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Whooper Happenings
Mark Chenoweth's latest audio podcast all about Whooping Cranes! |
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Operation
Migration is pleased to provide this link to Whooper
Happenings to its website visitors.
Mark Chenoweth, an OM supporter with a long history in
broadcast journalism, developed Whooper Happenings. In
addition to OM staffers and WCEP partners, Mark's podcasts
include interviews with various experts and lay people on
Whooping crane history, husbandry and reintroduction.
The
comments and
opinions expressed on Whooper Happenings are not necessarily
those of Operation Migration. |
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| Date: |
August
30th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
Become a MileMaker and help us get the 2006 generation of Whooping crane chicks to Florida. |
| Subject: |
Make your views known |
|
A series of 'listening sessions' are being held
throughout the US by the Bush administration. The purpose of the
sessions is to hear the public's thoughts and views on the
administration's Cooperative Conservation agenda. (For more
detail, click the link
http://cooperativeconservation.gov/pdfs/JointLetteronProposedLegislation.pdf
It is important that the
Bush administration hear from the public that while supplementing
strong environmental laws with voluntary conservation efforts is good,
replacing them with non-mandatory protections is not.
We hope that you, like Operation Migration, believe that we owe it to
our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment;
that our legacy to them should be the protection of endangered species
and their respective habitats. It would be our hope that the Bush
administration would work toward returning full funding to core
conservation programs, and most particularly, the National Refuge
System.
Should you wish to go on record as a supporter of a strong Endangered
Species Act and other environmental laws, you can send your comments
to:
Beth L. Duff
U.S. Department of the
Interior
1849 C St.NW, Mail Stop
5258
Washington, D.C. 20240
Email:
Beth_Duff@ios.doi.gov |
| Date: |
August
29th, 2006 - Entry 2 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Bev Paulan |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
Become a MileMaker and help us get the 2006 generation of Whooping crane chicks to Florida. |
| Subject: |
Gang of Five accosts White Bird! |
During morning training with Cohort
three, the new papa took exception to his family being
buzzed by the young upstarts and followed the trike-led
cohort back to Site 1. Upon landing, Daddy-O took an
aggressive stance towards the young 'uns, and boy oh boy was
he shocked when 622 fought back. This reporter has never
seen a more surprised looking white bird! It was bad enough
that 622 stood him down, but then the whole gang got in on
the scuffle and chased poor papa away. Way to go Chicklins!
|
| Date: |
August
29th, 2006 - Entry 1 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Joe Duff |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
Become a MileMaker and help us get the 2006 generation of Whooping crane chicks to Florida. |
| Subject: |
New Wings - First Family |
For the last few
days Chris Gullikson and I have been flying with the new
M-Pulse 17 square meter North Wings. They arrived last week,
and we a have been slowly assembling and test flying them.
These are the latest design in trike wings, and are strut
based eliminating the need for a king post and wires above
the wing that trap birds.
North Wing owner Kamron Blevins modified his design
slightly for us and they perform perfectly. Now, when a bird
moves up and over the wing, we don't swallow our hearts
until he reappears or crashes out the back. The wing
purchase was made possible by the Disney Wildlife
Conservation Fund. Lately, Brooke has been flying an old 21
square meter wing that we bought in 1995. He like to fly it
when the birds are just learning because its extremely slow
which helps when they are struggling to keep up.
Each morning when we train our chicks we deviate to the
north to do an airborne check on the wild First Family.
Lately they have been showing more independence, and often
one of them is off by itself seemingly unconcerned about the
separation.
When Chris Gullikson and I walked out to Site 1 to see
how ours birds were doing after one of last week's
thunderstorms, we also checked on the First Family. We
noticed both adults chasing off an intruder on their
territory, but no chicks were visible. Just as they
disappeared on their way to the marsh we spotted a fawn and
a white object in the tall grass. When we moved to the other
shore line for a better look we saw the male strutting down
the beach. After 20 more minutes we finally spotted the
female with one chick moving in the same direction. We
couldn't imagine the other chick being that far away and
were worried that it was gone. Then it appeared from the
high grass almost 1/4 mile behind. It seemed healthy and calm
as it foraged its way along the shoreline in the direction
of its distant parents.
