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| Date: |
January 31, 2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | VISIT
'THE PLATTE' IN NEBRASKA WITH DR. JANE GOODALL | Location: |
Main Office |
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Regular Field Journal readers will know of OM’s admiration and friendship
with Dr. Jane Goodall. It is why we announce with great pleasure here, that
the Jane Goodall Institute has organized a 'Pilgrimage to Witness the Great
Crane Migration with Dr. Jane' – and you’re invited!
March 16 – 19th, you are invited to join the Jane Goodall Institute along
the banks of the Platte River in Nebraska to view the great migration of the
Sandhill cranes, one of Dr. Goodall’s most cherished pastimes. The trip cost
($5000) includes all scheduled events, hotel accommodation (Wyngate by
Windham in Kearney, NE), meals, and transportation to and from the airport.
Some of the highlights of this all inclusive trip include:
• Guided trip at Rowe Sanctuary to view the world’s largest concentration of
Sandhill cranes from observation blinds on the banks of the Platte River.
• Birding with acclaimed natural history writer and field ornithologist,
Scott Weidensaul at the Rainwater Basin.
• Nature Photography Workshop and Field Survey at the
Nebraska Nature and
Visitors Center.
• Cocktails and dinner with Dr. Jane Goodall and acclaimed nature
photographer Tom Mangelsen.
Click the link to see
the
detailed schedule. For more information please contact Alicia Zarillo,
manager of donor relations and special events for the Jane Goodall
Institute, at
azarillo@janegoodall.org or, (703) 682-9288.
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| Date: | January 30, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | TIME IS RUNNING OUT! | Location: | Main Office |
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54 unsponsored MileMaker miles remain and there are just 61 ‘shopping days’ left before our fiscal year ends and any still unsponsored MileMaker miles will show as an
ugly red number for 2010/2011. At the moment, that red number stands at
$11,000, and we need your help to eliminate the color red from our books.
Our website analytics show that over the past year our Field Journal has been visited by folks from 148 countries, and that 115,667 people visited our website for the first time. If you were one of those first time visitors and have yet to sponsor a
quarter, half or mile of the 2010/2011 migration, there is not a better time for you to join the ranks of OM’s devoted Craniacs and become a MileMaker sponsor.
Please, become a MileMaker sponsor TODAY.
Click here to take out your sponsorship online, or call our office toll free 1-800-675-2618 Monday to Friday.
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| Date: | January 29, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | REWARD INCREASED | Location: | Main Office |
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Members of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board and the state DNR Foundation have contributed an additional $4,800 to a reward fund for information in the intentional shooting deaths of three whooping cranes, which were discovered in Calhoun County, GA on December 30, 2010.
In addition to the contribution which brings the total reward to $20,800 the Georgia Department of Natural Resources board passed a resolution this week supporting the continued investigation into the deaths of the three juvenile Whooping cranes.
CLICK to read the resolution
Philip Wat, chair of the board's wildlife resources committee states "We are proud to be able to show our support in this way and hope the additional funds will entice someone to come forth with new information that will help solve the case.”
The USFWS is leading a joint investigation with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to apprehend the person or persons who shot the birds. Any information concerning the deaths of these cranes should be provided to USFWS Special Agent Terry Hastings at 404-763-7959.
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| Date: | January 28, 2011 | Reporter: | Barbara Corcoran |
| Subject: | MIGRATION MILE-A-THON! | Location: | Main Office |
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On September 8th we announced the Migration Mile-a-thon Challenge as a way to engage schools and students in the ultralight-guided Whooping crane migration and to create awareness in a fun, interactive way.
It was an enjoyable way for them to practice their math and geography skills and get fit at the same time. We challenged the children to walk the equivalent of 1,285 miles to Florida and beat the cranes on their journey.
By the time the 2010 migration began on Oct. 10, a number of schools had registered. Teachers and students alike were excited by the idea and classrooms were reading the updates from the Field Journal. As the migration advanced, we would often receive emails from the teachers saying how excited their class was about the cranes and how determined they were to keep ahead of them. Of course, that is no easy feat since the cranes can take to the air and often cover a lot of miles with a good tailwind.
The children were not daunted and enjoyed catching up on miles when the cranes were having a down day, or several in a row, which allowed the kids to catch up and even surpass them on their walking trek!
New Providence Elementary School from Lexington, South Carolina took an early lead and had 221 miles logged by September 28th - before the cranes even began their migration! They were followed by Mobile Jr. Academy in Mobile, Alabama and Dewey Elementary School in Evanston, Illinois. Dewey students even measured their average stride to improve their math skills. By Oct. 15th Mobile Jr. Academy had pulled into the lead logging 256 miles while the cranes had flown 130 miles and had just landed in Illinois.
The children were inspired by the young Whooping cranes and laced up their shoes. Some walked in the gym, some outside; some even got their parents involved. It wasn’t long before the cranes had some catching up to do!
By the time the cranes had completed their 1285 mile southward trek, we had two schools that beat them! In first place: The students and teachers at New Providence Elementary School in Lexington, SC logged an incredible 2115 miles, and in second place, Pittsburgh’s St. Bede School covered a distance equal to 1333 miles!
Congratulations to everyone who participated – we hope you enjoyed the adventure!
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| Date: | January 27, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | EMP UPDATE | Location: | Main Office |
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Many thanks to the WCEP Tracking team for the following report: Females are indicated by *. DAR = direct autumn release. SM = released at St. Marks NWR. CH = released at Chassahowitzka NWR (distinction of release site begins with 2008 birds).
General:
Maximum size of the eastern migratory population at the end of the report period was 108 birds (56 males and 52 females).
Removal:
Male no. 5-01 was removed from the population on 8 January because of repeated inadequate human avoidance behavior. He was transferred to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on 14 January and will spend the remainder of his life in captivity.
Last Recorded on Autumn Migration; Wintering Area not yet Determined:
Nos. 16-02/16-07* were reported with nos. 4-08 (CH) and 10-09 (SM) in Knox County, Indiana, on 28 November and remained at least through 10 December.
Nos. 13-07 and 36-09* (DAR): The signal of no. 36-09* (DAR) was last detected at Hiwassee WR, Meigs/Rhea Counties, Tennessee, on the morning of 14 December.
Nos. 33-07 and HY2009 nos. 5* (CH), 7* (CH), and 42* (DAR) were last reported in Shelby County, Alabama, on 8 December.
HY2009 nos. 12 (SM), 24 (CH), and 41 (DAR): Radio signals of nos. 12-09 and 41-09 were detected by the Homosassa Springs WSP datalogger on 5 December. No. 24-09 (CH) has a weak transmitter and was likely still traveling with these two birds.
No. 13-09 was last reported flying over Chassahowitzka NWR pensite, Citrus County, Florida, with no. 19-09 (CH) on 2 December.
Nos. 34-09* (DAR) and 35-09* (DAR) departed from Muscatatuck NWR, Jackson/Jennings Counties, Indiana, during 6-9 December.
No. 32-09* (DAR) was reported with sandhills in Union County, Indiana, on 1 January. She was not found during a ground search of the area on 5 January.
Indiana:
Nos. 17-03/3-03* remained SW in Sullivan County, through the last report on 7 January. They were next reported at their previous wintering territory in Knox County, on 16 January and remained throughout the rest of the report period.
No. 27-07* was reported with sandhills N of the Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Jasper County, on 10 December and remained in the area at least through last report on 29 December. A whooping crane seen in the same area on 20 January was probably her. Her transmitter is suspected to be nonfunctional.
Tennessee:
Nos. 18-03/13-03*: Bradley County.
Nos. 5-05/15-04*, 28-05* (DAR), 37-07 (DAR), 28-08 (SM), 21-10 (DAR): Meigs/Rhea Counties.
Nos. 6-05, 6-09 (SM), and 38-09 (DAR): Hamilton County.
Alabama:
Nos. 12-04/27-05* (DAR), 11-02, 30-08* (SM), and 19-10 (DAR), 37-09* (DAR), HY2010 DAR nos. 22*, 25, and 27*: Cherokee County.
Nos. 13-02/18-02*, 1-04/8-05*, 24-05/42-07* (DAR), 27-06 (DAR) and 26-09* (SM): Morgan County. No. 13-08* (SM) had been present on Wheeler NWR, Morgan County, but was not detected during the current report period.
Nos. 16-04 and 4-09* (CH) were reported in DeKalb County, on 18 January and stayed during the remainder of the report period. They have reportedly been in this area for a while. They had last been recorded migrating over western Kentucky on 6 December.
South Carolina:
Nos. 11-03/12-03*, 10-03/W1-06*: Colleton County.
Georgia:
Nos. 3-07 and 38-08* (DAR), 7-07/39-07* (DAR): Lowndes County.
Nos. 23-10* and 26-10 were last detected in Calhoun County, on 6 January. No subsequent checks.
Florida:
No. 1-01: Citrus County.
Nos. 12-02/19-04* and W3-10*: Pasco County.
Nos. 7-03/26-07*, 8-04/19-05*, 12-05/22-07*, 14-09* (SM): Alachua County.
Nos. 2-04/46-07* (DAR), 9-05: Lake County.
Nos. 3-04/9-03* and W1-10* were found in Taylor County, during a survey flight on 13 January. They had last been found on their previous wintering territory, now largely dry, at Mallory Swamp WMA, Lafayette County, during an aerial survey on 21 December.
Nos. 12-07, 17-07*, and 31-08 (DAR): Polk County.
Nos. 4-08 (CH) and 10-09 (SM): Levy County.
HY2008 nos. 14 (CH), 24* (CH), and 27 (CH): Citrus County, at least through the last survey flight on 13 January.
No. 29-08 (SM) was found in Leon County, with HY2009 nos. 8*(SM), 11 (SM), 15* (SM), and 18 (SM) during a survey flight on 13 January. He had last been reported in Santa Rosa County, on 31 December.
No. 19-09 (CH) was found in Lake County, during a survey flight on 13 January. He had apparently been in the area for a few weeks. He had last been reported flying over the pensite on Chassahowitzka NWR, Citrus County, Florida, with no. 13-09 (CH) on 2 December.
Nos. 25-09* (SM) and 29-09 (CH) remained at the St. Marks pensite throughout the report period.
No Recent Reports:
No. 7-01*: Last reported NE of Horicon NWR, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, on 2 May. She has a nonfunctional transmitter and cannot be tracked.
No. 16-03 was last observed on Sprague Pool, Necedah NWR, on 6 May. He has a nonfunctional transmitter and cannot be tracked.
No. 14-05 was last observed on Necedah NWR on 18 May. He has a nonfunctional transmitter and cannot be tracked.
No. 20-05*: An unidentified whooping crane reported from Dike 17 WA, Black River SF, Jackson County, on 24 May have been no. 20-05*. She has a nonfunctional transmitter and cannot be tracked.
No. 33-05* (DAR) was last reported with migrating sandhills in Ewing Bottoms, Jackson County, Indiana, on 25 February through at least 6 March. She has a nonfunctional transmitter and cannot be tracked.
No. 27-09 (CH) has not been detected since roosting with nos. 13-09 (CH) and 19-09 (CH) at a spring migration stop in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, on the night of 10 April.
HY2010 Ultralight-led Juveniles:
Nos. 1, 5*, 6*, 8, and 10* arrived at St. Marks NWR, Wakulla County, Florida, on 15 December. They were released from their temporary top-netted pen on 25 December. Salinity was 14-16 ppt and water elevation rose 0.88 inches during the current report period. Nos. 3*, 9*, 15, 16* and 17 arrived at Chassahowitzka NWR, Citrus County, Florida, on 15 January and were released from their temporary top-netted pen on 18 January. Salinity was 18-21 ppt and water level varied from 0-13 inches on the center of the constructed oyster bar (21-38 inches on the water gauge). The chicks roosted in the pen every night since release during the report period.
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| Date:: | January 26, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | SAVING THE GHOST BIRDS
PREMIER - YOU'RE INVITED! | Location: | Main Office |
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“Saving the Ghost Birds: A Celebration of Human Accomplishment” presents in words and images the ground-breakingef="http://www.chasingtheghostbirds.com"> international efforts to save one of North America’s most significant creatures. This is truly a wildlife conservation adventure based on David Sakrison’s
book Chasing the Ghost Birds, published in March 2007.
Through insightful interviews, stunning video footage and a lively soundtrack, the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the painstaking process of breeding Cranes in captivity, raising them without human contact, teaching them to migrate, and finally, releasing them into the wild. It offers a window into the nit and grit of conservation fieldwork and the empathy, patience, perseverance and dedication of the team members who went to where the birds were and carried out their work.
You’ll meet the incredibly passionate people at the very center of the Whooping Crane story,
including:
• George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane
Foundation and a world authority on Crane conservation, and
• Joe Duff, co-founder of Operation Migration, who helped pioneer the use of ultralight aircraft to teach captive-raised birds how and where to migrate.
• Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who as governor actively supported whooping crane recovery and other major wildlife conservation efforts in Wisconsin.
In their own words, team members share with you the complexities, frustrations, triumphs and joys of this cutting-edge effort.
The film will premiere in Sheboygan, WI at the Stefanie H. Weill
Center for the Performing Arts on April 28, 2011 and you’re all invited to attend! Here are some details of what the evening will hold:
Evening schedule:
4:00pm: Doors open at to view art work by Sheboygan County High School
students
5:00-6:00pm: Cocktail Reception with Governor's Thompson and Walker
6:15pm: Introduction of Governors
6:30pm Documentary Begins
7:30-8:00pm: Q & A
8:30pm: Dinner at Margaux
General Admission: $10.00 Adults / $5.00 Children, and Students with a Current
Student ID. General Admission tickets may be purchased online at:
www.weillcenter.com Or at the Weill Center Box Office: 826 N. 8th Street,
Sheboygan,
WI, 53081
Ticket
Office (920)208-3243 $90.00/person: guests will enjoy
cocktails and appetizers provided by
Margaux with Governor
Walker and Governor Thompson, George Archibald, Joe Duff, and Terry & Mary
Kohler. Price includes documentary admission ticket. $40.00 is tax
deductible.
$250.00/person: This includes all of the above plus a 3
course dinner at Margaux with the Governor’s and other dignitaries. $100.00
is tax deductible.
The proceeds from this event will benefit the
Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin, at the
Sheboygan Municipal Airport, The International Crane
Foundation in Baraboo, WI and
Operation Migration in Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls, NY
Please make checks payable to the “Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin” or
“AHCW” and mail to: Ghost Birds Premier, c/o Aviation Heritage Center of
Wisconsin, N6191 Resource Drive, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 David Sakrison, the author of the book Chasing the Ghost Birds from which
the documentary is based on, and Ian Batterman will be available the month
of March to speak to area clubs and organizations. If you are interested in
having them as guests at your meeting please contact
savingtheghostbirds@gmail.comSheboygan County 7th grade students will be visiting the Aviation Heritage
Center in April to learn about the Whooping Cranes, how they were rescued
from the brink of extinction and how they were taught to migrate
following an ultralight plane as the lead bird. Students will also have the
opportunity to learn about flight.
We hope you can make it to the event!
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| Date: | January 25, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | GOODSEARCH & GOODSHOP | Location: | Main Office |
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Designate Operation Migration as your favorite organization, and each time you use GoodSearch to search the internet, funds are credited to us with every click of the search button. Each time someone uses GoodSearch to search the internet; money goes to your favorite organization. Why not give it a try and support the cause you care most about - which hopefully is Operation Migration.
The more people who use this site to search, the more money will go to
worthy causes. If you like the idea please spread the word to your friends
and family. Visit GoodSearch to
register Operation Migration as your selected recipient charity and to start
sending search proceeds our way.
And as more and more people are discovering the convenience of shopping online, why not try GoodShop? They have an impressive number of online retailers participating in their program with each offering varying percentage levels to your favorite charity every time you shop.
Check out GoodShop to see the list of participating retailers and the amount earned by your registered charity. Personally, I’ve begun using this every time I make an iTunes purchase. I’m going to buy my favorite songs anyway so why not generate some funds for Operation Migration at the same time?
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| Date: | January 24, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | BIRDS DIE
FOR VARIOUS REASONS | Location: | Main Office |
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On New Year’s Eve when as many as 5000 birds fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas, people were concerned. In the days and weeks that followed, numerous
reports hit the media spotlight and included several incidents bird deaths as well as mass fish die-offs in Chicago and Maryland and an estimated 150 tons of
red tilapia in Vietnam, and 40,000 crabs in Britain and other places across the world.
Are these events somehow linked? or is it simply that in our current times of easy communication, when one can whip out a
Smartphone to take and post a
photo to their Facebook or Twitter account, that we're becoming more aware of the frequency with which they occur. These days news travels fast.
