ICF and USF&WS in their operation of the DAR program. Date: December 25, 2006 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: White Bird injured Location: Main Office Dr. Richard Urbanek (USF&WS) reported to us this morning that on December 23rd, 208 had been found immobile under a powerline in a wildlife area in Greene County, IN. He was retrieved and taken to the Indianapolis Zoo veterinary hospital where the facilities are excellent and suitable for maintaining the costume/isolation protocol. The bird was in shock and had an injured right leg. A complete diagnosis is not yet available. "208 and his mate, 313*, had been in Greene County since December 4th," said Urbanek. He noted that up until the 16th, the pair had been observed in marshy areas within 3 miles of the apparent powerline collision site, but through the following week only one crane, since identified as 313, was observed at that locale. Richard said, "Although 313 was not visible, her radio signal was detected in a wetland just 3 miles west of where 208 was found." Many thanks to Manager Brad Feaster and Indiana DNR staff for their assistance, and to Dr. Jan Ramer and staff at the Indianapolis Zoo. In closing his report, Dr. Urbanek said, "208 and 313 paired on the Necedah NWR this past spring and were expected to nest on their territory there in the spring of next year." We will post further updates on 208 and 313* as soon as they are received. Top Left Powerlines under which 208 was found. Top Right Downed and injured 208 as found by the Tracking Team. Bottom Left 208 hooded for non-costumed handling is checked over by veterinary staff at the Indianapolis Zoo's medical facility. Photos submitted by Dr. Richard Urbanek Date: December 25, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Season's Greetings! Location: Main Office OM's 'Secret Santa', aka Charlie Robinson, sent along this photo to help us wish everyone a Date: December 24, 2006 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Holiday Entertainment Location: Main Office A note for Canadian/Ontario television viewers - One of OM's newest members, Bev Nicholson of Brooklin, Ontario, wrote to tell us that the 2003 BBC film, 'Flying Home,' will be aired on TV Ontario, on Wednesday, December 27th at 7PM. Date: December 24, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Arrival Health Checks Location: Main Office As many of you may already know, Disney has volunteered to provide veterinary services to the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping cranes while they are in Florida, as well as to the birds in the non-migratory flock. Scott P. Terrell, is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine for our newest project partner, Walt Disney World Animal Programs. He was one of the vets (the other was Don, whose last name I unfortunately don't have) who conducted the arrival health checks on the Class of 2006. Scott and Don have sent along a brief report for us to share with you. Scott and Don’s Report "Thanks to the cool, cloudy weather, and to the hard work of the bird handlers/holders we were able to complete all 18 health exams on Wednesday, December 20th. 17 birds were checked in the morning and the one 'lost' bird was examined shortly after his delivery to the pensite in the afternoon. All of the cranes were in good body condition (the majority being 4/5 body score, one was 3/5, one was 5/5). We did not find any injuries in any of the birds. The birds seemed to handle the exams well. From the human perspective the exams went off without a hitch, and we collected all the blood, feces, swabs, and data, a veterinarian could ever want. The next few days were busy ones for us as we worked to get all the samples processed and out to the labs before the holidays. Charlie Shafer and Sara Zimorski deserve special thanks. Their hands were beaten and battered by the young birds as we vets took our time doing the exams. We will be able to provide WCEP's Health Team with more detailed information once the lab results come back to us after the holidays. Thank you for allowing us the honor of working on this project!" Liz's Note: Imagine them thanking us! We are thrilled and grateful for Disney's involvement and contribution to the project. Postscript Sara Zimorski, ICF Aviculturist and an experienced member of the Tracking and Monitoring Team, sent along this postscript regarding the Class of 2006’s health checks. "While we missed working with Marilyn Spalding,** the Disney crew did a terrific job and we really appreciate their accommodating our schedule and squeezing in the health exams right before the holidays," said Sara. "Many thanks to Don, Scott, Lydia, Vickie, and Leanne, as well as OM crew members Charlie, Marie, Bev, and Richard, and Tally of ICF for making this event go so smoothly." Sara reported that all the birds looked fine after their exams, and that they continue to do well with most of them responding normally to the costume again. **Dr. Marilyn Spalding is with the College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainsville, Florida. Due to work pressures and the growth of the reintroduced flock, Marilyn passed on the primary responsibilities of her health care role for the Eastern Migratory Population to the folks at Disney. Date: December 23, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Tracking Team update to Dec. 16 Location: Main Office Thanks to Trackers Richard Urbanek (USF&WS), Tally Love, Stacy Kerley, and Sara Zimorski (ICF) for the information enabling us to compile and provide report. The Tracking team thanks Muscatatuck NWR (FWS) staff and Wally Akins (Tennessee