The next day, Richard Urbanek, head of the tracking team,
called upset because he could only see one chick. While
still on the phone, lamenting the tragic loss, he spotted it
at a distance away and asked Chris to disregard the call.
This seems to be new behaviour - and one that could be
dangerous. Marty Folk of the Florida Fish and Conservation
Commission, works closely with the non-migratory flock.
Based on his experience, he speculates that pre-fledge
chicks are more susceptible to predation because they are
getting too large to hide, and in learning to fly they are
more active and visible, drawing attention to themselves as
they flap around.
This independent behaviour may have to do with age and
contribute to the threat. At any rate, it is likely they are
entering the most dangerous phase of their childhood. In
another week or two they should be able to fly and their
odds of survival will increase. Keep your fingers crossed
and well keep checking on them.
|
| Date: |
August
27th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Joe Duff |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
Become a MileMaker and help us get the 2006 generation of Whooping crane chicks to Florida. |
| Subject: |
Careful what you wish for |
Note from Liz
- I am having major computer issues, one of them being
an entire screen of neon pink. I am posting Joe's update
with my fingers crossed that it will not affect the Field
Journal. Because all I see is a page of pink I can't tell if
that is what you will see too. If so, bear with me, I hope
to have a tech working on things today.
Because of the
exceptionally dry summer in central Wisconsin we have been
able to work with the birds more often than normal. The lack
of water means much less ground fog, and clear skies mean
the heat of the day dissipates at night resulting in cool
clear mornings. We were able to fly on 10 consecutive days,
which is probably a record, but when we could walk across
our wet pens on dried mud we all began to hope for rain.
You have to be careful of what you wish for, because a few
days ago it hit us with force. Chris took off in his van to
hunt storms while the rest of us waited out the deluge in
camp. You don't know the meaning of a hail storm until
you've experienced one in a trailer with a metal roof. It
took a day or two to get our hearing back. Between the
thunderstorms and returning fog, we missed three days of
training, but the pens are wet again, the birds seem happy,
and this morning they were eager to fly.
It was my turn to work with the oldest group who have
managed flights of 20 minutes or more. I landed on the
runway in heavy mist. Robert Doyle (USGS Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center) and I sat for ten minutes waiting to be
able to see the end of the runway. I took off with all 8
birds and flew some low 'S' turns to let them catch up.
Humid air has more moisture than oxygen and its hard to
breathe and it wasnt long before a few were getting tired.
I circled by the observation tower (which was empty) and
headed back to the north site. We landed to rest for a few
minutes. I planned to fly again, but after we took off I
spotted a large fog bank moving towards us from the north
that threatened to close down the runway. We landed after
only 3 minutes and the birds walked easily into the pen
allowing me to make my escape to the south.
By this time Brooke had finished training the youngest birds
and was ready to move cohort two to the east site. Cohort 2
is our middle group of birds and its time to start mixing
them into a single flock. When they are all able to fly well
enough to make it, we lead them over the pond to the east
site where they are penned next to the youngest birds. Once
these two cohorts have established a social order or
dominance structure, we will introduce the oldest birds.
Our oldest birds are naturally the first to fly, but if we
were to mix them with middle group it would be challenging
when it came time to introduce the youngest birds.
Outnumbered by the older, larger birds, the younger ones
would likely never socialize. So instead, we first mix the
middle group with the youngest, and later bring over the
oldest birds who, because they face a large confident flock,
are less likely to be aggressive.
Brooke's flight was perfect. All five birds followed and he
circled the site once before landing. He, Bev, and I were
able to move the somewhat reluctant birds into their new
pen. We'll let them size each other up through the chain
link fence for a while and mix them on the runway when they
are too preoccupied to care about fighting. In a week or so
it will be time to let them mix and we will pull the gate
that separates them from Cohort 1.