And as usual the Google geeks were all over it and quickly posted an overlay to Google Maps, which included reports from around the globe of birds, fish
and mammal die-offs. If you would like to see the map for yourself visit this link:
Google maps - Mass Animal Deaths.
Understandably, public concern escalated as some media outlets and bloggers labeled the events as the "aflockalypse" but the truth is our wildlife faces
harsh conditions. Some are weather related - others man-made and these are the type of threats that we must do whatever we can to reduce.
Dr. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College has done studies over a period of 20 years, looking at bird collisions with windows. His conclusion: glass kills
more birds than any other human related factor. In fact it is an accepted estimate that for every building; whether a
high-rise, or a single story home, that
one bird is killed each year. How many of us have been sitting in our homes only to hear the unmistakable thud of a bird colliding with a window?
I can vividly recall Thanksgiving weekend in 2005. I was on a volunteer patrol at Consilium Place in Toronto and of course it was peak time for fall
songbird migration. The three structures that comprise Consilium Place have mirrored glass facades - a deathtrap for songbirds which see the trees and sky reflected and assume they can
off into it. That weekend, myself and several other volunteers collected well over 700 songbirds that slammed into
the mirrored surface. At several times throughout
the weekend it appeared to be raining warblers. We would no sooner pick up one feathered victim to determine if it was dead, or still alive, and another 2 or
3 would drop to the pavement beside us... Personally, I find the estimate of one bird per structure on the low side.
The National Audubon Society says 100 million birds a year fall prey to cats. Dr. Stan Temple of the University of Wisconsin estimates that in Wisconsin
alone, about 7 million birds a year are killed by cats. And not just feral cats - Domestic cats that are allowed to go outside are killers, whether cat
owners choose to believe it or not - Cats kill birds. We have domesticated cats, so please keep them inside. It's better for them from a health standpoint.
It's better for songbirds.
Scientists estimate the number of birds killed by cars and trucks on our highways to be 50 to 100 million a year. Those statistics were cited in
reports published by the National Institute for Urban Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Estimates made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demonstrate up to 174 million bird die each year as a result of colliding with transmission
lines.
Pesticides likely poison an estimated 67 million birds per year according to the Smithsonian Institution. Cutting hay may kill up to a million more birds
a year when ground nests are destroyed.
Suburban sprawl is a silent but deadly killer. The National Audubon Society says loss of bird habitat is the greatest threat to bird populations.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that bird collisions with tall, lighted communications towers, and their guy wires result in 4 to 10 million bird
deaths a year.
We haven't made it easy for wildlife to survive but there are some things that we can do. Education is key - talk to others at any chance you
can to let
them know about the everyday dangers our wildlife face. Ask you neighbors to keep their cats indoors. Tell them why it's important.
Join a wildlife organization - By joining in, you can support an organized, ongoing effort to protect species and habitats. Reduce the pesticides and
chemicals you use on your lawn or in your garden. If you're a gardener, don't be so quick to deadhead your blooms. There are a lot of seeds located in these
spent blooms, which will attract and provide nutrients for songbirds.
It may seem an overwhelming issue when considering the numbers and causes of loss above, but if we all did just one thing, collectively we could make a
difference. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
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| Date: | January 23, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MIGRATION CONCLUSION PODCAST | Location: | Main Office |
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"Whoopers Happening" is a podcast, which was produced on a regular basis until early last year by longtime Craniac Mark Chenoweth. Mark is continuing with producing
podcasts focusing on endangered species, and he was present at the Dunnellon-Marion County airport on January 14th for the arrival event.
Click to listen to his latest production in which he chats with Brooke, Richard and Joe to get their thoughts on the 2010 migration.
And if you'd like to catch up on past Whoopers Happening podcasts click this
iTunes link to access the free downloads. As always, huge thanks to
Mark!
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| Date: |
January 22, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | WOOD BUFFALO/ARANSAS POPULATION UPDATE | Location: | Main Office |
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The third aerial census of the 2010-11 whooping crane season was conducted January 19, 2011 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions, Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn.
Tom reports that the flight only covered 2/3’s of the crane area due to limited flight time. Flight conditions and visibility were good throughout the 4-hour flight, although clouds made it a harder to find cranes during mid-portions of the census. A follow-up flight the next day had to be cancelled due to fog and low ceilings.
Sighted on the flight were 175 adults and 36 juveniles = 211 total whooping cranes. The only recent confirmed report I have of whooping cranes not at Aransas was one white-plumaged whooping crane in north Texas near Electra on January 2nd.
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Adults + Young |
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San Jose |
51 + 8 = 59 |
|
Refuge |
80 + 18 = 98 |
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Lamar |
9 + 4 = 13 |
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South ½ MI |
35 + 6 = 41 |
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Welder Flats |
Not flown |
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Total |
175 + 36 = 211 |
Assuming numbers had remained the same from the previous flight in the areas not covered, the numbers represent an increase of 3 cranes above the previous record-tying count of 270. However, although I fully expect flock size to be more than the 270 previously tallied, it will take several more flights before I can establish a better estimate of flock size.
Crane habitat use observed on the census flight (n=211):
74 of the cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat
82 were on prescribed burns
21 were in shallow open bay habitat
31 were on uplands areas
3 were at fresh water sources The 82 whooping cranes on prescribed burns was notably very high. The prescribed burns have changed the distribution of cranes on the winter range, with many cranes moving to the two refuge burns from different parts of the wintering area. For example, two of the radioed cranes have left Lamar and are staying on the refuge burns and adjacent salt marsh. One adult female crane was captured on Lamar and radioed on January 8th by biologists organized by The Crane Trust, Wood River, Nebraska. They set out a snare attached to a long twine, and when the bird stepped in the snare, they yanked on a fishing pole and tightened the snare, ran out from blinds and grabbed the bird.
This is normally a tougher time for whooping cranes to find adequate food resources, and this winter is no exception as evidenced by increased use of uplands, burns, and open bay habitat during the flight. A crab count conducted January 7th had found only 6 blue crabs in an hour of walking the marsh, but compared to some winters, this was not too bad. No wolfberry fruits or flowers had been found, with the crop over for the year.
Salinities are currently 19 ppt in San Antonio bay just north of the refuge. Several inches of rain that fell January 15-16th has provided additional drinking water for the cranes in various areas of standing water next to the salt marsh and eased access to drinking water for the cranes.
A severe hail storm that crossed the Texas coast in the early morning hours of January 9th apparently killed over 1,000 birds in a narrow area on San Jose Island stretching over 15 miles. Initially reported by a waterfowl hunter, a reconnaissance by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimated at least 1,000 birds had been killed. Species found dead included sandhill crane, white pelican, roseate spoonbill, black skimmer, ducks, plovers, and terns. Sixteen specimens were necropsied by the National Wildlife Health Center, but I do not yet have the results.
During the reconnaissance, TPWD had observed 8 whooping cranes that looked fine. Additional searches in other parts of the crane range
did not reveal any dead birds. On today’s census flight, there was no evidence of hail-killed birds or missing whooping cranes on San Jose Island. I think the whooping cranes dodged nature's bullet, though we'll probably never know for sure if a few whooping cranes perished. Tornados and wind gusts > 60 mph associated with the storm had also damaged buildings in various locations in the Coastal Bend.
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| Date: | January 21, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | St. Marks CraneCam! | Location: | Main Office |
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We wanted to let everyone know that you can still keep an eye on the five Whooping crane chicks currently wintering at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Over the past couple of years, the St. Marks
Refuge Association conducted a fundraising drive and thanks to the generosity of
all the school children and others who gave to the "Coins for Cranes" project,
as well as the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation for
their $5000 grant through the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant
Program, the Disney
Corporation for covering the cost of a laptop and monitor for the Refuge Visitor
Center – the camera has been operational since the middle of December when the
young cranes arrived behind Brooke Pennypacker’s ultralight-aircraft.
In addition to the above generosity,
Network Tallahassee is providing
the DSL service and
WAVE 94 FM is sharing their very tall tower. Volunteer Alan
Fortner made many trips up and down the two towers to install and tweak the
direction of the yagi antenna’s, which broadcasts the signal from the
pensite to the receiving yagi a few miles away.
This is just another example of how people have come
together to help safeguard Whooping cranes and to provide an educational
vehicle to gain and maintain interest in this endangered crane.
So why not log in and see what the cranes are up to and
how they spend their day? You might just see an adult Whooper dropping in to
visit.
Click to visit the St.
Marks wintering Whoopers!
Please note that the feed is not a streaming,
continuous feed but rather the image refreshes every few seconds. Also note
that it is best viewed with Firefox, Chrome, or Safari. Internet Explorer
does not behave properly.
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| Date: |
January 20, 2011 |
Reporter: | Brooke
Pennypacker |
| Subject: | FOG AT
THE PEN | Location: |
St. Marks NWR, Florida |
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Jay from Disney and I watched from the blind as the fog rolled in from the Gulf in advance of night and wrapped its smoky arms around the pen and surrounding marsh. All the chicks loafed around at ease within the security of the pen in anticipation of the coming darkness, their daily ration of energy and curiosity spent. All but #5, that is. She stood alone just outside the east side of the pen grubbing and foraging like a child refusing to go to bed.
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| Date: |
January 19, 2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MILEMAKER UPDATE - UPDATE! | Location: | Main Office |
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Those that read the entry from this morning will recall me stating: Today at 4pm, we’ll be making the final draw for the remaining copy of National Geographic photographer, Klaus Nigge’s new
book;
Whooping Crane - Images from the Wild. This beautiful book
features 156
color photos taken at Wood Buffalo National Park, where the only naturally
occurring migratory population summers, and at the Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge where they spend the winter.
The winner is.... (drum roll).... Cheryl Nichol of
Ontario!!!
Congratulations Cheryl! We'll get your book out to
you this week.
We received a total of 4 more sponsored miles today - thank you very much
to everyone that stepped up to help! If you would like to help fund any of
the remaining 68
miles, or even a
portion of a mile, please visit
the preceding links, or the MileMaker page.
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| Date: | January 19, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MILEMAKER UPDATE | Location: | Main Office |
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The 2010 ultralight-guided Whooping crane migration officially ended on Saturday, January 15th. This was the 10th year of such flights, which begin in Central Wisconsin and end 1285 miles to the south in Citrus County, FL.
This past migration lasted 73 days. Not bad considering the three previous years took 89, 88 and 97 days respectively, but there are still expenses to cover and we currently have 72 un-funded miles –
all in Alabama. That's almost one mile for each day of the migration, and this adds up to a deficit of $14,400 miles. We could really use your help to ensure a fully funded 10th year.
Today at 4pm, we’ll be making the final draw for the remaining copy of National Geographic photographer, Klaus Nigge’s new
book;
Whooping Crane - Images from the Wild.
If you'd like to get your name into the draw click
to select a portion or
full mile in our MileMaker Campaign. Everyone who is a MileMaker sponsor
will automatically be entered into the draw for this beautiful
book!
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| Date: |
January 18, 2011 | Reporter: | Joe Duff |
| Subject: | THE WHETHER OF WEATHER | Location: | On The Road |
|
Richard van Heuvelen and I drove down from Ontario early last week to finish off the 2010 migration. We left the sunny skies of Canada and drove through the ice and snow of North and South Carolina to finally reach
the freezing temperatures of Florida. How wrong is that picture?
Unpredictability is the only thing predictable about the weather these days and it gives you an idea of
what we face each morning. With so many weather services available on the internet and smart phones, each
member of our crew shows up at the morning gatherings armed with their own information. Most often they are in
conflict with all the others, leaving us as uninformed as we were before any of those services existed. It
used to be that fishermen could be depended on as the world’s greatest liars. Now that title is shared by
weathermen and the battery engineers, who tell us our laptops will run for ten hours on a single charge.
Our trip south began a few days after the WCEP Tracking Team told us that most of the adult birds that
often stop at the Chassahowitzka pen site and cause a disturbance, had already completed their migration and
we had the “all clear” to bring down the class of 2010. We only had five birds and two legs to fly, so a
minimal crew was needed. Richard and I joined Peggy Coontz from Patuxent who had been caring for the birds for
the last week or so.
There is risk involved in flying the birds without top cover or a ground crew tracking below us and the
chances of losing a bird go up accordingly. But there is also a sense of independence and camaraderie between
the two pilots and the birds, knowing we must all depend on each other. Well, maybe that was just our
interpretation. The birds hadn’t seen the aircraft for over a month and they had no idea if someone was
watching from below or even what that meant, but I felt it.
Peggy has not been on the migration before and never released the birds for an early morning launch, but
she has years of animal experience and a great sense of how to handle them. It is not a simple task and there
are lots of variables but after long explanations of what to expect, she did a perfect job.
In our absence, the birds had been fitted with their permanent radio transmitters and a couple with
satellite tracking devices. That required handling and they were still slightly leery of the costumes. Also
after a month in that pen, we didn’t expect them to come charging out but I was surprised at how reluctant
they were to leave. First one, then another tentatively came out of the gate but one would not leave. Peggy
coaxed and cajoled but finally had to herd number 15 out of the pen. By this time, the others were all behind
the pen, as far from the idling aircraft as they could get. With perfect timing, Peggy emerged from the
trailer in swamp monster garb and off they went.
It was obvious they were a month older and that much more independent. But the familiarity was still there
and they moved over to join the wing.
During the initial climb, it is always hard to fly slowly enough for them to keep up. In straight and level
flight, the aircraft will slow to 34 miles per hour before it stops flying and begins to drop. But when you
turn, some of that lift is lost and more speed is needed to stay airborne. It is a delicate balance between
flying and falling and it happens just over the trees, as we circle to let the birds catch up. Several times,
they formed on the wing and then fell behind, but at least they were trying.
A few miles to the south, they turned back. Sometimes it is as if they are encouraging you to go with them
but if you stick to your course, they lose their conviction and rejoin the wing. Other times they are strong
willed and head for home, whether you are coming or not. We chase them back and retake the lead. You could
see them lose confidence in their leadership and again join the aircraft at least as long as we are heading
north. Then we slowly change course, careful not to make it too abrupt. Sometimes we will head east or west or
any direction they are willing to follow us, as long as it is away from the pen. There seems to be a certain
distance away from the pensite, either in miles or familiarity, where they finally decide there is no turning
back and they settle in to follow.
There was a perfectly clear sky while this rodeo took place and the sun began to heat the fields and forest
below. That created thermals and the rising warm air pushed us around like a cork in the rapids and we had to
climb slowly to 1000 feet to find smooth air. Once there, the birds locked onto the wing but occasionally
they dropped down below it where there are no wingtip vortices to help carry them along.
Sometimes the lead bird will fly directly above the tip and disappear for a while until either beak or toes
peek out from the leading or trailing edge of the wing. I had birds on each tip, so I spent my time looking
from one to the other. In that divided attention, one bird dropped below and behind the aircraft and by the
time I spotted it, it was a few hundred feet down. It kept following but was getting lower so Richard moved in
to pick it up. The tired bird formed on his wing and with no competition for the best spot to fly, it climbed
with him back up to our altitude and higher.
As we climbed, the headwind that was predicted to be a tailwind lessened and we were able to cover ground
slightly faster. Richard’s speed at 2000 feet was up to 43 miles per hour while mine was a meager 21 at 1300
feet.
Maybe it was the month of not flying or our slow progress, but the birds seemed to spend more time under
the wing and I had to lose altitude to keep them with me. Slowly we worked our way down to below 1000 feet
into the bumpy air and slower speed as Richard moved further ahead.
For the last 20 miles, we bumped along, getting kicked and tossed like a Styrofoam cup on a freeway.
Richard was rushing ahead as best he could to try to get his bird on the ground and come back to help. By the
time we reached the Dunnellon Airport, we were down to a couple of hundred feet and we circled the crowd once
before heading for the pen only a mile away. Eva Szyszkoski and Ben were at the pen
site to help with the birds. Once they were safe and settled, we headed back to the airport to speak to all
the patient people who waited hours just to see the birds.
Thanks to the generosity of Larry Morrow, our aircraft were hangared overnight. Saturday, it was my turn to
fly chase for Richard and I watched as he landed near the pen on the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve and Peggy
released the birds for the final time. Again, they walked out slowly and took off before him. Once airborne he
corralled them and headed on course.
A mile or so to the south, they flew over a large wetland complex and it was obvious they were tempted to
land. They circled several times while Richard intercepted them and headed them back on course only to lose
them again. In all those turns and gyrations, one bird fell behind. Once he was far enough back I moved in to
pick it up.
All the good weather that was predicted for the day before, finally materialized. There was no wind on the
surface and a ten mile per hour push above a thousand feet.