WRA) for tracking assistance. In the highlights below, females are indicated by *. DAR = direct autumn release. There are  65 birds (36 males and 29 females) in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). On  Dec. 11 distribution was: Indiana (3), Tennessee (5), Alabama (3), South Carolina (3), Florida (37), and undetermined (14). By Dec. 16  distribution was: Indiana (4), Tennessee (6), Alabama (1), South Carolina (3), Georgia (2), Florida (39), and undetermined (10). On Dec. 18 an additional pair from an undetermined location was also reported in Indiana, and the two birds in Georgia completed migration to Florida. Autumn Migration (last locations) -  107*, 209* and 416, 420 - Jackson County, IN -  208 and 313* - Greene County, IN -  212 and 419* - undetected since departing Wood County, WI on Nov. 30. -  307, 501*, 511, 521, and 519* left Necedah Nov. 9 to roost in N. IL. No further reports have been received. -  309* and 520* - Arrived Chassahowitzka Dec. 18 and roosted there. This was the first successful unassisted migration between Wisconsin and Florida for both birds. 309* has made three spring migrations to Michigan, New York/Vermont, and New York, and two previous autumn migrations to North Carolina. 309 was retrieved from North Carolina last autumn and re-released in northern Florida. She flew to the Chassahowitzka pensite on her own and wintered there with the 2005 cohort. In the spring of this year 520* migrated north to New York with 309* and they were retrieved and re-released to summer in Wisconsin. -  318 – undetected since early Dec. in Calhoun and Eaton Counties, MI -  508* - Baldwin County, Alabama on Dec. 9. Her mate, 407 has not been reported since Nov. 29 in Marathon County, WI. His transmitter is non-functional. -  DAR527* and DAR533* remained with thousands of staging or wintering Sandhills on Hiwassee WR, Meigs County, TN during the week. -  DAR528* remained with Sandhills in Obion County, TN during the week. -  Two unidentified whooping cranes, one Indiana, and one on Hiwassee in TN were also reported during the week. One of these may have been no. 107*. In Florida (Citrus, Hernando, Volusia, Pasco, Lafayette, Madison, Levy, Lake, Marion, and Dixie Counties) 101, 102*, 105  201*, 202*, 204*, 205, 216  303*, 306, 312*, 316, 317 401, 402, 403, 408, 412, 415* 501*,  502*, 503*, 505, 506,  507*,  509, 514, 516, 521*, 523, 524 DAR birds 532, 626, 627, 628, and 632* On other wintering areas 213 and 218* - Franklin County, TN 310, 301* and 311 remained on their winter territory in Colleton County, SC during the week. The First Family Parents 211, 217*, and Wild Chick601 moved alternately between the Chassahowitzka pensite and the pair’s usual, but currently drought-stricken wintering area in Pasco County, before settling on an intermediate location in Hernando County. Their location in Hernando County is on a lake in a large housing development where they were in full view of houses circling the lake (just 55 yards from backyards). The First Family stayed at this site for the remainder of the week. Date: December 22, 2006 - Entry 1 Reporter: Joe Duff Subject: '06 Migration over - almost Location: Main Office Finally, after 76 days the 2006 migration is over.....almost It took us 10 weeks and 3 days to reach Florida from Wisconsin. We covered 1234 miles and logged 32 hours and 44 minutes in the air, and that's a long time to keep your butt muscles clenched. All of this effort was made to get the birds to the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve just south of Dunnellon. But we still have to move them to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River. There is a reason for short-stopping the migration, and its not because we dropped them off at the first stop in Florida so we could rush home for Christmas. For 5 years we have been delivering birds to the pen site at Chassahowitzka where each generation of juvenile chicks has spent their first winter in the salt marsh there feeding on blue crab. When they return the following autumn, they set this area as their Florida destination. The Chassahowitzka refuge does not have a lot of good crane habitat however. In fact, the black needle rush is so thick it covers most of it, leaving only a few places where the cranes can feed and roost. The area around the pen has to be burned or knocked flat each season to provide the cranes with an open foraging area. High tides, driven by winters storms, can sometime force the birds off their roost sites in the middle of the night. To correct this situation at the pen site, a helicopter was used to drop 90 tons of crushed oyster shell creating a beach. As the water rises, the birds simply move up the incline to the preferred water depth. Despite the fact that most are still sub-adults and will be until they reach breeding age, we refer to our earlier generations of Whooping cranes as 'white birds' until they have acquired their adult plumage. Each year, more and more white birds head south and target the Chassahowitzka pen site as their first stop. If the white birds arrive before the newest generation of ultralight-led birds, they find an empty pen in the middle of marginal habitat. They generally stay a night or so and move on to better territories that they have established in freshwater marshes in and around central Florida. However, if they arrive after we have brought the new chicks to the pen, they find all kinds of things to hold their interest. There is all the free food we put out for the young birds, the regular visits by the costume handlers, and lots of chicks to harass. With all this going on, they often stayed the entire