Because the birds are so close in age this year it may be
possible for us to consider leaving earlier.
|
| Date: |
August
22nd, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
Become a MileMaker and help us get the 2006 generation of Whooping crane chicks to Florida. |
| Subject: |
Announcing the Winner!!! |
Moments ago, at noon today (EST), Chris
reached her hand into the hat - a Birder's Hat of course -
holding slips with the names of OM's MileMakers who had
risen to the challenge of bringing a new MileMaker on board.
And the winner of the MileMaker Challenge is.....drum roll
please.....David Johnson of Cary, IL.
We are indebted to David, as well as to the other OM
MileMakers who participated in this challenge. We are very
grateful for everyone's efforts to bring us NEW sponsors.
As the winner, we will host David at next month's annual
Necedah Crane Festival being held on September 16th, and
take him on a back scenes tour of the Necedah Refuge capped
off with a BBQ dinner in camp with the OM crew.
Congratulations David!
|
| Date: |
August
21st, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Wood Buffalo/Aransas Population |
Having
received an update from Marty Folk on the Florida non-migratory
birds, I thought I would check to see if Brian Johns or Tom
Stehn had any news to report on the Wood Buffalo-Aransas
population - especially given this year's record hatch of chicks
(76). Here's Tom Stehn's response to my questions about numbers
and how the WB/AP was faring.
"We never add chicks to the Wood Buffalo-Aransas
population until they arrive at Aransas. That's because we
have no way of knowing how many older birds died during spring
migration or during the summer/fall. Mortality of newly hatched
chicks is very high, especially in twins, so adding hatched
chicks to the population could be very misleading.
Last winter, 30 of the 62 chicks hatched made it to Aransas,
which was quite good. 25 older birds died between spring and
fall so there was only a net population gain of 5 birds.
However, this was still enough to reach a record peak
population of 220. Unfortunately, with the death of 6 cranes
during the 2005-2006 winter, that gain was lost.
The loss of 25 birds between spring and fall 2005 was in the
higher range of expected mortality. Hopefully losses will be
less this year and the population will increase. Last week Brian
Johns and Lea Craig-Moore did surveys of fledged chicks in Wood
Buffalo National Park and I'm anxiously awaiting the results.
It would be my guess/hope that they found at least 30 chicks.
With anticipated mortality, I'm expecting 230+ Whooping cranes
to make it to Aransas this winter. I made the same prediction
last winter though; unfortunately it never happened."
|
| Date: |
August
19th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Florida News |
Just in, an update on the Florida
non-migratory population from Marty Folk. The Florida flock
fledged 4 chicks this year - a productivity record. Until now,
2003 held the record with 2 chicks fledged. In total their
project has had 8 chicks fledged in the wild.
Marty's Update
Summer rains have been below normal. In fact, rainfall since
January has been below normal. Wetlands are nearly dry with
water levels approaching the level that we saw during the Great
Drought in 2000 when all wetlands in central Florida dried up.
So, how did 4 chicks fledge in this drought year? Location,
location, location! There are regional differences in rainfall
and wetland water levels. The 4 fledged in an area of Lake
County that had good water at the beginning of the breeding
season. More importantly perhaps, the wetlands where the pairs
were successful are deep and relatively large in area so they
are slow to dry up. Plus, the wetlands in that area are also
numerous so the families were able to move to adjacent marshes
if one dried completely.
The four 2006 fledglings came from four different families. Two
of the pairs were first-time nesters. It was the male's first
attempt in the third pair - with a female that had laid eggs
twice in the past but with a different male. Her earlier eggs
failed to hatch. The 4th pair was experienced.
|
| Date: |
August
17th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Marie Brady |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Flap-happy |
This morning we woke
up to clear skies and we all headed out for what promised to be
a great day to train.
Chris and I went to Site 3 where our youngest birds are. 618,
619 and 620 eagerly awaited at the gate, but 622 and 623 were
nowhere to be seen. I went in the pen to encourage them to join
the rest of the group. A few shakes of the puppet was enough to
send them on their way toward me. Once I opened the
gate they all ran out to join Chris. All our birds are now
flying! 622 and 623 are taking short flights, but the other
three are flying the length of the runway. 620 has even joined
Chris as he circles above runway!