The flight to the Chassahowitzka pen site was quiet and short and I watched the
bird off my wingtip, concentrating on every detail so it would burn into my memory. It seemed as if no time at
all had passed and we were already over the vast salt marsh of the Chassahowitzka NWR with the winter release
pen in sight.
Richard went in, low and slow and as the birds dropped their landing gear, he pushed out on the bar of the
aircraft to execute a quick, steep climb. A couple of birds had thoughts of attempting to follow him but quickly gave
up and all four landed just outside the pen. My lone bird was easy to drop and it quickly joined the others as
they touched down at their new winter home for the first time.
We climbed up to two thousand feet for the return flight to the Dunnellon Airport. At that higher level, we
again had a tailwind. It is rare to have a push in both directions but it was a rare day. It was quiet on the
way back. There wasn’t much chatter on the radio as we both silently wondered if we had just experienced our
last flight with Whooping cranes. For the sake of this flock and all the work it took to create it, we hope
that it wasn’t.
“Bittersweet” -- That was the response my wife sent to my text message telling her that the migration was
finally over. Having been involved in this project as long as I have, she understood the emotion that both
Richard and I were feeling as we led five birds on the last legs of the 2010 migration.
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| Date: | January 17, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | CRANE LOVE | Location: | Main Office |
|
Valentine’s day is almost a month away but a good love story needn’t wait
till then to be told.
I, and I’m sure most others in the Whooping Crane Eastern
Partnership, have mixed feelings about this story. On one hand, we’re disappointed that a 9 year old male crane from the Class of 2001 - the first year we led Whooping cranes on a southward migration, has been removed from the wild.
There’s an often used proverb that states home is where the heart is and in the case of #5-01 it seems he’s finally arrived home. So, on the other hand, you can’t help but be happy for him, and
the object of his affection, Peepers.
Click to read the
background story, published on Friday, January 14th and written by Barbara Behrendt of the St. Petersburg Times. Then, be sure to read this follow up
article published on Saturday.
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| Date: | January 16,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | "IT AIN'T
OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS" | Location: |
Main Office |
|
The journey of 1,285 air miles that began in Necedah, Wisconsin on
October 10, 2010 was brought to a conclusion yesterday morning with the
delivery of the last five juvenile Whooping cranes to the Chassahowitzka
National Wildlife Refuge - 73 migration days later.
This was the tenth year OM's ultralights led young Whooping cranes south,
and over the years, the migration has taken as few as 48 days (2001) to
complete and as many as 97 (2007). At 73 days 2010's odyssey ranked in sixth
place, and marked a reversal of the trend to lengthening migrations that
began in 2006.
On average, the first five ultralight-led migrations took 55 days from
start to finish. By comparison, the second five fall journeys averaged 85
days, the equivalent of an extra month.
It was in 2005 that the practice of standing down and holding the
Class-of-the Year one stop short of their final destination was first
instituted. Standing down allowed the migrating White Birds that frequently
dropped in at the pen, to stop in and then move on to their usual wintering
territories. When the young-of-the-year are at the
pensite, the returning adults are attracted by the activity and the food,
and tempted to hang around. They can become aggressive and injury can
result, or the chicks can be chased away from the protection of the release
pen.
The Class of 2005 was short-stopped in Marion County
on December 14th and OM's pilots returned in January to fly the
chicks the final leg. In 2006, that year's cohort was short-stopped December
20th with the ultralight-led migration completed January 12th. Due to the
over long migrations in 2007, 2008 and 2009, those arrivals being January
28th, 23rd and 20th respectively, there was no need to short-stop and stand
down.
Now, with the entire Class of 2010 ensconced on their St. Marks and Chass
wintering grounds, all that remains is for pilots Joe and Richard to make
the trip safely back home. Then the fat lady can sing.
|
| Date: | January 15,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | 2010
MIGRATION SUCCESSFULLY FINISHES TODAY |
Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 26
Miles | Total Miles |
1285 |
|
Pilots Joe and Richard took off with the Chass Five, the last of the
Class of 2010, around 7:56am. They led them the 26 air miles from the
stopover pensite on the Halpata-Tastanki Preserve to the young cranes'
wintering ground on the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. "Delivery"
time was approximately one hour later at 8:56am.
The last few miles gave the cranes and planes a bit of a bumpy ride with the
trashy air that usually is encountered as they approached the coastline.
(The pensite is in a marshy area five miles out.)
This flight brought the 2010 Migration, which began what seems like eons
ago, to a close. On behalf of everyone at OM, here is a huge and
sincere thank you to all our donors, members, sponsors, and grantors, for
helping and supporting our efforts on behalf of Whooping cranes. As we've
said many times before, we have the hands and the hearts, but could
accomplish nothing without YOUR financial support. Your loyalty and
unflagging support is stupendous. Whooping cranes could not have better
friends!
Joe has promised an entry for posting here on both yesterday's second to
last flight with the Class of 2010, and today's final and farewell flight.
Be patient though. That is not likely to happen today with all the post
final flight activity that is necessary. Do keep tuned.
Once again we can thank Julie Reagan for sharing her snaps from this
morning's flyover in Homosassa.
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| Joe leads his one charge on the final leg of the
2010 migration to the Chassahowitza refuge. |
Richard has four of the Chass Five off his wing on their very
last flight with OM's aircraft. |
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| Date: | January 14,
2011 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 59.1 | Total Miles |
1259 |
|
It could be that tomorrow's weather will allow a 'two-peat'. Surface
conditions look very favorable, and if there is anything that could cause a
hiccup it is the winds aloft. Right now the aviation sites are showing that
the cranes and planes are likely to face a headwind as they fly the 26 mile
flight to the Chassahowitzka NWR. That short leg can often be a test because
of the swirly winds as they approach the coastline.
According to Joe, at the minimum they will be putting up a test trike in
the morning, but as of this afternoon, he was feeling reasonably confident
about being able to fly the last leg and thus conclude the 2010 migration.
Chassahowitza is undoubtedly as anxious to receive their new winter
residents as we are to see them safely into their hands.
For those who would like one last chance to see the Class of 2010 and
their airborne mechanical leaders, the flyover viewing location is at the
Wal-Mart parking lot, 3826 South Suncoast Blvd., in Homosassa.
Click here for Google Map
 At
today's Arrival Flyover Event at the Dunnellon-Marion County airport, super
Craniac and volunteer extraordinaire, Colleen Chase, stood in for me both
taking updates on the flight and in our booth. There aren't words to thank
her enough for all she does for OM!
Here's to you Colleen....Applause, Applause!
(Photo compliments of Frances Brown)
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| Date: | January 14,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | SECOND TO
LAST MIGRATION LEG COMPLETED | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 59.1
Miles | Total Miles |
1259 |
|
While we don't yet have any details about today's flight from pilots Joe
and Richard, we can share a couple of photos taken at this morning's flyover
thanks to Julie Reagan.
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| Richard flies over the crowd with one of the Chass
Five. |
Joe gives flyover viewers a good look at his four charges. |
Lisa, a videographer with WCJB.com was
on hand for the Arrival Flyover Event which she described as, "...an
awesome experience." She advised that the story, and we presume some of
the footage she shot, will be available on their website - perhaps later
today. Being stuck here in snowy Ontario, I'm anxious to check it out.
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| Date: | January 14,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 72 - THEY'RE IN THE AIR!! | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | ?? | Total Miles |
?? |
|
The Arrival Flyover Event at the Dunnellon-Marion County airport is on!
After coaxing one recalcitrant crane (15-10) out of the pen followed by a
bit of a crane rodeo, Joe and Richard finally got the birds off at ~8:24am
and are headed from Gilchrist County to Marion County with the Chass Five.
With ~70 air miles to cover, the flight should take ~two hours - more or
less- putting them overhead of the folks waiting to view the flyover at the
Dunnellon airport - we're guessing - sometime between 10 and 11am. If you
live close by you still have time to get to the flyover site.
Check the Field Journal later today for our 'Predicting' entry with our
thoughts on the chances of the final leg of the 2010 migration, happening on
Saturday, January 15. (Marion County to Citrus County and the Chassahowitzka
NW Refuge)
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| Date: | January 13,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING - Expecting to fly tomorrow! | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
After scouring the weather websites, we're all reasonably confident that
the five juvenile cranes destined for Chassahowitzka NWR and their
mechanical leaders will be in the air tomorrow.
As usual, pilots Joe and Richard will try to take to the air as soon
after official sunrise (7:29am) as possible. It remains to be seen how
quickly they'll get off however. Not having flown for a while, it might take
some coaxing (read crane rodeo) to convince the chicks to 'shape up so
everyone can ship out'.
The flight from Gilchrist to Marion County is ~70 miles and on average
the cranes and planes fly at around 35 - 38mph. That means a flight lasting
around two hours. But, if the forecast holds, they could have a nice
little 5 to 6 mph push. Daring to make an assumption here (and it could be a
big one!) - that they'll get in the air and on course by 7:50am - that would
see the flyover happening no sooner than 9:15am and most likely before
10:00am.
All of that means if you'd like to attend the Arrival Flyover Event at
the Dunnellon-Marion County airport, you will want to be on site by 9:00am
latest. It is predicted to be a very cold morning with frost so bundle up!
We HOPE to have the TrikeCam operational for the flight, but cam viewers
take note. The Gilchrist stopover is in an area with a notoriously poor
signal.
If you are planning to go to the Flyover, be sure to stop by OM's booth
to say hello to OM Volunteer Colleen Chase who is looking after things for
us, and don't forget to check out the sale prices on our OM Gear.
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| Date: |
January 13, 2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | VISIT
'THE PLATTE' IN NEBRASKA WITH DR. JANE GOODALL | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
Regular Field Journal readers will know of OM’s admiration and friendship
with Dr. Jane Goodall. It is why we announce with great pleasure here, that
the Jane Goodall Institute has organized a 'Pilgrimage to Witness the Great
Crane Migration with Dr. Jane' – and you’re invited.
March 16 – 19th, you are invited to join the Jane Goodall Institute along
the banks of the Platte River in Nebraska to view the great migration of the
Sandhill cranes, one of Dr. Goodall’s most cherished pastimes. The trip cost
($5000) includes all scheduled events, hotel accommodation (Wyngate by
Windham in Kearney, NE), meals, and transportation to and from the airport.
Some of the highlights of this all inclusive trip include:
• Guided trip at Rowe Sanctuary to view the world’s largest concentration of
Sandhill cranes from observation blinds on the banks of the Platte River.
• Birding with acclaimed natural history writer and field ornithologist (or
bird migration researcher), Scott Weidensaul at the Rainwater Basin.
• Nature Photography Workshop and Field Survey at the Nebraska Nature and
Visitors Center.
• Cocktails and dinner with Dr. Jane Goodall and acclaimed nature
photographer Tom Mangelson.
Click the link to see
the
detailed schedule. For more information please contact Alicia Zarillo,
manager of donor relations and special events for the Jane Goodall
Institute, at
azarillo@janegoodall.org or, (703) 682-9288.
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| Date: | January 12,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING - NO FLYOVER THURSDAY | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
Two flights totalling 113.1 air miles remain to be completed to finish
the migration that we began last October with the Class of 2010. There are
still 102 unsponsored MileMaker miles - all in Alabama. That means we need
408 quarter mile sponsors @ $50; or, 204 half mile sponsors @ $100; or, 102
one mile sponsors @ $200 - - or any combination thereof.
We hope those of you who are not already a MileMaker Sponsor will
click this link and become one TODAY. Alternatively, if you'd
like to speak to a real person, call our office toll free at 1-800-675-2618.
We'd love to hear from YOU! Thank you in advance for helping to cover the
cost of the 2010 migration.
As for the possibility of a flight from Gilchrist to Marion County and
the Arrival Flyover Event tomorrow – Thursday – we are looking at clear
skies, a cool temp of 22F, and winds of ~6mph on the ground.
Aloft the winds are not expected to drop down in strength enough to allow
a flight. As a result, the cranes and planes will NOT be flying tomorrow,
meaning of course that the Arrival Flyover at the Dunnellon airport will not
happen until another day.
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| Date: |
January 12,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | USFWS
SENDS OUT PRESS RELEASE RE 3 CRANE MORTALITIES | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
This Press Release just received... Endangered Whooping Cranes were
Killed by Gunshot Near Albany, Georgia
-- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offers $12,500 Reward for Information on
Shooting --
Wildlife scientists at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics
Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, have concluded through preliminary testing
the cranes found dead near Albany, Georgia, on Dec. 30, 2010, sustained
injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
The cranes were shot sometime before Dec. 30, 2010. They were discovered and
reported by hunters. This was the crane’s first migration. They were banded
and equipped with transmitters and were not part of the ultralight-led
migration effort. Their identities were confirmed by the recovery of their
bands. The three cranes, 20-10, 24-10, and 28-10, were part of a group of
five 2010 Direct Autumn Release (DAR) cranes. According to Whooping Crane
Eastern Partnership trackers, they had last been tracked in Hamilton County,
Tennessee, where they roosted on December 10, 2010, with cranes 6-05, 6-09,
and 38-09.
The cranes are part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership effort to
reintroduce whooping cranes into the eastern United States. There are about
570 whooping cranes left in the world, 400 in the wild. About 100 cranes are
in the eastern migratory population.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents are leading a joint
investigation with Georgia Department of Natural Resources conservation
rangers.
Numerous organizations are contributing funds for the reward. They include:
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Humane Society of the United States
along with the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, the Georgia
Ornithological Society, the International Crane Foundation, Operation
Migration USA Inc, the St. Marks Refuge Association, along with the St.
Marks Photo Club, and the Georgia Conservancy. The reward of up to $12,500
will be provided to the person or people who provide information leading to
an arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrator(s).
In addition to the Endangered Species Act, whooping cranes are protected by
state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Any information concerning the deaths of these cranes should be provided
to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Terry Hasting at
404-763-7959 and/or Georgia Department of Natural Resources 24hr. TIP
Hotline at 1-800-241-4113.
For more information about the reintroduction effort, visit
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org
|
| Date: | January 12,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | EASTERN
MIGRATORY POPULATION UPDATE | Location: |
Main Office |
|
With the December 25th release of five juveniles at the St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge, the number of Whooping Cranes in the Eastern
Migratory Population (EMP) stood at 55 males and 49 females for a total of
104 at January 8th, the end of the latest WCEP Tracking report period. Not
yet included in the EMP total are the five ultralight-led cranes in the
Class of 2010 still in Gilchrist County, FL and destined for wintering
grounds on the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.
Legend
* = female
D = DAR or direct autumn release
NFT = non-functional transmitter
& connecting two cranes = bonded pair
SM = Released at St. Marks NWR (release site distinction begins with
2008 cranes).
CH = released at Chassahowizka NWR (release site distinction begins
with 2008 cranes)
INDIANA
Jasper Cty - 27-07* as of Dec. 27
Sullivan Cty - 17-03 & 3-03* as of Jan. 7
Knox Cty - 16-02/16-07* as of Dec. 10
Jackson/Jennings Cty - D34-09* and D35-09* departed Dec. 6-9. No subsequent
reports.
Union Cty - D32-09* as of Jan. 1
KENTUCKY
16-04, CH4-09*, 12-07, 17-07*NFT, D31-08 (Four of the five were detected
together in flight through western KY Dec. 6)
TENNESSEE
Bradley Cty - 18-03 & 13-03* as of Dec. 30
Meigs/Rhea Ctys - 5-05 & 15-04*, D28-05* as of Dec. 22, D37-07, SM28-08,
D21-10, D28-05 as of Dec. 22, 13-07 and D36-09* as of Dec. 14
Hamilton Cty - 6-05, SM6-09, D38-09
ALABAMA
Cherokee Cty - 11-02, SM30-08*, D19-10, 12-04 & D27-05*, D37-09*, D22-10*,
25-10, and 27-10*
Morgan Cty - 13-02 & 18-02*, 1-04 & 8-05*, 24-05 & D42-07*, D27-06,
SM26-09*, SM13-08*
Shelby Cty - 33-07 CH5-09*, CH7-09*, D42-09* as of Dec. 8
GEORGIA
Lowndes Cty - 3-07, D38-08*, 7-07 & D39-07*, D23-10*, D26-10 as of Jan. 6
SOUTH CAROLINA
Colleton Cty - 11-03 & 12-03*, 10-03/W1-06* as of Jan. 5
FLORIDA
Citrus Cty - 1-01, CH24-08, CH14-08, CH27-08 as of Dec. 27, CH13-09 and
CH19-09 as of Dec. 2, SM12-09, CH 24-09, D41-09 as of Dec. 5, CH14-08,
CH24-08*, CH27-08 as of Dec. 20-21
Hernando Cty - 5-01 on Dec. 21 and Chass pensite Jan. 7, then Homosassa
Springs Wildlife State Park Jan. 8 where he was captured and subsequently
transported to a holding pen Withlacoochee SF.