winter and this can lead to all sorts of problems. In the past, we have lost young birds who were forced out of the pen and were taken by bobcats when they roosted in inappropriate locations. The solution, albeit not the greatest, is to short-stop our birds at Halpata until most, if not all of the white birds have checked in at the Chass pen and moved on, and then move the chicks to their final winter home. The problem, of course, is the moving. After being at Halpata without working with the aircraft for a month or more they are reluctant to follow it, even if the trip is only 26 miles. Last year the team was lucky enough to select a week in January when the weather was perfect. But even then it took 4 days of work and several flights to get them all there. The alternative is to put them in crates and move them by truck to the docks on Crystal River; then load them onto a boat for the last 5 miles out to the pen site. You can appreciate that after having gone to so much effort to lead them 1234 miles by air, it makes little sense to truck them the last 26 miles, not to mention the risk involved in boxing and loading birds into and out of a boat. So we will make our way back to Florida early in the new year to see if we can encourage our 18 birds to follow us to Chassahowitzka. But there has to be a better long term solution. Date: December 21, 2006 - Entry 4 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: The OM Team Location: Enroute home This will be the last journal entry for today as I and other members of the team make our way home. We are all looking forward to having an opportunity to share some long overdue hugs and quality time with our family and friends. Thanks to the vets from Disney, the health checks are done and all the birds (including 615) passed with flying colors. Our aircraft have been broken down and packed in the aircraft trailer for the winter. The responsibility for the birds has been passed to the Winter Monitoring Team. Bev Paulan has taken up residence in Florida, and you can look forward to regular reports (and photos) from her as she helps to make sure our 18 young cranes stay safe and well over the winter months. The next episode in this ongoing saga will be the move of the chicks from the Halpata pensite to the Chassahowitzka Refuge - likely early to mid January. For those of you not familiar with the reasons for holding the Class of 2006 at the Halpata interim stop, watch this space. Joe will post an explanation here in the next day or two. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the end of the year is approaching, and if you think you might have some extra money and could benefit from a tax deductible receipt, we still have a major budget shortfall and could certainly put these funds to good use. Date: December 21, 2006 - Entry 3 Reporter: Joe Duff Subject: The OM Team Location: Main Office Each of the six migrations we have completed has taken longer than the one before. Maybe it is a sign of global warming, or increased caution on our part, but more likely its simply bad luck. We start each season thinking this will be the one we get done in 30 days. Our older birds regularly make the trip in a third of that time, and once we covered the second half in just over a week, so it is possible do it in a month or less - but it never seems to happen. The uncertainty of the migration has caused us problems from the start and it is the hardest part to explain to people unfamiliar with our work. After a long dissertation about the unpredictability of weather and a description of the ideal conditions we need, we often hear the comment, "Yes but when will you get to Florida?" We have an extensive list of stopover hosts along the way who generously accommodate our uncertain arrival - and departure. They change their travel plans or lay in provisions that sometimes spoil before we get there. Some property owners have delayed the hunting season on their land or postponed the harvesting of crops, all to indulge our unreliable schedule. Budgeting and fundraising for a migration with no finite duration is not easy. Trying to arrange flyover events so we can capture the hearts and minds of the people who support this project, is almost impossible when you can't tell them exactly which morning they should crawl out of bed at 4AM. An avian migration is as variable as it is ephemeral. It is prompted by some undetermined instinct, proceeds at the whim of the weather and ends when they get there. It exists in complete contrast to the human need to pack and prepare and to plan ahead. With all of the provisions made to accommodate our inconsistent timetable it is hardest on the crew. Promises to families and friends are made and broken by the direction of the wind. Each morning begins well before sunrise and ends in weariness at the next stop or in frustration exactly where they are. They live in tight quarters, sleep on fold down dinning tables or lumpy couches and are perpetual guests. Yet there is camaraderie and commitment in this team of ordinary people who have promised themselves and the birds that they would stick with it until it is done. Richard vanHeuvelen has been with this project from the beginning. Originally he was ground crew chief but there aren’t titles enough to describe the extent of his contribution. He knows the route like the back of his hand from 2 years of driving it and 4 of leading birds. Once a leg of the migration is complete, Richard leads a team to the next stop to set up the pen for our arrival the next day. He is the first contact person for many of our hosts and has become an ambassador for Whooping cranes. O