After a quick breakfast back in camp we decided the runway
at Site 3 needed mowing. Chris, Brooke, Richard and Laurie
were designated 'landscaping crew', while Robert, Bev and I were
elected bird herders for the morning.
We moved in to quickly lead the birds away from the pen before
the others came in to mow. Once we were a safe distance away we
sent the 'all clear' message to the others.
Soon after, Bev nodded at me and pointed her puppet head across
the pond. There on the other side was the First Family foraging.
What a sight! Both chicks are now almost as big as their
parents. All four were unconcerned about us and our chicks, and
our chicks were too busy exploring their new surroundings to pay
any attention to the First Family.
The calm morning transitioned into a breezy afternoon and our
chicks loved it. They were eager to test the air with their
newly discovered ability to defy gravity. Every time a stronger
breeze kicked up one of them would start flapping and jumping.
Pretty soon we were surrounded by flapping, jumping birds. They
would leap four feet or more into the air before splashing back
down into the water. Close to an hour later we received the all
clear signal from the landscaping crew and led our flap-happy
birds back home.
|
| Date: |
August
15th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Chris Gullikson |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Training Update |
Just a quick update from Necedah on
how the birds are doing.
Cohort 1
These 8 bids are the oldest group and they are all
flying very well. We have been taking them on flights of
up to 10 minutes in large circuits out over west
Rynerson Pool. We do large looping circuits back to the
pen site to allow birds to land if they are getting
tired. After landing, we have been finding that the
birds recover very quickly and are ready for more. It
wont be long before visitors to the Observation Tower
at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge will be able to
see us flying out over the refuge with birds in tow.
Cohort 2
All 5 birds are doing short circuits with the trike.
Number 13 is the best flyer of this group and I had her
on the wing this morning for 2 large circuits. We had
been having trouble with a few of the birds in this
cohort wandering out into the swamp during training.
They are behaving much better this past week though, and
are eager to come right back to the trike after landing.
It is amazing to see how their interest in the trike
changes once they figure out they can fly.
Cohort 3
618, 619, and 620 are all flying the length of the
runway in ground effect. 620 is by far the best bird of
this group, and flew a teardrop shape pattern with
Richard this morning. 622 and 623 are only making short
flights, and end up way behind the stronger birds. These
two were trained separately this morning in an attempt
to get them more time with the trike.
The wild-hatched chicks are doing great and are quite
mobile, moving all over east Rynerson Pool with their
parents in search of food. We look for them every
morning as we fly out to the various training sites,
always relieved to see they have survived another day.
They should be fledged in the next 2-3 weeks, a
milestone event we are all been looking forward to.
Report from the Tracking/Monitoring Team
The Tracking/Monitoring Team report on the White Birds
remained in the main, unchanged from their last update.
There were transmitter replacements done however. The
nonfunctional VHF transmitter of 521* was replaced at
Site 1 on the refuge on August 9th. 520*s transmitter
was replaced in Wood County on the 11th.
The Tracking Team consists of Richard Urbanek, Tally
Love, and S Grover. This week they want to extend thanks
to Kelly Maguire (ICF), Lara Fondow (USFWS), and Glenn
Klingler (USDA Forest Service) for additional tracking
assistance, and to Brooke Pennypacker (OM), Robert Doyle
(PWRC), and Marianne Wellington, Sara Zimorski, and
Cristin Kelley (ICF) for capture assistance.
|
| Date: |
August
8th, 2006 - Entry 2 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Brooke Pennypacker |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
The Power of Partnership |
5:30pm is usually wind down time in
camp, with only bird checks at each site left to do
before supper and a trip to 'Z Land.' But not last
night. That's when Richard Urbanek, USFWSs Project
Biologist banged on my door to say he'd just gotten a
report that three of last year's birds - birds that had
not been seen in some time - had suddenly appeared on
the runway at Site 1. He said that 521, a female, must
be caught so that her dead transmitter could be
replaced.