Pasco Cty - 12-02 * 19-04* and chick W3-10*
Alachua Cty - 7-03 & 26-07*, 8-04 & 19-05*, 12-05 & 22-07* by Dec. 30,
SM14-09* as of Jan. 7
Lake Cty - 2-04 & D46-07*, 9-05
Lafayette Cty - 3-04 & 9-03* and chick W1-10* as of Dec. 21
Polk Cty - 12-07, 17-07*NFT, D31-08
Wakulla Cty - SM8-09*, SM11-09, SM15-09*, SM18-09, SM25-09*, CH29-09, 1-10,
5-10*, 6-10*, 8-10*, 10-10*
Levy Cty – CH4-08, SM10-09 as of Jan. 7
Santa Rosa Cty - SM29-08 as of Dec. 31
Long Term Missing (more than 90 days)
D33-05NFT last reported in Jackson Cty, IN March 6, 2010
CH27-09 last detected in Waukesha Cty., WI Apr. 10, 2010
7-01*NFT: last reported in Fond du Lac Cty., WI May 2.
16-03NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 6.
14-05NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 18.
20-05*NFT believed to have been in Jackson Cty., WI May 24.
Yet to be released into the EMP are Five Ultralight-led Juveniles
Gilchrist Cty 3-10*, 9-10*, 15-10, 16-10*, 17-10
|
| Date: | January 11,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING - NO FLYOVER TOMORROW | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Having travelled through a south that weather-wise more resembled the
north, Joe and Richard have reached northern Florida and should be in
Gilchrist County in time for a late dinner.
As the day progressed we've been checking the weather for the area, both
on the ground and in the air. Between the lateness of the pilots' arrival
today and the turnaround in forecast winds, we can say with confidence there
will be no cranes and planes in the air tomorrow - and therefore - no
Arrival Event Flyover at the Dunnellon-Marion County airport.
Surface winds that promised to be light are now predicted to pick up well
beyond tolerance, and what is now forecast aloft is almost triple the
velocity previously forecast.
The waiting game begins...wonder what the weatherman has in store for us
for Thursday. We will keep you posted.
|
| Date: | January 11,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | POSSIBLE
FLYOVER TOMORROW? | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Pilots Joe and Richard are enroute to Gilchrist County, FL and hope to
rejoin the Chass Five of the Class of 2010 before the end of today.
The weatherman has so far been kind to them as they make their way back
to Florida, however, when we last spoke, they had yet to encounter the blast
of winter that had been promised particularly to Tennessee and Georgia which
could slow them down.
And speaking of weather, the forecast for Gilchrist County for tomorrow
morning holds promise, at least on the ground; clear skies, a temperature in
the high 20's, and NW surface winds. If anything, it appears that the winds
aloft could prove to be the anchor that holds them firmly in place.
Those wishing to attend the Arrival Flyover Event at the Dunnellon-Marion
County airport, will want to check here late afternoon/early evening for an
update. Much will depend on the pilots' arrival time at the Gilchrist
stopover, and therefore their ability to get all in readiness for a morning
flight. Based on that situation and a last check of the aviation sites for
weather aloft, we will post our 'best guess' on the odds of Wednesday being
a fly day.
Will tomorrow see the cranes and planes advance to their second to last
stop on a journey that began October 10th and 1,172 miles ago? Stay tuned.
|
| Date: | January 10, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | SANDHILL CRANE VIEWING DAYS IN TN | Location: | Main Office |
|
This year the annual Sandhill Crane Viewing Festival at Birchwood School and Hiwassee Wildlife
Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee is celebrating its 20th year.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Tennessee Wildlife
Federation and the Tennessee Ornithological
Society are partnering on the January 15 & 16 events, which will feature music, a bird show, an American Indian heritage program and, of course, the cranes – thousands of Sandhill cranes, and perhaps even a Whooping crane or two!
The festival will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Birchwood School, with children's activities, breakfast and displays. Throughout the day visitors can park at the Birchwood School and take shuttle buses to the Hiwassee refuge and to Cherokee Memorial Park, located nearby at Blythe Ferry on the Tennessee River.
Programs at the school will include presentations on local Native American history, TWRA programs and a special raptor show by the American Eagle Foundation.
On Sunday, Jan. 16, crane viewing will continue at the Hiwassee refuge and the Cherokee Memorial with spotting scopes and wildlife interpretation provided by TWRA and TOS.
To reach the Birchwood School for Saturday's activities, take Interstate 75 south from Knoxville, get off on Exit 25 at Cleveland, TN., and head north on State Route 60 for approximately 15 miles to the school.
To reach the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, first go to the Birchwood School, and continue 1.7 miles north on State Route 60 before turning right onto Shadden Road. Go one mile and turn right onto Blythe Ferry Road. Take the next left on Priddy Lane and follow the signs.
Admission to the festival is free.
|
| Date: | January 9, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | COIN CONTROVERSY | Location: | Main Office |
|
Biologists say a silver dollar minted to honor the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada shows two endangered species not found in any national park.
Alex Reeves, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mint, defended the design, The Ottawa Citizen reported. He said the national parks play a key role in preserving endangered species and that’s what the coin tries to demonstrate.
The coin will be available for $55.95, considerably more than its face value. The design includes a whooping crane and Kentucky coffee tree, both found in national parks, and the southern maidenhair fern and western prairie fringe orchid.
The fern, common in the southeastern United States, grows in only one place in Canada, at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in British Columbia, where warm runoff creates the conditions it requires. The orchid is found in a few boggy spots in Manitoba, none of them in national parks.
Dan Brunton, a naturalist whose field work led to the fern’s declaration as an endangered species, said celebrating species not found in national parks
“seems a weird way to promote the importance of national parks, or to provide public confidence in their grasp of the science that is critical to their successful management and planning of the parks system and its dependent biodiversity.”
If you're interested in purchasing this new coin visit the Royal Canadian
Mint
Website.
|
| Date: | January 7,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | DAR
JUVENILES SHOT IN GEORGIA | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
reported that necropsy results
revealed that the cause of death of the three Whooping Cranes found December
30, 2010 in Calhoun County, Georgia, was gunshot. An investigation is
underway. The cranes, according to the landowner of the property where they
were found by hunters, had been in the area for a few weeks.
The deceased Whooping Cranes were part of a ten year effort of the
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) to reintroduce the species into
the eastern United States. The three juveniles were released in Wisconsin in
October 2010 with eight other first-year birds as part of the Direct Autumn
Release (DAR) program operated by the Baraboo, Wisconsin based International
Crane Foundation (ICF). The young DAR cranes generally follow older Whooping
Cranes or Sandhill Cranes to learn a migration route south in search of
suitable wintering habitat. The cranes were banded and equipped with
transmitters and were not part of Operation Migration’s ultralight-led
migration reintroduction program.
A reward will be posted for information leading to an arrest. OM’s Board of Directors, via a special call, moved to make a contribution toward that reward.
“It was the Board of Director’s feeling that it is important that Operation Migration demonstratively support both Whooping Cranes and project partner, the International Crane Foundation.”
said Board Chair, Paul Young
Operation Migration CEO, Joe Duff, said, “It is a bitter pill to swallow
to have WCEP’s efforts to safeguard the endangered Whooping Crane from
extinction so callously disregarded. For this magnificent species with an
already tenuous hold on survival, these mortalities are tragic. We can only
hope the perpetrators of this reprehensible act can be identified so that
appropriate justice can be meted out.”
US Fish & Wildlife Law Enforcement Special Agent Hasting asks that any
individuals with knowledge of the shooting contact him at 404-763-7959.
|
| Date: | January 7,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | WHITE
BIRDS VISIT - AGAIN | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Brooke and his helpers had another busy day yesterday as the five
Whooping cranes released last winter at St. Marks and the one released at
Chassahowitzka paid the pensite yet another visit.
He said there is some aggression within the group of six older birds.
When they were hazed off on previous occasions, the costumes watched as an
aerial battle carried on (they believe the aggressor was 15-09*) for more
than 15 minutes. Apparently 15-09* takes particular pleasure in picking on
little 25-09*.
1-10 has taken up the job of protecting the feed buckets. Brooke said #1
is not shy about putting the run on #15-09* or any of the other adults when
they try to approach the food. So, 1-10 has been given a part-time job. When
the adults arrive the costumes walk 1-10 over to one feed bucket and they
deploy in front of the others to ensure none of the white birds get a free
meal.
When the group arrived at the pen yesterday morning 25-09* was not with
them - which had the costumes worried. It was almost two hours later before
she finally made her appearance. The costumes went about the business hazing
off the white birds - noisily banging feed buckets to startle them, and then
literally running to chase them away. Brooke told us that the adults are
beginning to get the message as they have started to run or fly off as soon
as they see a costume approaching.
It was afternoon though before the costumes had finally convinced them to
vamoose. However, they merely flew out to the nearby flats, so out to the
flats trudged the costumes to haze them even further off.
Last evening around roost check time, 25-09*, which Brooke describes as a
beautiful, tiny, timid bird, showed back up at the pen. She doesn't bother
the 2010 chicks and they don't mind her being around, so for her own
overnight safety, she was allowed to roost on the oyster bar with the
juveniles.
We hope Brooke isn't turning green and sprouting shoots from spending so
much time in the marsh!
|
| Date: | January 6,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | WHITE
BIRDS VISIT | Location: |
Main Office |
|
The St. Marks Five continue to fare well at their winter home on the
refuge. They had visitors once again earlier in the week as the six
returning adults stopped by the pen. Brooke and his helpers spent a day and
a half in the marsh hazing them away, and finally put the run on them
Tuesday afternoon. There were three 'White Bird free days' between this
drop-in and their last.
In a telephone conversation with Brooke he reported: "They have not
really posed a threat to the juveniles. My bigger concern is that they might
lead them off somewhere. The most aggressive bird, 15-09*, has tried to peck
at the youngsters, but I've watched that same behavior from her within her
own peer group. Her most usual target is 25-09*. We've now hazed the adults
off so much and so often that the chicks seem to have picked up on the
action and have begun to run the adults off themselves."
Brooke told us that along with making sure the adults had no access to
the juveniles' food and doing everything possible to make their visit an
unpleasant and uncomfortable experience, they also ensured the costumes were
always positioned between the White Birds and the chicks.
They have had no success at locating the six adults' favorite haunt on
the refuge despite several attempts. Brooke said, "It is likely at some
fresh water hole but we haven't be able to pinpoint it yet."
|
| Date: | January 5,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
MORTALITIES | Location: |
Main Office |
|
The discovery of three dead Whooping Cranes near Albany, GA was reported
to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on December 30th. A DNR
staffer went to the mortality site and notified WCEP officials by calling
the telephone number on one of the birds’ radio transmitters. Also notified
at the time was a US Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Officer who
is investigating the deaths, described by USFWS and the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources as, “suspicious”.
The identity of the birds was confirmed by the recovery of their bands. The
three, namely, 20-10, 24-10, and 28-10, were part of a group of five 2010
Direct Autumn Release (DAR) cranes. According to WCEP trackers they had last
been recorded as being in Hamilton County, TN where they roosted on December
10th with 6-05, 6-09, and 38-09.
This group of eight cranes departed this location December 13th. Although
the three older birds subsequently returned to their Hamilton County
location, there were no further reports on the whereabouts of the five DAR
juveniles after that time. Two Whooping Cranes, presumed to be the other two
DAR birds of the group of five, have been subsequently sighted in fields
adjacent to the mortality site.
On Monday, January 3rd, the carcasses were shipped to the National Fish
and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for necropsy. Billy Brooks, Wildlife
Biologist, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Jacksonville Field
Office told us, “The results from the necropsies to determine the cause of
deaths are expected to be completed in about two weeks.”
These mortalities, plus the three adult cranes now missing for more than
a year and assumed dead, has dropped the number of Whooping Cranes in the
Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) to 96. The EMP has not been at this level
since October of 2008 when the flock numbered 91. This despite the release
of 50 juveniles (32 ultralight-led and 18 DAR) between October 2008 and
today.
“These deaths, and the falling population number due to other
mortalities, dramatically emphasize the vital importance of annual releases
of the largest possible number of Whooping Cranes,” said Joe Duff, Operation
Migration’s CEO.
Anyone with information concerning the deaths of these cranes is asked to
contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Terry Hasting at
404-763-7959 (ext. 233).
|
| Date: | January 5,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | TWO
MIGRATION LEGS LEFT TO GO - AND A FLYOVER | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Hold your phone calls and email inquiries folks - YES - there will be an
Arrival Flyover at the Dunnellon-Marion County Airport when OM's trikes and
the last five of the Class of 2010 are back in the air.
As you know, we have been waiting for word from WCEP trackers that the
last of the adults most likely to make a pen site visit at the
Chassahowitzka NWR had moved through. As of yesterday, it appears it is down
to all but two cranes. That has prompted us to begin figuring out the
logistics and arrangements for the conclusion of the 2010 migration
subsequent to the stand-down waiting for the white birds necessitated.
We've kept in touch with the good folks at the Chassahowitzka refuge and
they are standing by, ready if not itching to swing into action to help make
the Flyover event happen.
Those of you hoping to attend the Flyover and see first hand the
spectacle of modern machine leading an ancient species - watch this space.
We promise to keep you informed and to give you as much advance warning as
possible. Do keep in mind however that the big unknown remains the same -
the weather.
Stay tuned...
|
| Date: | January 4, 2011 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PEPSI REFRESH EVERYTHING UPDATE | Location: | Main Office |
|
Whew! It has been over 60 days of daily voting, watching, and hoping… We started out in 72nd position in the rankings – a little unsettling but then within the first week of the contest and thanks to your
help, we moved up to 27th.
Then 22nd shortly thereafter… 19th… 18th… 15th… 13th… 9th… at the beginning of the final week of voting, we made it to our highest ranking in the competition: 7th! And this would have assured us a slot in the next round of voting but over the holidays, I, and I’m sure many Craniacs saw our ranking slip to 8th – one spot away from where we needed to be.
Unfortunately, in the end we didn’t make it into the top two positions to receive the $25,000 grant, and we didn’t make it into the top five runner up positions to advance us into the next round of voting, which starts today.
As one who always tries to see the positive though, Operation Migration ranked FIRST in
'The Planet' category, which means nothing in terms of funding, but I think we can all be proud that thanks to your collective effort, a LOT of new people became aware of Whooping cranes.
So, thank you to everyone that voted daily and shared our cause with your friends and relatives! Thanks for posting it on your social media pages. Thank you for reminding them to vote daily. We didn’t achieve the final goal but we did increase support for Whooping cranes and that’s a major achievement.
The next submission date is February 1st and you can be assured that we’ll be submitting our idea again!
|
| Date: | January 3,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | A BELATED
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ARANSAS | Location: |
Main Office |
|
The name, “Tom Stehn”, is a familiar one to Field Journal readers. For
any new folk in our audience, Tom is the Whooping Crane Coordination at the
115,000 acre Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Texas, winter home
to the Wood Buffalo-Aransas Population (WB-AP) of Whooping Cranes, and he is
also the Chair of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team.
Tom, who began tracking the Whoopers at the Aransas refuge back in 1982
when that population numbered just 75, supplies us with regular reports on
how the WB-AP are faring, including the results of his aerial census flights
conducted annually throughout the late fall/winter months.
When he saw the photo I posted here December 31st of three costumes
performing their version of a ‘happy dance’ on successfully completing the
health checks of the Chass Five, he emailed to say, “Operation Migration
is not the only organization that can do silly things. Look at me!” and
provided a link to a story that appeared on the Corpus Christi, Texas
‘caller.com’ website. The occasion for the celebration was the Aransas
refuge’s 73rd birthday, and the signage in one photo dubbed it "Tom Stehn
Day."
Wildlife conservation-minded President Franklin D. Roosevelt established
the ANWR for the protection of migratory birds on December 31, 1937.
We send a belated Happy Birthday wish to the Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge, and to Tom, our thanks for sharing the festivities of the day with
us and our readership.
|
| Date: | January 2,
2011 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | SPONSORSHIPS
STILL NEEDED!! | Location: |
Main Office |
 While
we have just 113 miles left to fly to complete the journey with the young
Whooping Cranes in the Class of 2010, we have 189
MileMaker miles still unsponsored. It sure would be a huge relief to know
the migration was covered financially by the time we reached the finish
line!
Please, if you haven’t already become a MileMaker sponsor, won’t you do
that right now? A quarter mile sponsorship is $50; a half mile $100, and
a full mile $200. It's as easy as clicking the MileMaker logo to the right. Perhaps you know others who care
about the survival of wildlife as much as you do and you’d ask them to consider
also becoming a sponsor.