This was the opportunity Richard had been waiting for,
but any hope for a successful capture required immediate
action. Most of the crew was off the 'Reservation,' (not
to worry the US Cavalry was in hot pursuit) but we
managed to round up the two best looking members of the
team - Robert Doyle and MYSELF - and we headed out to
Site 1 excited by the prospect of capturing so valuable
a bird.
Robert, our USGS aviculturist from Patuxent, was
especially qualified for the challenge, having captured
dozens of cranes this winter after the Patuxent pens
blew down in a storm. In fact, were it not for the
devotion and hard work of the Patuxent crew and
volunteers who quickly rebuilt those pens and saved this
year's chick production, we would not have had many
birds for our project this year! But I digress.....
So.....at Site 1 we plotted strategy while we donned our
costumes. The three white birds were now tucked behind
the wet pen looking in at our Cohort 3 chicks. One can
only imagine what they were thinking. It was just this
time last year that THEY were in the wet pen looking out
at the world. My, my, how quickly things change!
Richard expertly maneuvered back through the swamp and
positioned himself to lure the birds to a more favorable
capture position while Robert and I lent support. With
patience and technique learned from years of bird
experience, Richard was able to bring the birds within
range.
Our hearts were pounding with anticipation as the
'Moment of Truth' drew near. "Don't screw this up,
Brooke!" said the little voice that lives in the back of
my head. Then Richard leaped forward covering the
distance between him and the bird in a nanosecond, and
almost before we knew it, he had his arms around the
struggling bird!
Robert and I rushed in to assist; Robert quickly
grabbing the bird while I put the hood over her head.
Then out through the marsh we marched, our relief and
exhilaration evident in our walk.
We were met on the runway by Marianne Wellington from
ICF, and her intern, Serina. Both had driven over from
the DAR site to help out. As Robert held the bird,
Richard quickly fitted a new transmitter on her leg and
Marianne took a blood sample from her neck. Serina
marked the vial, and, oh ya, I held the can of glue for
the band (a very important and technically demanding
job, I might add!!)
The whole process was completed in minutes, and after
putting our costume headgear back on and cleaning up the
area, we removed the hood and the 521 was released. She
jumped away, walked a few quick steps, and gave a big
shake which sent a small flurry of down into the air.
Then she walked off into the marsh none the worse for
wear.
Back at the parking lot, we all took a moment to enjoy
that special feeling; the one you get when you have a
success a small triumph - a WIN! It's the kind of
feeling we don't experience nearly enough.
It was then that Robert said, "Hey, do you realize that
each of us comes from a different partner organization?
US Fish and Wildlife , International Crane Foundation,
Operation Migration and USGS Patuxent. THIS IS the Power
of Partnership!"
All I could think was, I hope that WCEP chair, John
Christian, (assistant Regional Director of Migratory
Birds and State Programs, USFWS Region 3) and 'Patron
Saint' of the project is proud of us today.
.....and then it started to rain.
|
| Date: |
August
7th, 2006 - Entry 2 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Marie Brady |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Flight Training |
For
what we thought was going to be a morning too windy to
train, it actually turned out quite well. When the winds
calmed down, Robert Doyle and I went to release Cohort
2, which was eagerly awaiting the trike's arrival.
When
the gates were opened, four chicks came bounding out of
the pen to join Chris for training. In their enthusiasm
flying, they often forget to wait for the trike and take
off before the pilots have a chance to get moving. Such
was the story this morning when two birds took off and
promptly landed in the swamp.
615
came out right away, but 611 spent much of here training
time in the swamp next to the pen. At the end of
training she finally she came out and flew one circuit
behind the trike. After the others ran out of the pen,
614, the perpetual lollygagger, was still in the wet pen
and it appeared he wanted nothing to do with
training. But, after a few minutes, he walked out on his
own and quickly joined the group.