We sincerely thank our members, supporters, and Cranaics everywhere for all you
have done for Operation Migration and Whooping Cranes throughout 2010.
|
| Date: | January 2,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | FROM
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Volunteer, John Cooper, kept a log of sorts while accompanying the migration
and he kindly shared it with me. I thought you might find it interesting
reading so in turn, I am sharing some excerpts with you. John does double
duty, driving the white diesel truck that hauls our aircraft/equipment
trailer, and also acting as spotter in the top cover aircraft. He flies with
pilot Jack Wrighter whose light, single engine aircraft - a Cessna 172 – is
used to fly top cover for the ultralights and the cranes while they are in
the air. Once a migration leg is completed and all the planes and cranes are
safely on the ground, Jack flies John back to the starting point so he can
pick up the truck and trailer and drive it to our next stopover.
(Top cover’s job is to keep them in sight by orbiting overhead. They clear
the planes and cranes through any restricted airspace and keep them away
from nearby aircraft and airports. Each young crane is equipped with a small
transmitter which emits a distinctive frequency and the top cover aircraft
has tracking antennas on the wings to track any young crane that gets
separated, or lands out along the way.)
Some excerpts from John’s log…
Chilton County, AL
Another wild, but typical migration day. After fruitlessly getting up at
5:00am three days in a row in order to drive to the distant airport so we
would be able to launch in the Cessna about the same time as the birds, if
we indeed could fly those days, we looked at the forecast and decided
yesterday to stay put and not pack up all our belongings.
Wouldn’t you know it, at the last minute, Richard decided to put up his
trike to test the weather conditions. It was marginal but doable, so we
rushed to the airport as just as the cranes took off with the three trikes.
However, a layer of frost on the wings delayed our take-off so much that we
were not able to catch the cranes and ultralights until they had almost
arrived at the destination.
Although we trailed the gaggle of planes and cranes (about thirty miles out
in front of us), we were able to clear them through Montgomery, Alabama
restricted airspace as they dodged two F-16 fighter aircraft taking off from
MGM and numerous helicopters out of Fort Rucker. Meanwhile we managed to
avoid a small aircraft flying an approach into the Prattville airport.
As we arrived over the stopover site we watched from above as Joe tried to
round up the cranes that were spooked by several more low-flying
helicopters. He was doing this all the while with a throttle stuck full
open. He thought that he would have to shut down his engine and dead-stick
his trike to a landing, but the iced-up throttle finally thawed out in the
warmer low altitude air and he and all 10 birds landed safely.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t exactly a ‘typical’ migration day.
Pike County, AL
We had a busy week as we managed to advance from Tennessee to southern
Alabama. Today we are encamped in an RV park in Pike County and the Whoopers
are in a pen a few miles away. We awoke this morning thinking we might be
able to launch, so Jack and I made the 30 minute trip to the nearby airport
where his plane was tied down. By the time we arrived there we got a radio
transmission from the test trike flown by Richard van Heuvelen that the
winds at altitude (about 1,500 feet above ground level) would prevent us
from flying today. It was a good thing too, because it started snowing
shortly thereafter and flurries continued off and on all day.
Jefferson County, FL
Things can go wrong in a hurry. Last night we found out that on our next
flight we could not take the five birds to St. Marks National Wildlife
Refuge. It was hunting season in that area and it wouldn’t end until after
the weekend. The plan then was changed to leaving the St. Marks cranes along
with one of our ultralight pilots to ‘mind’ them in Jefferson County while
the rest of us - two trikes, top cover, ground tracking, etc - proceeded to
our next stop in Gilchrist County leading the five cranes destined for
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. However, late last night the plan
was changed for a third time when we found out that for several reasons,
Chass could not immediately accept us with our juvenile cranes. Among other
things, there were still adult cranes moving through.
Version four of the plan had us just waiting until Tuesday, flying the St.
Marks birds there, and then proceeding towards Chass with the remaining five
later in the week. That plan too was revised when the day began with perfect
flying weather which led to the decision to at least fly the Chass birds to
Gilchrist County.
At dawn, the ultralight pilots headed to the small airstrip about 20 minutes
away where the trikes were hangered. Jack and left for the 45 minutes drive
to the airport where we had found an unused hanger to overnight his Cessna.
The bird handlers headed to the pensite to be ready to release the birds,
and the tracking van started down the road to get positioned under our
projected flight path in case a bird dropped off. With everyone scattering
in different directions itt looked like a bomb had gone off in camp.
The late start proved troublesome however when the weather started closing
in soon after the birds launched behind Richard’s trike. Joe and Richard
began calling for top cover, “as soon as possible,” as they ran into
increasingly lowering clouds and minimal visibility. Jack and I were making
our pre-flight checks when we discovered that both of his fuel gauges read
‘empty’. This although we had fully fuelled the aircraft the night before
and locked it in a secure hanger. It meant it was necessary for us to shut
down in order to visually confirm that we had the fuel we needed. As it
turns out the tanks were indeed full, but by the time we took off, the
weather had decreased to below our minimums and we were forced to return to
land at the airport.
No sooner were we on the ground than we received a frantic phone call from
Liz. “Get back in the air! Get back in the air!” Liz exclaimed. The message,
passed from the pilots, to the tracking van, to Liz, and then to us, was
that the trikes had to turn around because of the weather. Because they
didn’t have enough fuel to make a complete return, they were going to try
for an alternate landing area. Unfortunately, on arriving they found that
the proposed landing field had been freshly plowed and they couldn’t put
down.
By this time the weather had lifted and reached our 1,000 foot ceiling
minimum so Jack and I could finally get airborne again. We scouted ahead and
relayed to pilots Joe and Richard that the weather was better to the south,
so they again turned back on course toward stopover site #25 – Gilchrist
County. While circling overhead at the cranes’ pensite in Gilchrist, Jack
and I were able to give our hosts a flyby. That was soon followed by a
Whooping Crane air show for them as our wayward birds and trikes finally
appeared out of the haze. We landed there in the midst of a model airplane
fly-in and said, “Hello and Goodbye” before heading flying back to our
departure airport - in what was now beautiful weather. Go figure.
I’ve now decided that the only thing ‘typical’ about a migration day is that
NONE OF THEM ARE!
|
| Date: | January 1,
2011 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | EASTERN
MIGRATORY POPULATION UPDATE | Location: |
Main Office |
|
As of the end of the latest WCEP Tracking report period, (December 25), the
number of Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) stood at 55
males and 47 females for a total of 102, and down from 105. The reduction is the
result of removing* from the population number three male birds that have been
missing for more than a year and are now considered dead. Not yet included in
the EMP total are the 10 ultralight-led cranes in the Class of 2010.
* Removed from the population number were: SM5-08 and SM12-08 last seen
December 10, 2009 in Columbia County, WI, and D36-08 last detected in Lawrence
County, TN, ~December 11, 2009.
Legend
* = female
D = DAR or direct autumn release
NFT = non-functional transmitter
& connecting two cranes = bonded pair
SM = Released at St. Marks NWR (release site distinction begins with 2008
cranes).
CH = released at Chassahowizka NWR (release site distinction begins with 2008
cranes)
INDIANA
Jasper Cty - 27-07*
TENNESSEE
Bradley Cty - 18-03 & 13-03*
Meigs/Rhea Ctys - 5-05 & 15-04*, D28-05*, D37-07, SM28-08, D21-10
Hamilton Cty - 6-05, SM6-09, D38-09
ALABAMA
Cherokee Cty - 11-02, SM30-08*, D19-10, 12-04 & D27-05*, D37-09*, D22-10*,
25-10, and 27-10*
Morgan Cty - 13-02 & 18-02*, 1-04 & 8-05*, 24-05 & D42-07*, D27-06, SM26-09*,
SM13-08*
GEORGIA
Lowndes Cty - 3-07, D38-08*, 7-07 & D39-07*
SOUTH CAROLINA
Colleton Cty - 11-03 & 12-03*
FLORIDA
Citrus Cty - 1-01, CH24-08, CH14-08, SM12-09, CH24-09, D41-09, CH13-09, CH19-09
Hernando Cty - 5-01
Pasco Cty - 12-02 * 19-04* and chick W3-10*
Alachua Cty - 7-03 & 26-07*, 8-04 & 19-05*
Lake Cty - 2-04 & D46-07*, 9-05
Lafayette Cty - 3-04 & 9-03* and chick W1-10*
Polk Cty - 12-07, 17-07*NFT, D31-08
Marion Cty - SM14-09
Waulla Cty - SM8-08*, SM11-09, SM15-09*, SM18-09, SM25-09*, CH29-09
Levy Cty - Two unidentified Whooping cranes
Santa Rosa Cty - SM29-08
ON MIGRATION / LAST KNOWN LOCATION
|
COUNTY/STATE |
CRANE ID# |
DATE |
|
Owen, IN |
D32-09* |
Nov. 26 |
|
Sullivan, IN |
17-03 & 3-03* |
Dec. 9 |
|
Gibson, IN |
12-05 & 22-07* |
Dec. 9 |
|
Jackson/Jenning, IN |
D34-09*, D35-09* |
Dec. 9 |
|
Knox, IN |
16-02 & 16-07* |
Dec. 10 |
|
Clay/Vigo, IN |
10-03 & W1-06* |
Dec. 11 |
|
Greene, IN |
18-03 & 13-03* |
Dec. 22 |
|
|
|
|
|
Winnebago, IL |
CH27-08 |
Nov. 27 |
|
Shelby, IL |
Possibly 16-04 and CH4-09* |
Dec. 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
?, KY |
CH4-08, SM10-09 |
Dec. 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Meigs, TN |
5-01 |
Dec. 13 |
|
Rhea/Meigs, TN |
13-07 and D36-09* |
Dec. 14 |
|
Rhea/Meigs, TN |
12-04 & D27-05* |
Dec 19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Shelby, AL |
33-07, CH5-09*, CH7-09*, D42-09* |
De. 8 |
|
Hamilton, TN |
D20-10, D23-10*, D24-10*, D26-10,
D28-10 |
Dec. 13 |
|
Morgan, AL |
Possibly D33-05*NFT |
Dec. 15 |
|
Cherokee, AL |
D22-10*, D25-10, and D27-10* |
Dec. 18 |
|
Cherokee, AL |
D37-09* |
Dec. 18 |
|
Hamilton, TN |
6-05, SM6-09, D38-09 |
Dec. 25 |
Long Term Missing (more than 90 days)
CH27-09 last detected in Waukesha Cty., WI Apr. 10
7-01*: last reported in Fond du Lac Cty., WI May 2.
16-03NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 6.
14-05NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 18.
20-05*NFT believed to have been in Jackson Cty., WI May 24.
Yet to be released into the EMP are Ultralight-Led Juveniles
Wakulla Cty 1-10, 5-10*, 6-10*, 8-10, 10-10*
Gilchrist Cty 3-10*, 9-10*, 15-10, 16-10*, 17-10
|
|
|
| Date: | December 31,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | HOLIDAY
VISITORS | Location: |
Main Office |
|
|
| Date: | December 30,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
EXPLORING, FORAGING, FLYING | Location: |
Main Office |
|
As you can see from the photos provided by Brooke, the St. Marks Five are
faring well and enjoying searching for snacks in their open-topped four acre
wet/dry pen.
|
 |
|
The young cranes have begun to fly out of the pen during the day to
explore areas surrounding their wintering pen. The dummy you see in
the center of the photo, the lure of easily accessible water and
crane chow, along with the presence of the costume broadcasting
calls, helps to coax them back to the safety of the pen to water
roost in the evening.
 |
|
| Date: | December 29,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | CRANE
XMAS | Location: |
Main Office |
|
Pictures taken
at the blind at the St. Marks Refuge pensite and snitched from Santa
Brooke's Christmas Eve photo album.
|
| Date: | December 29,
2010 | Reporter: |
Brooke Pennypacker |
| Subject: | FLYING
FREE | Location: |
St. Marks, FL |
|
“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the pen, not a creature
was stirring, not even a hen.” Okay, okay, sorry, but I couldn’t resist. So
much for Holiday Humor. Liz asked me to write about releasing the St Marks
birds from the top-netted pen Christmas day so here goes.
Christmas is a time of giving and what better way to celebrate than to
give the five St Marks cranes their freedom. They had been confined in the
top-netted section of the pen since their arrival, and since that time they
have been banded and had their health checks. The health checks were
performed by our friends from Disney with help from of a young lady from the
Jacksonville Zoo, as well as two of the “Usual Suspects”…Charlie Shafer from
Patuxent and myself, in addition to another old and dear friend of the
project who shall remain anonymous.
As expected, all the handling, poking, and prodding, necessitated by such
an event made our little quintet sore and mad and not wanting to see a white
costume ever again. Because their trust in and attraction to the costume is
an essential tool in controlling them and keeping them alive through the
winter, for our Whoopers, that's not a good thing. But memory fades,. (which
is why I keep renting the same movie at Blockbuster) and grudges …at least
some grudges, heal with time. So it took until the day before Christmas
before we were once again one big happy dysfunctional family.
As Gordon and Craig looked on from the blind, I swung open the pen door
and out they came into the large, open topped pen and all that surrounded
it. 1-10, 8-10, and 10-10 took off immediately for a few aerial circuits
around the neighborhood while #5 and #6 just stared up in amazement. Soon,
they too were airborne, and the scene was electric.
Then, as if to make sure the ground hadn’t gone anywhere while they were
away, they all landed back in the pen and the tour began. First, the north
feeding station with two of those familiar hanging feeders full of crane
chow. Then the north pond with the oyster bar running half way across it
just below the surface, followed by another feeding station. Then it was the
south pond and enough marshy stubble to keep their beaks on the probe for
weeks.
Round the pen we went until arriving back at the beginning. After a time
I snuck away to observe from the blind as their new world unfolded before
them. If there was a Christmas Carol called, “Joy to the Pen”, they would
have been singing it despite the fact the skies opened up and pounded the
pen and everything in it with a cold wind driven rain.
Back in the blind, there on the wall hung a Christmas stocking for each
young crane as well as one for myself thanks to the kind and generous folks
from the St Marks Photography Club who had worked so hard to help get the
pen ready for this special day. And the true spirit of Christmas was so warm
and wonderful in that little room that it didn’t bother me one bit that my
stocking was full of coal. Besides, being good all year was just too high a
price to pay for that measly little something from the fat man Christmas
morning. (I’d given up on the pony years ago.)
So as Christmas Day drew to a close, I walked back out to the pen and
assembled these five little merry makers for a trip to the last stop on the
tour…the end of the oyster bar where they must learn to roost, for not just
that night, but every night while they’re at St Marks.
One by one, they traded their merriment for one legged slumber as the
darkness and the rain fell. Soon, I inched my way quietly off the oyster bar
past their now barely visible shapes and went out the pen door and back to
the blind.
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good....flight”.
 |
 |
|
Two screen capture photos from the St. Marks cam
|
|
| Date: | December 28,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | NO WORD
YET | Location: |
Main Office |
|
We've had no word as yet from the WCEP trackers or via the data logger at
Chassahowitzka on the status of the few remaining adult Whooping Cranes who
have a habit of checking in at the refuge pensite before moving on to their
wintering grounds. The last two legs of the 2010 migration will remain on
hold until that time.
Meanwhile, at the St. Marks pensite, we hope to have news from Brooke
today that the St. Marks Five were released from the top netted pen sometime
over the past couple of days. When we last spoke, Brooke promised some
photos as well as a Field Journal entry so hopefully we will have that for
you very soon.
Over in Gilchrist County, the Chass Five's 'minder', Patuxent's Ali
Lopez, reported that similar to their classmates at St. Marks, his charges
too reacted negatively to having their bands put on. Their wariness of the
costume post banding is only very gradually wearing off and they still have
their health checks pending.
|
| Date: | December 25,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
The OM Team |
| Subject: | TO
MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, AND CRANIACS EVERYWHERE | Location: |
Far and Wide |
|
We hope this message finds you healthy, happy and enjoying a wonderful
holiday season with friends and loved ones.
As the year draws to a close, in the spirit of the season we would like to express our appreciation
to you for helping to make 2010 a successful year of growth for the Eastern
Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. We are deeply grateful for your
ongoing moral and financial support of Operation Migration’s wildlife
conservation work. You can take pride in the fact that your commitment
helped enormously in our efforts to safeguard this magnificent species, and
we hope you will carry that commitment into the New Year and beyond.
OM’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, extend their sincerest
thanks for your support through what was a challenging tenth year of work on
behalf of Whooping Cranes. We are confident that together, we can accomplish
even more in 2011.
To you and yours we send warm greetings for the holiday season, and wish
you all
the very best for the New Year.
Cheers,
The OM Team
P.S. Regular postings to the Field Journal will resume Tuesday, December
28th.
|
| Date: | December 25,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | READY FOR
SANTA | Location: |
Main Office |
|
The poem and photo below appeared in my Inbox from the St. Marks Refuge
Association and I thought you would enjoy knowing that the St. Marks Five
along with their 'guardian' Brooke were not forgotten thanks to some of
Santa's Florida based elves. (The stockings were hung inside the blind at
the pensite on the refuge.)
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the pen,
Not a creature was stirring, not even 8-10;
The stockings were hung in the blind with care,
In hopes that Santa Brooke would watch his flock there;
The chicklets were roosting on the oyster bed,
While visions of pumpkins danced in their heads.
|
| Date: | December 24,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | THE ST.
MARKS FIVE | Location: |
Main Office |
|
In a call this morning, Brooke let us know that although the Vet Team had
completed the health checks, he had not as yet released the five juveniles
from the top netted pen. He said, "It has taken them a few days to come
around after the health checks, and in fact, #8 was particularly withdrawn
and untrusting of the costume. That all improved somewhat yesterday when I
came bearing gifts of shiners and shrimp for them to catch."
All five St. Marks cranes have VHF bands, and three of them, numbers
1-10, 5-10* and 6-10* have also been fitted with satellite transmitters.
Brooke plans to treat the youngsters to crabs today. In expectation of their
confidence being restored in the costume, he hopes to release them from the
top netted pen tomorrow - making the 25th of December the beginning of their
gentle release into the wild.
Waiting in Gilchrist County to fly their last two migration legs are the
Chass Five. They are being tended to by Patuxent's Ali Lopez who reported to
Brooke that all are doing well. This half of the Class of 2010 have also now
been banded, and it is likely that their turn to have health checks will
come up around mid week.
In case you're keeping track, 1-10, 5-10* 6-10*, 8-10 and 10-10 are
wintering at St. Marks. Once we've been notified that all the migrating
adults that like to stop by the Chassahowitzka pensite have moved through,
the Chass group consisting of 3-10*, 9-10*, 15-10, 16-10* and 17-10 will be
led to their wintering ground on the refuge there.
|
| Date: | December 23,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | EASTERN
MIGRATORY POPULATION UPDATE | Location: |
Main Office |
|
As of the end of the latest WCEP Tracking report period, (December 11),
all Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) had begun
migration with some having already reached their wintering grounds. (Note:
some late additions to location information have been included.)
The maximum size of the EMP at the end of the period was 105 Whooping
Cranes - 58 males, 47 females which included the two 2010 wild hatched
chicks. Also included in this total are the ten 2010 Direct Autumn Release
juveniles comprised of six males and four females.
In this update, * = female; D = Direct Autumn Release; NFT =
non-functional transmitter
Last Known Location at the end of this Report Period
ILLINOIS
3-04 & 9-03* and their chick W1-10 were detected, possibly in
flight in Lawrence County, IL December 3.
2-04 & D46-07* were in Will County November 26 and remained in the area at
least through December 2.
INDIANA
12-04 & D27-05* reported in Greene County November 29 and possibly departed
on December9 .
11-02 and 30-08* found in Vermillion County December 2 and remained at least
through December 9.
16-02 &16-07* reported in Knox County November 28 and remained at least
through December 10.
17-03 & 3-03* found in Sullivan County December 3 and remained at least
through December 9.
10-03 & W1-06* remained in Clay/Vigo Counties throughout the report period.
18-03 & 13-03* remained in Greene County at least through December 9.
D19-10 found in Vermillion County December 2 and stayed through the
remainder of the report period.
8-04/19-05* remained in Greene County at least through December 9.
12-05 & 22-07* remained in Gibson County at least through December 9.
KENTUCKY
4-08 and 10-09 detected December 6 in flight through western Kentucky.
12-07, 17-07*NFT, and D31-08 detected in flight through western Kentucky
December 6.
16-04 and 4-09* found in Sauk County, WI December 2. Two additional cranes
reported with 12-07, 17-07*NFT and D31-08 in Shelby County, IL
December 6 were probably these two birds. Four of the cranes were detected
together in flight through western Kentucky on the same day.
TENNESSEE
D37-07 arrived at Meigs County between December 6-10.
5-01 and 14-09*: 5-01 found in Miegs County November 28 where he remained
throughout the report period. No radio signal of 14-09* was detected.
5-05 & 15-04* remained on their wintering grounds in Meigs/Rhea Counties
during the report period.
6-05, 6-09, D38-09, D20-10, D23-10*, D24-10*, D26-10, and D28-10 were found
in Hamilton County December 11.
D28-05* reported at Meigs County December 2.
24-08* arrived Meigs County between December 6 - 10.
28-08 found at his previous wintering location in Meigs/Rhea Counties
November 28 where he remains.
D21-10 remained in Meigs County during the report period.
D22-10*, D25-10, and D27-10* - a high precision PTT reading for D27-10 on 13
December indicated a roost location in Jackson County.
5-01 found in Miegs County November 28 where he remained throughout the
report period.
ALABAMA
24-05 & D42-07* confirmed at their wintering area in Morgan County November
29 where they remain.
1-04 and 8-05* reported in Morgan County December 9.
D27-06 and 26-09* reported in Morgan County December 8.
33-07, 5-09*, 7-09*, and 42-09* reported in Shelby County December 8.
13-08* found in Morgan County November 29 and stayed through the remainder
of the report period.
13-02 & 18-02* reported at their wintering area on in Morgan County December
6.
GEORGIA
3-07 and D38-08* reported on the wintering territory of 3-07 in Lowndes
County November 28 where they remain.
7-07 & D39-07* reported on their wintering territory in Lowndes County
November 29 where they remain.
FLORIDA
1-01 detected at his wintering location in Citrus County December 3.
12-09, 24-09, or D41-09 detected in Citrus County December 5.
13-09 and 19-09 reported flying over the pensite on Chassahowitzka NWR
December 2.
Two possible Eastern Migratory Whooping Cranes were reported in Alachua
County November 28, However, none were detected during an aerial survey on
December 3.
8-09*, 11-09, 15-09*, 18-09, 25-09*, and 29-09 reported at St. Marks NWR,
Wakulla County December 9 where they remained through the report period.
No. 14-09* found in Alachua County December 13.
12-02 & 19-04* and W3-10 found December 13 on the adults’
wintering territory in Pasco County.
7-03 & 26-07* found on their previous wintering territory in Alachua County
December 13.
2-04 & D46-07* found on their wintering territory in Lake County December
13.
9-05 found on his wintering territory in Lake County December 13.
ON MIGRATION – LOCATION UNKNOWN
16-04 and 4-09* began migration December 1.
12-02 & 19-04* and W3-10 remained in Greene County, IN until December 6.
7-03 & 26-07* apparently began migration from Necedah NWR November 23.
11-03 & 12-03* began migration from Necedah NWR November 17.
9-05 apparently began migration from Necedah NWR November 23.
13-07 and D36-09* began migration from Monroe County, WI November 25-26.
27-08 and 29-08 departed from Winnebago County, IL November27.
27-07* reported in LaPorte County, IN November 27 and 28 and
apparently was gone by November 29.
34-09* and 35-09* reported in Jackson/Jennings Counties November 26 and
departed December 6 - 9.
D32-09*and D37-09* last detected (in flight) from Owen County November 26.
14-08 detected November 25 in Dodge County and remained through at least the
last check on November 10 but was no longer present by December 1.
Long Term Missing (more than 90 days)
5-08 and 12-08 last reported in Columbia County, WI, Dec 10, 2009
D36-08 last detected in Lawrence County, TN Dec 11, 2009
D33-05* last reported in Jackson County, IN Mar. 6
27-09 last detected in Waukesha County, WI Apr. 10
7-01*: last reported in Fond du Lac County, WI May 2.
16-03NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 6.
14-05NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 18.
20-05*NFT believed to have been in Jackson County, WI May 24.
|
| Date: | December 22,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | BIRDS AND
THE FUTURE OF REFUGES | Location: |
Main Office |
|
In the December issue of the Birding Community
E-bulletin
there was an article on the importance of refuges to both wildlife and
humans we thought our readership might be interested in. Below is the
excerpt.
The National Wildlife Refuge System's conservation mission puts wildlife
first, but refuges are not exclusively for wildlife. More than 40 million
people visit refuges each year, generating an estimated $1.7 billion in
annual sales and over 27,000 jobs. Wildlife observers (dominated by birders
at all levels), photographers, and general outdoor enthusiasts find
enjoyment on the system's 150 million acres, and more than half of the
nation's national wildlife refuges are available to anglers and hunters.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge
Association are currently leading a public engagement effort to share ideas
and to shape a new vision for wildlife conservation, public appreciation,
and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Strengthening the system,
protecting these special places for the public, defining a specific role for
active bird conservation and for popular birding are all appropriate issues.
A vision document to be adopted in July 2011 at a large conference in
Madison, Wisconsin, will guide the system into the next decade and beyond.
To participate in the discussion, visit
http://americaswildlife.org/
Before you click off here, don't forget to
vote for OM in the
Pepsi
Refresh Challenge. Currently OM is in 7th place and there are only ten
voting days left. Please vote today and every day through December 31st.
THANKS!
|
| Date: | December 21, 2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Trish Gallagher |
| Subject: | SAYING GOODBYE | Location: | HOME! |
|
I am so happy and so sad that my heart is overflowing. You can tell by the tears that occasionally trickle unbidden down my cheeks. I have felt like the luckiest woman in the world this year because I’ve had the privilege of watching these chicks grow up. Wednesday morning I felt even luckier than usual because I got to stand in the pen to welcome the St. Marks Five to their winter home. The winter pen is situated in a marsh, so landing a trike there is a difficult task. Brooke planned an air drop off, so we needed to have costumes in the pen to decoy the birds out of the air. Lucky me!
Tuesday was a down day, but I woke up Wednesday with that feeling that we were going to fly. I also felt the buzz of excitement at the thought of seeing the chicks fly without having to run and hide in the pen trailer. Plus, it was the last leg for half of my babies! How could I not be excited?
Charlie and I got to the pen site around 7:45 and by that time I was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I hadn’t seen the chicks in a few days so I was missing them. I also knew it was probably going to be the last time I would ever see them so it would be hello and goodbye. We knew it was unlikely that Brooke would be there before 8:45, but to paraphrase one of Brooke’s sayings, I’d rather be at the pen wishing I were in the van, than in the van wishing I were at the pen. Plus I was so excited I couldn’t sit still. I think Charlie wished he had exchanged my coffee for decaf that morning! We waited in the blind for a few minutes, my excitement continuing unabated. Finally we made our way out to the pen. We filled feeders and water buckets and then stood there enjoying the morning. There was a snipe in the pond, bobbing his head at us. Two seagulls circled above us, dropping down periodically to fish for breakfast. A bald eagle flew by. We could hear the ground crackling like
rice krispies, I guess from the freezing temperatures.
Just when I thought the waiting would never be over, the radio jumped to life and we heard that they were at the flyover. A few minutes later, Charlie spotted the first trike and my heart stood still. At last, I could stand there and gaze at the chicks flying with the trike! At first I couldn’t see them, just Brooke in his trike, and then they grew from specks to dots to glorious cranes gliding across the sky. Charlie turned on the hailer – the brood call hooked up to a megaphone – and I held my puppet over my head to decoy them down. As Brooke turned on the final approach towards the pen, the sun was at his back, so it looked like they were flying in on a beam of sunlight. Brooke dropped way down, and the chicks flew directly over our heads, so close we could even hear a peep or two. Then Brooke flew off to the left and the chicks circled around to the right. As they circled back towards us, #8 landed first, with #6 just behind him. The remaining three flew one more circle around the inside of the open topped pen and then landed next to us. The entire delivery took less than a minute.
Once all the chicks landed, there was much chirping and peeping in greeting. I stood there for a moment welcoming them, mentally saying “Well done.” My heart was so full! As we began leading them over to the top-netted pen, I tossed grapes liberally. #1 and #8 happily gobbled them up – at one point I saw a bulge the size of a golf ball traveling down #1’s neck as he swallowed three or four grapes at once! #5, #6, and #10 were more attracted to the pond than the grapes and walked over to check it out. After a few sips of water, #6 and then #5 followed us to the pen. #10, always in her own world, brought up the rear.
And then we were all in the top-netted pen. We showed them the water and the food and it was time to say goodbye.
Goodbye #1. I loved how you were always at the door to greet me whenever I went to the pen. I loved how you pecked at the water buckets while I was filling them. And your pecks on my helmet when I bent over always felt like crane kisses to me. Goodbye #6. You were always at the door too, and the loudest peeper of all whenever the trike was around. Soon you can fly as much as you want – no more days on end in the pen waiting for a fly day. Goodbye #8, you bossy, pecky bird! I like your attitude! Maybe you can chill a little bit with the pecking. Ah, but maybe it’s a good survival skill in the wild. Goodbye #5. I loved your yellow band because I could always tell it was you. And goodbye #10, my Zoey-FlowerChild-Woodstock. Your little black mustache is so dark and so cute that I had to give you a nickname too. Goodbye Little Miss Mustache! I wish you plentiful food and lots of purple clover for dessert. I will miss you. Have a wonderful life, all of you! Be watchful for bobcats and power lines. Have lots of chicks!
I left the pen, lingering outside for a few minutes to soak up the sight of the chicks in their new home. My eyes stung and the tears started in earnest. An unfamiliar bird called and they stood at attention, alert to unfamiliar sounds in their new environment. As I walked away from the top netted pen, I looked back once or twice. #1 had already found a stick to play with and was rinsing it in the water pan while #8 looked on. #6 was foraging in the mud. #5 was at the feeder. And Little Miss Mustache was staring into space as usual. The chicks were going about the business of juvenile cranes, already adjusting to life without me. I’m as proud as any mother could be.
Photo: From left to right: Zoey (#10), #8, Charlie, #1, #5, and #6 explore
the top netted pen at St. Marks.
|
| Date: | December 21, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: |
PEPSI REFRESH EVERYTHING VOTING TUTORIAL | Location: | Main Office |
|
Firstly, we need to thank everyone for voting to move us up in the ranks for the Pepsi RefreshEverything Competition. When you look at the overall
leader board, Operation Migration is actually the top ranked "idea" in The Planet category!
The competition offers five areas under which to submit your "idea" - these
are: Health, Food & Shelter, Neighborhoods, Arts & Culture and The Planet.
However, there are only four levels of funding: $100k, $25k, $10k and
$5k. There will be one grant awarded to the top ranked idea for $100k; two
awarded for $25k, three grants awarded for $10k; and four awarded $5k each.
We're currently sitting in 8th position in the rankings and in order to
receive $25k, we need to make it up to the 1st or 2nd place position BEFORE
midnight on December 31st. This gives us 10 days to climb 6 positions so the
push is on!
Following a discussion with one of our regular craniacs and voters, it
became clear that there is some confusion over the voting procedure, so I
thought perhaps a little clarification was in order. When you first visit:
http://www.refresheverything.ca/helpwhoopingcranesnow you will see this
page:
|
|
At the bottom left hand corner (see Step 1 arrow) click SIGN IN. This
will open the following login window.
Enter your email address, password and the type both words in the Captcha
security window to ensure that you're not a robot.
Once you've clicked SIGN IN again, click the VOTE button.
Only after you have clicked VOTE you will get the following message and
your number of votes at the bottom of your screen will change to 9.
I hope this helps to clarify things. As mentioned, we have only 10 days
left to move up 6 positions to receive funding from the Pepsi
RefreshEverything competition. Please pass the word along to everyone you
know!
Also wanted to mention that some folks have been experiencing login
issues over the past few days, and this is very likely due to you requiring
the most recent version of Java. Please visit
this link to ensure
you have the most recent java update, and thanks SO much for your continued
DAILY votes!
|
| Date: | December 20, 2010 |
Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | WHITE BIRD SIGHTINGS |
Location: | Main Office |
|
On December 14th while the five St. Marks Whooping cranes were waiting in
Jefferson County, FL for good flying weather to complete the last leg of
their long migration, they had some visitors drop in. Joe had just texted me
to let me know if was taking the CraneCam out to the pen so that viewers
could watch the young birds.
Occasionally, I need to get in to the computer that the camera is
connected to so that I can adjust audio settings and luckily I can access
this remotely so I was watching the feed as Joe approached the pensite, in
costume, of course. It's often a bit of a jiggly ride when someone is
carrying the camera, no matter how careful they are, so as he got closer to
the pen, I saw 6 Whooping cranes outside of the enclosure. My first thought
was that somehow, the chicks had escaped.