The
whole group is doing well, flying half circuits behind
the trike then landing in the swamp. Most of the birds
will then quickly walk to the side of the runway to
rejoin the group. However, the barricades we put up to
keep the birds out of the swamp are now keeping
them in the swamp. Chris had to get out of the trike
twice in order to put the fence down and let birds back
onto the runway. Hopefully, with just a little more
practice, they will be better able to stay aloft long
enough to make it back to the runway and will enjoy
their morning exercise even more!
|
| Date: |
August
7th, 2006 - Entry 1 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Bev Paulan |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Flight Training |
It was debatable whether or not we would
be able to train this morning. We all stood around camp
staring at the sky and trees trying to determine if it was
too windy. Richard finally made an 'executive decision' to
give it a try, so we all headed out to different sites. With
Chris back in camp we have three pilots again and it makes
it easier and quicker to get the training done.
I headed to Site 4 where Cohort 1 is
sequestered. As soon as Brooke taxied up, I opened the gate
and all the chicks came running out looking very anxious to
get flying. Because of rain there was no training yesterday
and the chicks seemed ready to make up for lost time. Before
Brooke had his trike off the ground the birds were up in the
air.
Three circuits were flown with all the
birds except 608 following well. 608 was pokey this morning,
and would only fly the length of the runway before settling
down and waiting for the trike to catch up to her. Hmmmm,
pokey or clever? Hard to say.
It was great to see the birds fly - trailing out behind the
trike and making perfect landings each time. I wish my human
flight students had all been this easy to train.
The work for Brooke and I came when it was time to put the
birds away. I hadn't appreciated before just what a
challenge that could be. In fact it took longer to do that
than the actual training. It didn't help either that 101 and
201 were right there in the mix stirring up the chicks.
After much grape tossing and then some herding all the
chicks were tucked away - with 604 being the straggler.
Their independent mindedness really starting to show. |
| Date: |
August
5th, 2006 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Bev Paulan |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Necedah NWR |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Training Fun and Games |
Friday was a very busy day starting with
our usual 5 a.m. wake up for early training. Laurie and I
went to Site 2, arriving before the pilot to coax the birds
into the dry pen so they would be ready when he showed up.
They were very uncooperative. 614 was doing his usual act -
pretending he didn't see us so he could stay in the wet pen.
When the ultralight landed though, all birds eagerly ran out
of the wet pen right through the dry pen and out the gate.
If only I knew it was that easy........
It did end up being a good training session with all the
birds flying. In fact, 613 flew a circuit before the
ultralight even revved up! Unlike previous attempts, she
made it all the way back to the runway and didn't end up in
the marsh for a change. Training ended on the same note it
always does however, with 615 wandering away into the marsh.
Brooke and I waded in after him, and after a lot of coaxing,
we finally got him back on the runway and into the pen. Boy,
that bird is independent!
After training we reconvened at camp and figured out the
plan for the day. Mowing the runway at Site 4 was on the
agenda so off we went. We first needed to get the birds out
of the pen and sequestered in a marsh out of ear shot.
Sounds easy doesn't it? Ha!
This was the first trip to the marsh for Cohort one, and
even though they eagerly followed the handlers, once we got
to the marsh it was a very different story. They didn't like
walking through the long grass to get to the water; then the
water looked strange; then it was too deep; then&.oh who
knows! Finally, after what seemed an eternity and about a
thousand grapes being tossed, they all made it into the
water. Only one of us ended up swimming (not intentionally).
You just try wading through hip-deep water and calf-deep
muck!). But at least the cool water felt good on a warm day.
Once the birds were all distracted by the new location,
Brooke and I snuck off to go get the mowers.
On our way back across the runway an adult pair of white
birds were on the runway, so we quickly went into action to
hopefully scare them off. It worked, but apparently we only
made them fly right to where Robert, Marie and Laurie were
holding the chicks. They stayed for only a short time though
and caused no trouble.
While Brooke and I manned the mowers Richard tackled the
weed-wacking and our task was accomplished in short order.
Once the mowers were put away, the chicks led back to their
pen the day's excitement was pretty much over.