Then the logical portion of my brain spoke up and said "um, no, can't
be cuz there are only FIVE chicks and clearly there are SIX Whooping cranes.
Besides, look how white those six are! They can't possibly be juvenile
cranes."
It turns out that earlier in the week, a group of six now-one-year-old
Whooping cranes had been spotted inside the winter release pen at the
St. Marks NWR. Five of them had
wintered there last winter, those being: 8-09, 11-09, 15-09*, 18-09 & 25-09,
and the other was one of the cranes that had wintered at the
Chassahowitza NWR; #29-09.
So not only had they found their winter pensite but also the stopover
location approximately 30 miles to the northeast! I wonder how surprised
they were when they arrived only to find there old travel pen containing
five juvenile cranes.
Those of us watching the Duke Energy CraneCam later that same day got
quite a treat when some of the older birds walked up to investigate the
small computer, which Joe had placed on the ground near the pen. Here's a
video clip that I managed to grab.
Earlier that day, this same group of six had been spotted in Wakulla
County on the St. Marks NWR, foraging in the mudflats and Carol Miller
captured and sent us the following images. Thanks so much Carol! As you know
there was a recent cold snap in Florida and proof of the cold conditions can
be seen in the photos Carol took of the birds in flight. Notice some have
their legs tucked up into their chest to keep them warm?
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Click each image to jump to our
Flickr page
and to see the larger version
|
| Date: | December 19,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | OUR
'COMMUNICATION' SPONSORS | Location: |
On The Road |
| Flown Today: | On
Stand Down | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
With the Chass Five - the last young cranes in the Class of 2010
short-stopped in Gilchrist County until the adults in the Eastern Migratory
Population have reached Florida and gotten any visits to the pensite out of
their system, OM's EarlyBird e-Bulletin is paused. EarlyBird will start
arriving in Members' inboxes again once trackers have given us the all
clear.
While we wait for that to happen, likely in early to mid January, we
would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our two
'Communication' sponsors. Our ability to provide live views of migration
flights via the TrikeCam and of the Class of 2010 in the pen along the
migration was through the generosity of Duke Energy. Members' daily
EarlyBird e-bulletin was made possible by Southern Company.
Many of you have written to let us know how much you appreciated and
enjoyed having both these communications that are made possible by the
commitment of these two companies to Whooping Cranes. On your behalf as well
as ours we express our sincere gratitude to
Duke Energy and
Southern Company.
|
| Date: | December 19, 2010 | Reporter: | Liz Condie |
| Subject: | WOOD BUFFALO-ARANSAS POPULATION | Location: | On The Road |
|
Photographer, Daniel Streifel, captured a super family portrait when one set of parents and their twin chicks in the Wood Buffalo-Aransas Population made a migration way-stop in South Dakota. (link to photo at bottom of this entry) The photo was brought to my attention via an email that I received about a totally unrelated matter, and on contacting Tom Stehn, he kindly filled in the blanks with information on this Whooping crane family.
History supplied by Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge:
Hatched in 1985, the adult male of this pair is now 25 years old. He was banded on the nesting grounds in August of ’85 while still a flightless juvenile. His mate, also from hatch year 1985 was similarly banded that summer. According to Tom, the plastic color bands eventually crack and fall off the legs, though often they will stay on the cranes 15 years. “For this particular pair,” Tom said, “All color bands had fallen off by fall, 1993 except for the WbW on the female.
Currently, only about 7% of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock is banded. Stehn said, “Banding was carried out annually from 1977-1988, and then resumed in December 2009 and August, 2010 with 11 birds captured and radioed in the past 12 months.”
To give us some background on this pair, Tom’s notes included the following: “This pair’s winter territory on the Aransas NWR is in an area referred to as North Dunham Point. Their nest in Wood Buffalo Park is in the Klewi River marshes. They first nested in 1991 when they were both 6 years old, a bit on the late side since the average egg of first age production is 5 years, and pairs are sexually mature and can successfully breed at age 3. Since 1991, they have brought only 5 juveniles to Aransas, including one set of twin chicks in 2006. Their juvenile brought south in the fall of 2008 did not survive the winter. It apparently got sick, separated from its parents, and was found in the jaws of an alligator at a freshwater pond on the refuge.
At most, this pair has so far contributed just 4 chicks to the population over their ~20 reproductive years. You can see why the Whooping crane flock has a slow growth rate, averaging about 4.8% annually. Below is this pair’s nesting history.
|
Nested |
June Chick(s) |
Brought Chick(s) to Aransas NWR |
|
1991 |
Yes |
|
|
1992 |
Not sure if nested |
|
|
1993 |
Probably nested |
|
|
1994 |
No nest |
|
|
1995 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
1996 |
No Nest |
|
|
1997 |
? |
Yes |
|
1998 |
1 egg |
|
|
1999 |
Yes |
|
|
2000 |
? |
|
|
2001 |
? |
|
|
2002 |
? |
|
|
2003 |
? |
|
|
2004 |
Twins |
|
|
2005 |
Yes |
|
|
2006 |
Twins |
Yes (2) |
|
2007 |
Yes |
|
|
2008 |
Twins |
Yes |
|
2009 |
Incubating |
|
|
2010 |
Twins |
|
Here’s hoping the family of four make it to Aransas safely! Whooping
Crane Family photo by Daniel Streifel
|
| Date: | December 18, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MIGRATION HIATUS | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | | Total Miles | 1199.3 |
|
The vehicles and their passengers and respective belongings were sorted
out late yesterday and everyone has been on the road since last evening - each vehicle is heading toward varying degrees on the compass but all with a northerly bearing. Some to the northwest and some to the northeast and still others due north.
It's nice to know most everyone will be home for the holidays...
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common Name |
Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel |
Genus/Species Name |
Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus |
|
Status |
Endangered |
Status Cause |
Habitat destruction from logging, clear
cutting, certain forest management practices, and development.
Infection by the parasitic nematode Strongyloides, carried by
the Southern Flying squirrel. |
|
Description |
Small nocturnal gliding mammal. 10-12" long,
80% of which is a long, broad, flattened tail; 3-5 oz weight.
Prominent eyes; dense silky fur. Folds of skin between wrist and
ankle form aerodynamic surface for gliding. Brownish or grayish back
with whitish underside. Makes chirping, bird-like notes similar to
night-flying warblers. |
|
Behavior |
Feed on fungi and lichens; occasionally forage
for insects, seeds and other vegetation. Active year-round, but
during especially cold or snowy winters, may “den up” in tree
cavities of northern hardwoods, e.g. yellow birch. In summer, may
build leaf nests in foliage of conifers. Very social; may share a
nest and live in groups of 8 or more. Begin nesting in April. In mid
summer bear young, averaging 4/litter. Produce 1 or 2 litters/year.
Life span is up to 4 yrs. |
|
Where found |
North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia |
|
Habitat |
Transition zone between coniferous trees and
mature northern hardwood forests. Moist forest with widely spaced,
mature trees and moderate to thick evergreen understory at
elevations usually above 4500'. |
|
Recovery Plan |
Preservation of high elevation forests and
bogs, and adjacent zones of northern hardwood vegetation. |
Don't forget to
cast your
DAILY vote for Operation Migration in the
RefreshEverything Project!
We're still in 9th position and have only
14 days left to reach the top two positions to receive funding. PLEASE VOTE
TODAY AND EVERYDAY.
For those that have been experiencing login problems on the Pepsi site this
week, it would appear if you update your java to the newest version from
this
link,
your problems will be solved. Thanks!
|
| Date: | December 17,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Joe Duff |
| Subject: |
SHORT-STOPPING IN GILCHRIST COUNTY | Location: |
Gilchrist Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
For the first time in a couple of years, we made it before Christmas.
In 2005, we began short-stopping the birds at the Halpata-Tastanaki
Preserve site. The idea was to wait until all of the older cranes, that
normally stop in at the pensite in Chassahowitzka on their return migration
had a chance to visit. When they found no activity and no free food, they
moved on and left the coast clear for us to bring the chicks in. If however,
the chicks were already there, that encouraged them to hang around. They
would sometime dominate the food and even chase the chicks out of the pen
where they were susceptible to predation.
Short-stopping has been the practice until the last few years when we
arrived well after Christmas and the majority of older birds had already
moved on.
This year we are back to arriving earlier. Maybe it had to do the better
weather, or fewer birds, but either way we are again facing the problem of
the older generations. It is hard to believe that I am actually complaining
about too many Whooping cranes.
The last edition of Plan B – 248, Variation 6 was to get the birds to the
Halpata site and participate in the flyover at the Dunnellon Airport on the
way. Then we were going to stand down for the holiday season and wait for
the tracking team to give us the all clear. That would happen when the
majority of older birds finished their migration and were safely on their
preferred wintering sites. Then we would come back and complete the last 28
mile leg to the Chassahowitzka pensite.
Unfortunately, the weather this morning did not cooperate. Low ceilings
and light rain kept us on the ground as surely as did the headwinds
yesterday. Tomorrow's outlook is dismal. In the long range forecast, there
is a very slim possibility for a flight Sunday, and maybe even for Monday if
you are an optimist. But, we have been there before. We could wish ourselves
all the way to Christmas that way.
So now, the plan is to stand down here in Gilchrist County and wait for
the older birds to pass through Chassahowitzka. When we get the go-ahead we
will come back in the New Year and lead the chicks, first to Halpata and
finally to the refuge pensite. For now, the crew is organizing, packing and
readying vehicles for the trip back north.
We are sorry that we could not give you a final flyover before Christmas,
but maybe in the new year you will need something to celebrate and you will
join us to see the Class of 2010 complete their first migration.
|
| Date: | December 17, 2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 69 - DOWN DAY | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 Miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
Despite the forecast Joe and Richard both went up to check conditions this morning as soon as it was daylight. Unfortunately, they found patches of low ceiling coming in from the Gulf, which were being pushed inland by the westerly winds aloft.
The team will be standing down today in Gilchrist County.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common Name |
Brown Pelican |
Genus/Species Name |
Pelecanus occidentalis |
|
Status |
Delisted |
Status Cause |
Recovery from Endangered after ban on DDT. |
|
Description |
Large, heavy waterbird with massive beak and
huge throat pouches. Pouch can hold 2-3 times more than the stomach.
As a poet rhymed: "A wonderful bird is the pelican, His bill can
hold more then his beli-can. He can take in his beak Food enough for
a week; But I'm damned if I see how the heli-can." Body 48" long.
Wingspan 84". Grayish-brown body, blackish belly, yellow head.
Non-breeding adult, back of neck white, bill pinkish gray. Breeding
adult, back of neck dark chestnut; yellow patch at base of foreneck,
bill gray. Exceptionally buoyant due to internal air sacs beneath
skin, in bones. |
| Behavior |
Gregarious. Dive from air after prey, trapping
fish in pouch. May be seen flying in long lines close to surface of
water with heads held back, bills resting on folded necks. Maximum
life span 43 yrs. Nest March - April in colonies. Nests in
trees made of reeds, grasses, straw, sticks. Nest on ground is
shallow scrape lined with feathers; rim of soil 4-10" high. 2-3
chalky white eggs incubated 28-30 days. Chicks fledge about 63-88
days old. |
| Where found |
Gulf coast,
Atlantic coast, California coast, and a small population at the Salton Sea in
Arizona. |
| Habitat |
Coastal waters |
| Recovery Plan |
Currently
monitored by USFWS for effects of 2010 oil spill in Gulf of Mexico. |
|
| Date: | December 17,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 69 | Location: |
Marion Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | ?? | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
Trish and I have relocated to Marion County, FL while the rest of the
migration crew is still camped in Gilchrist County with the 'Chass Five'.
Trish is needed at this end of the flight leg to be on hand to call the
cranes down at the Halpata-Tastanki pensite should that be necessary. As for
me, relocating here means a half hour drive will get me to the Dunnellon
Airport in time to set set up for the Arrival Flyover - - whatever morning
gives us flyable weather for that Gilchrist to Marion County leg.
At the moment, it is 6:15am, and like you, we are waiting to hear whether
or not conditions will allow a flight today. If they think there could be
even a remote chance of flying, it will likely go right down to the wire;
that is, they won't call it one way or another until they put a test trike
up minutes after official sunrise...7:21 this morning.
Stay tuned. We will try to keep you posted here.
|
| Date: | December 16, 2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: |
Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PREDICTING | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 Miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
At this time, the odds of a flight tomorrow morning are not looking very good. With the temperatures warming up, and predicted to be on par with the
dew point there will very likely be fog to wait out.
Once the fog clears we'll have the winds aloft to consider and the forecast
is calling for them to be out of the south, or right on the nose (beak?) at
15 knots.
Another potential fly in the ointment is that there is a 10-20% chance of
showers for most of the day... All this to say that a flight in the morning
is rather unlikely.
|
| Date: | December 16, 2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MILEMAKER UPDATE - A WINNER | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 Miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
The entire team would like to express their thanks and appreciation for everyone that has come forward over the past few days to help us meet our current MileMaker Campaign.
We've had a number of challenges issued and all but one have been met. We
still have 6 miles available in the 10 mile challenge issued by Lonewolf
so if you'd like your contribution to be doubled, just visit
this page to select your portion
of, or full mile.
Currently we're sitting at 1006 miles funded of the
1285 mile migration so we still have a ways to go!
When you sponsor a portion of, or full mile, we'll also enter your name
into the draw for the last copy of Klaus Nigge's new
book: Whooping Crane - Images from the
Wild.
We made the draw yesterday for the first giveaway copy and the winner
is.....(insert drum roll).... Yannis Arvanitis of Illinois!
|
| Date: | December 16, 2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | HEADWINDS HALT FLIGHT PLANS | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
Joe and Richard launched at 7:39 this morning and headed toward the pen
to retrieve the birds, however, conditions aloft turned out to be worse than
were forecast. Joe reported that at 1300 ft. his speed was only 14.8 mph and
his time to destination was reading 4 hours and 55 minutes. With only 3
hours worth of fuel onboard the ultralights... well, you see the problem.
Today will be down day five for the Chassahowitzka cranes: 3-10*, 9-10*,
15-10, 16-10* and 17-10.
Don't forget to
cast your
DAILY vote for Operation Migration in the
RefreshEverything Project!
We have moved up to 9th position and have
16 days left to reach the top two positions to receive funding. PLEASE VOTE
TODAY AND EVERYDAY.
|
| Date: | December 16, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | ALL SET
TO FLY TO MARION COUNTY! | Location: | Main Office |
|
TODAY looks like the day the 5 Chassahowitzka Whooping crane chicks will fly over the Dunnellon-Marion County Airport!
Currently, surface winds are calm and aloft, while out of the south are currently light. At sunrise, our pilots Joe Duff and Richard van Heuvelen will leave Gilchrist County, FL with the 5 remaining juvenile Whooping crane chicks from the Class of 2010 and begin leading them south toward Marion County.
If you live in the Ocala area, there's still time to head to the flyover location. Visit this
link to find a map and DRESS WARMLY it's only 28 degrees.
|
| Date: | December 15, 2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PREDICTING FOR CHASS FIVE CRANES | Location: |
Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 | Total Miles |
1199.9 (for Chassahowitzka Cranes) |
|
Now that five youngsters from the Class of 2010 are nestled snuggly in
their St. Marks NWR winter release enclosure, it's time to focus our
attention on the remaining five juvenile Whooping cranes, which have been
waiting patiently in Gilchrist county. Fortunately, it doesn't look as if
they'll have to wait much longer!
The team has spent the day relocating themselves and the required
equipment to our Gilchrist county stopover. But it won't be there for very
long as tomorrow morning looks good for a flight which will lead them to
the Halpata-Tastanaki Preserve pensite in Marion County!
The winds aloft for tomorrow morning are expected to be light, as will
the surface winds. The temperature will be a chilly 27 degrees so if you're
planning on attending the
public flyover at the Dunnellon-Marion County Airport be sure to dress
warmly and be on site no later than 8:15.
|
| Date: | December 15 - Entry 2 |
Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MISSION
HALF-ACCOMPLISHED! |
Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 28 Miles: Jefferson Co., to Wakulla Co., FL |
Total Miles | 1113.9 (for St. Marks Five) |
|
Today's lead pilot, Brooke performed an air pickup this morning at 7:56am
from our Jefferson County pensite and after a few circuits, the five St.
Marks cranes formed up on his wing.
They flew over the crowd of about 900 people gathered in the town of St.
Marks at 8:50 and flew the remaining 5 miles to the pensite before the
cranes touched down for the first time at their new winter home at 9:10am.
We will be making a draw at noon today for the first copy of Klaus
Nigge's new book: Whooping Crane - Images from the Wild. If you'd
like to get your name into the draw
click to select a portion or full mile in our MileMaker Campaign.