Now for today - Saturday. It was too windy to train the
chicks that are already flying, but not too windy to do taxi
training with Cohort 3 at Site 1. Laurie and I got out to
the pen just as Richard was taxiing up. We opened the doors
and 4 of the 5 youngsters came running out. They entertained
us with lots of jumping and wing flapping once they were on
the runway.
623 was reluctant to come out, so we closed the doors and
Richard took off with the four in tow. As I witnessed their
great bounding leaps, I held my breath, hoping to see
another first flight. 618, 619, and 620 are all within a day
or two of breaking the grip of gravity. Eventually we got
623 out the door, and it soon joined its pen mates in
training.
The best part for me this morning was
when 5 of last year's white birds came onto the runway to
see what was up. Our darling little chicks wanted nothing of
this and became quite aggressive towards the larger birds.
Fiesty 618 chased, showed displays aggression, and even
managed to drive off one of the white birds. Then 623 got in
on the act and she chased off one of the big guys too.
It was a good training session and a great display. I'm sure I saw a definite strut in the walk of the chicks
when it was over. Nothing like kicking some white bird butt
to start your day! |
| Date: |
August
1st, 2006 - Entry 2 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
STILL WANTED |
Where ARE all our MileMakers up
for a challenge?
There is still time to convince, coax,
or persuade someone you know - a friend, relative,
co-worker, or even a stranger! to become a NEW one mile
MileMaker and qualify yourself for an entry to win:
- $500 toward a flight to Madison, WI for the 2006 Necedah
Crane Festival
- 3 nights double accommodation
- An escorted back scenes tour of the Necedah Refuge
- A visit and BBQ dinner with the OM crew in camp
The draw will be made at OM's offices at noon August 25th
and we will notify the winner and post the name in the Field
Journal the same day.
So far we have only a few entries so your odds are very
good! |
| Date: |
August
1st, 2006 - Entry 1 |
Links |
| Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
Spring 2006 Photo Journal. |
| Location: |
Main Office |
MileMaker Challenge!
Win a trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and visit with the Operation Migration team! Click here for details! |
| Subject: |
Tracking/Monitoring |
The latest Tracking/Monitoring Team
update arrived today with tracking information up to July
29th. (* indicates female)
As of the end of last week distribution was:
Wisconsin - 56 adults/sub-adults and 2 chicks
Michigan - 3; (318 in Mason County; DAR533 in
Barry County; 522 last detected in Oceana County in June and
presumed to still be in Michigan; and DAR533 remained either
alone or with Sandhills in Barry County.)
Undetermined - 2, (107* nonfunctional
transmitter last detected in April in Adams County WI; 509
last detected in Fayette County, Iowa in early July.)
The 'First Family', (211, 217* and chicks W601 and W602)
ranged along about one mile of the east shore of East
Rynearson Pool throughout the past week. They continue to do
just fine despite the extreme heat and severe drought that
has been plaguing Central Wisconsin and the Whooping cranes'
core reintroduction area.
The Whooper Soap Opera
When 216 returned to Necedah this spring with a
seriously injured leg, he lost his mate, 303*, to young
bachelor 408. Then, after the mortality of his mate 302*
last week, 317 moved onto territory adjacent to that of the
newly formed pair and appropriated 303*.
317 has now returned to his old territory on Pools 18W and
19, taking 303* with him. The upside is that both these
birds are approaching sexual maturity, thus breeding is
possible next year. The downside is this potential pair are
blood siblings.
DAR
Notable in Dr. Richard U's Tracking update was his data
re the four 2005 DAR birds. All four continue to associate
almost exclusively with Sandhills. In this week's update
Richard reported that DAR 527* remained in a large Sandhill
crane flock in Winnebago County; DAR 528* remained with
Sandhill cranes in Marathon County; and, DAR532 with a large
group of Sandhills in Adams County. As reported above,
DAR533 is in Michigan, and when not off on his own, also
remains with Sandhills. Perhaps the upcoming fall migration
will provide some impetus and/or opportunity for them to
connect with Whooping cranes. |
CLICK HERE to view the July 2006 Field Journal
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