Everyone who is a MileMaker sponsor will automatically be entered into the
draw for this beautiful book!
There is still an outstanding mile match available. Lonewolf has agreed
to match a total of 10 miles so there's still an opportunity to DOUBLE
YOUR DONATION.
We still have 295 miles that NEED sponsors!
Here are some images just sent in from the flyover this morning! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
top images: Brooke Pennypacker leads the five St. Marks
Whooping cranes over the crowd.
bottom left: Brooke, Joe Duff and Geoffrey Tarbox talk to the crowd gathered
at St. Marks to witness the flyover. Right: Geoffrey, Joe and Gerald Murphy.
|
|
|
| Date: | December 15, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR ST. MARKS FLYOVER! | Location: | Main Office |
|
TODAY looks like the day the 5 St. Marks Whooping crane chicks will see their new winter home for the first time!
Currently, surface winds are out of the east but light, and aloft they're out of the north between 5 - 10 knots. At sunrise (7:45), our pilots Brooke Pennypacker and Joe Duff will leave the hangar where their ultralights are stored, and fly the 8 miles to the Jefferson County, FL pensite to retrieve the 5 Whooping crane chicks. From there, they'll head south-southeast and fly over the crowd, which has been patiently waiting for this day, and the chicks to arrive at their new winter home.
If you live in the Tallahassee area, there's still time to head to the flyover location. Visit
this link to find a map and DRESS WARMLY.
Don't forget you can also watch LIVE via the Duke Energy
CraneCam!
|
| Date: | December 14,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
On the Road |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
We know Craniacs are a dedicated and hardy bunch and you'll have to be to
brave the cold temperatures the weatherman is delivering tomorrow for the
anticipated Flyover Arrival Event at St. Marks.
In Jefferson County the temperature at take-off time (at approximately
~7:45) will be 22F. Here in St. Marks it won't be any warmer...23F. Surface
winds are forecast to be almost identical in both locations with any where
from 0 to 3mph out of the NNE. Aloft, it is possible the cranes and planes
will have a tiny push from the 10mph NNW that is predicted.
If these forecast conditions hold, we will undoubtedly be seeing the St.
Marks Five flying overhead tomorrow morning.
There is a hard freeze warning in effect for both Jefferson and St. Marks
extending from 11pm tonight through 9am tomorrow morning. DRESS WARMLY FOR
THE FLYOVER TOMORROW!!
There is a link to the right of this entry that will give you a Google
Map and directions to the St. Marks Arrival Flyover Site Location. Sure hope
to see you there.
|
| Date: | December 14,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | WOOD
BUFFALO-ARANSAS POPULATION UPDATE | Location: |
On the Road |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge in Texas advises that the second aerial census of the 2010/2011
season was completed December 9th. The census flight was conducted in a
Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions out of
Castroville, Texas with USFWS observers Tom Stehn and Brad Strobel on board.
Tom said they sighted 223 adults and 45 juveniles on the flight for a
total of 268 Whooping Cranes. He noted that this represented an increase of
31 cranes since his previous flight of December 1st.
“Flight conditions and visibility were excellent throughout the flight,”
Stehn said. “A low pressure system that had brought howling north winds on
December 8th had moved off the coast, followed by clear skies and moderate
southeast winds. With nearly complete flight coverage of the crane area, the
268 cranes counted represents an accurate estimate of the number of cranes
present.”
In his report, Tom noted that one additional Whooping Crane was known to
be present in northern Oklahoma, so the population numbers at least 269. He
said that although there had been no additional recent migration reports, it
was hoped that as many 15-20 more cranes were still on migration.
Tom said, “Recent reports of Whooping Cranes at Aransas possibly not
located on this last flight include a group of 9 seen flying over the
refuge’s back gate road on December 7, and a single crane that was observed
roosting at Heron Flats Marsh on December 1st and 6th and followed Sandhills
to forage on pasture land and/or farm fields north of the refuge.“
“To date, 45 of the 46 juveniles found in mid-August on the nesting
grounds have made it safely to Aransas. The 45 chicks at Aransas include
five sets of “twin” chicks, (adult pairs that have brought two chicks each).
Five pairs with two chicks each had been sighted in Canada in August. This
is the second highest total of “twin” families at Aransas, exceeded only by
the 7 sets of “twins” present at Aransas in the 2006 winter."
Crane habitat use observed on the census flight:
209 of the 268 cranes observed were in salt marsh habitat.
10 were in shallow open bay habitat.
8 were on uplands in areas rooted up by feral hogs.
26 were on uplands with no sign of hog rooting.
4 were at a game feeder.
11 were at fresh water sources.
“Habitat use by the Whooping Cranes has changed some over the past week.
A total of 78.0% of the cranes were in salt marsh, whereas the previous week
it had been 89.0%. Upland use observed totaled 34 cranes compared to just
eight last week, and freshwater use is starting to occur (11 cranes compared
to zero last week).”
“The salinity at a gauge in San Antonio Bay north of Mustang Lake is
currently 14.5 parts per thousand (ppt). Refuge salinities measured on
December 6 ranged from 17 to 20 ppt, levels where crane use of fresh water
sources starts to be observed. Blue crabs are still readily available, with
101 crabs counted on a 1,000 meter transect on December 6. However, the
wolfberry crop is nearing an end with only 7 berries and no flowers observed
on transects run on December 6. Tides were also considerably lower this week
with exposed mud flats observed on San Jose. A string of about 100
commercial blue crab traps were noted in the bay edge off of Matagorda
Island between Twin lakes and Power Lake.”
|
| Date: | December 14, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | NO FLIGHT TODAY | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
The winds aloft are out of the north, however at 30-40 mph they're far too strong to allow a flight today at either of our locations. It looks as if the 5 St. Marks Whooping crane chicks will have to wait at least until tomorrow before they see their new winter home for the first time.
Today will be Down Day #3 in both Jefferson and Gilchrist Counties, FL.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common Name |
Whooping Crane |
Genus/Species Name |
Grus americana |
|
Status |
Endangered |
Status Cause |
Habitat loss; shooting |
|
Description |
North America's tallest bird, males 5 ft tall. Snowy white, except for black
primaries, sparse black bristly feathers on carmine crown and malar region, and
gray-black wedge-shaped patch on nape. |
|
Behavior |
Loud, single-note vocalization, repeated when alarmed. Life span 30 yrs.
possible. Summer diet: Nymphal or larval insects, frogs, rodents, small birds,
minnows, berries, grain in harvested fields. Winter diet: Blue crabs, clams,
wolfberry, acorns, snails, crayfish, insects. Spend summer and breed at Wood
Buffalo, winter in Aransas, a 2,400 mi migration. Migrate in pairs or family
groups. Fly with neck and legs extended. Reproduce at about 5 yrs. old. 2 eggs
laid April - May in large nests of marsh vegetation in marshes. Incubation 29-31
days, and rearing of chicks by both parents. Chicks follow parents south on fall
migration. |
|
Where found |
Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada; Aransas, Texas; Recently introduced
migratory population, Eastern North America; Wisconsin – Florida; central
Florida - a captive-raised non-migratory flock. |
|
Habitat |
Coastal marshes and estuaries, inland marshes, lakes, ponds, wet meadows,
rivers. |
|
Recovery Plan |
Habitat to be restored, enhanced or maintained; wild crane population monitored;
captive breeding flocks maintained; self-sustaining Eastern Migratory Population
developed. Currently the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, of which Operation
Migration is a partner, oversees the Non-Essential Experimental Population that
migrates between Wisconsin and Florida. |
Don't forget to
cast your
DAILY vote for Operation Migration in the
RefreshEverything Project!
We have moved up to 9th position and have
17 days left to reach the top two positions to receive funding. PLEASE VOTE
TODAY AND EVERYDAY.
|
| Date: | December 13, 2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PREDICTING | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | O Miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
Only 28 miles separate the St. Marks five from their current location in
Jefferson County, FL and their new winter home at the St. Marks NWR in
Wakulla County. 28 miles seems like a short hop compared to some of the
recent flights logged by the young Whooping cranes and their ultralight
leaders but weather conditions still need to be ideal.
The current forecast for Tuesday morning indicates that surface winds
will very likely be acceptable, however, once we look at the winds aloft,
we're placing the chances of a flight tomorrow at only 30% Currently,
the forecast is calling for winds as strong as 30 - 40 mph out of the north.
Seems ironic that the entire journey the team has been hoping for
northerly winds, then as soon as they're within reaching distance to the
final destination for half of the flock, the winds are out of the right
direction but far too strong. Mother Nature can be a jokester.
|
| Date: | December 13, 2010 - Entry 2 |
Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | YEARLINGS RETURN TO ST. MARKS NWR |
Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 Miles |
Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
I received an email early this morning from George Burton, a member of the St. Marks Photo Club.
George sent a link to some images he was fortunate to capture yesterday,
which showed the six now-yearling cranes that returned to the St. Marks
release pen late last week.
George captured the images with a Canon 40D using a 400mm lens and was
responsible enough to also stay out of sight behind some vegetation so as
not to disturb the cranes. Thanks SO much for sharing George!
Please click on each image to jump to a larger version on our Flickr
page.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| Date: | December 13, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | STANDING DOWN | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 Miles | Total Miles | 1199.9 |
|
While the winds aloft are out of the direction we'd prefer, they're far too strong this morning. Today will be down day #2 at both of our Florida locations.
I wanted to thank everyone that has sponsored the MileMaker Campaign over
the past few days - thanks to you, both 10-mile challenges have been met!
However, I also want to let you know about a brand new challenge! This
one comes from "Lonewolf" on the CraneCam chat and goes out to anyone that
watches the Duke Energy CraneCam: Lonewolf has agreed to match,
dollar-for-dollar every portion, or full mile to a total of 10 miles!
Currently, we're sitting with 319 un-funded miles - And the green
miles-funded line is 206 miles behind where
the migration team is currently waiting for the weather to improve. All this
to say that we really, really need your help to ensure that the 2010
southward migration is funded before the team reaches the two winter homes
for the Class of 2010.
Click to select a portion of,
or a full mile. Not only will it be doubled, but you'll also get your name
entered into the draw for one of two copies of Klaus Nigge's recently
published book: Whooping Crane -- Images from the Wild. As soon as
the St. Marks five arrive at their new winter home, we'll draw a name from
the MileMaker sponsors, and then when the Chass five reach their
destination, we'll draw for the second copy of this
stunning new book.
|
| Date: | December 12,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
We are not thinking tomorrow is bring us flyable weather at either of the
locations where we are holding the Class of 2010 young cranes. Very high
winds are projected to blanket Jefferson County where the St. Marks Five are
penned, as well as Gilchrist County where the Chass Five are also waiting
for their next chance to fly.
Our prediction for Monday morning is that it will be a down day for both
locations. And while the weatherman has pulled a fast one on us on more than
one occasion on this migration, we don't think tomorrow will be another one
of those times.
|
| Date: | December 12,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
Class of 2010 juvenile
2-10 NEWS | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
Field Journal readers will recall that when Patuxent tech Charlier Shafer
arrived to take over from Jane Chandler, she, along with Robert Doyle drove
back to Maryland taking 2-10 with them. When Jane left she promised to send
an update on 2-10 and as good as her word - here it is. Thanks Jane!
ALL ABOUT 2-10 by Jane Chandler
As many of you know, #2-10 was removed from the reintroduction project due
to a wing injury, and at last report he was on his way out of OM’s camp in a
minivan. (No, he wasn’t driving.) For those of you interested, I wanted to
let you know what he’s been up to since then. Robert Doyle and I drove #2
back to Patuxent to become a member of the captive flock here. The 13 hour
journey was long and tiring, but thankfully it went quite smoothly. The
crane rattled his bill against the crate a few times, peeped occasionally,
and overall was an excellent passenger – probably because he’d had plenty of
practice.
Because #2 needs to adjust to living in captivity and being around
humans, we have gradually begun to introduce him to humankind. It started in
the van with whispers, which later turned to normal speaking, and by the end
of the journey, I confess, there were even a few guffaws from me, as Robert
told me amusing stories to keep me awake while driving. #2 didn’t seem to
mind.
At about 1:30 AM on Monday, dressed in costume, we released #2 from the
crate into his new pen. He stood on his tip toes, gave a series of the most
vigorous wing flaps I’ve ever seen, then stretched and timidly glanced
around at his new digs. I gave him a few consoling purrs, then we quietly
backed away to leave him recover from his long journey.
By Tuesday afternoon, #2 was eating and drinking and moving around his
new pen. First, technicians removed the headgear of their costumes, to
gradually get him accustomed to people. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, I went
to visit him in street clothes – with no costume at all. He was a bit wary,
and probably wasn’t sure what to make of me, but he did not seem upset. I am
confident that soon he will be comfortable around people and will adjust to
his new lifestyle.
Presently #2 is living in an outdoor pen at the Patuxent Vet Hospital,
away from the rest of the crane colony. Because he has been out and about
the countryside, where he potentially could have been exposed to disease, he
needs to be on quarantine until we are sure that he is healthy. When we are
assured that #2 is not a disease risk to the rest of Patuxent’s cranes, we
will move him to join other Whoopers.
In the meantime, he is settling in. This morning Barb Clauss brought #2 a
small pumpkin – a favorite treat of the ultralight Whoopers—and he
immediately began pecking at it. With pumpkin treats and no more crating,
Patuxent might be a nice place to live after all.
|
| Date: | December 12,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 64 - DOWN DAY #1 | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
Without even getting out of bed it was all too evident we wouldn't be flying this
morning. The whoosh of the wind and the sound of rain sprinkles on the roof
of the motorhome told the tale. By 4:30AM we had gusts of 13mph winds on
the surface and aloft over the Florida Panhandle they ranged from 30 -
60mph. As if that wasn't enough, the weather gods tossed in a 500 foot
ceiling and was sending a line of rainstorms marching in an easterly
direction toward us.
Today will be Down Day #1 in both Jefferson and Gilchrist Counties, FL.
Sometimes getting my fellow team members to write Field Journal entries
is like trying to pry a quarter out of a miser's hand. However, whether a
result of sleeplessness, residual exuberance from the action of yesterday,
or a combination of both, what Joe produced last night was another story
about Saturday's flying adventure. Here it is for your Down Day reading
pleasure.
Whooping crane champions
Whooping Cranes have been rare for so long that most Americans have never
seen one. Some are surprised that a five foot tall bird even exists at all
in the United States. For many people however, they have become wildlife
celebrities and the birds that have learned their migration by following
modern aircraft have a particular mystic.
It’s hard to believe that you can become blasé about flying with these
beautiful birds, but after working with them for ten years, certain aspects
of it do become routine. That’s not meant to sound elitist. We are very
aware of the privilege we have been given, but when you have led ten
generations and flown with them for over ten thousand miles, you remember
certain flights as more entertaining than others.
Our last flight from Clay County, Georgia to Jefferson County Florida was
mostly routine. It was cold and slow, but the birds followed well and the
skies were clear. We climbed high and began our decent ten miles out. We
circled a few times and all the birds landed with us without incident.
I suppose you have to be pretty jaded to say that flying at 3000 feet
with Whooping Cranes only inches from your wingtip with the skyline of
Tallahassee on the horizon is routine, but when you have done it before the
blush wears off a little. The visuals of Saturday’s flight however will
remain sharp in our memories long after time has rounded all the corners on
the others.
The morning was calm and clear and far too nice not to lead birds
somewhere. We were not able to take them to St Marks until the hunting
season ended on Sunday, but we had another group destined for Chassahowitzka.
Richard van Heuvelen and I took off from Jim and Charlotte’s place where the
aircraft were safely hangared overnight. We flew the nine miles to the
pensite and I circled overhead while he flew low over the pen. Brooke and
Geoff on the ground released the birds and all five followed Richard to the
north and away from the other pen just over the hill. He did a few turns to
let them catch up and headed on course in a slow climb.
Again, we had headwinds and expected a two hour flight to cover
eighty-six miles. All was going well and we settled in for another slow, but
routine journey. We climbed to two thousand feet and plodded along,
occasionally giving position reports to Walter Sturgeon and Charlie Shafer
from Patuxent in the tracking van below. Ahead we could see a thin layer of
cloud that seemed to get thicker as we got closer. Our top cover pilots were
having unavoidable issues on the ground and couldn’t run ahead to check for
us, so I climbed high to see if the other side of the cloud bank was
visible. I could make out another layer farther along that was higher and
thicker but couldn’t see a hole.
Our course was almost due east and the leading edge of the clouds ran
from northeast to southwest so we hit it on a diagonal. The top cover
pilots who could give us the answers we needed were just getting off the
ground and were still twenty miles behind us. We ventured a mile or two out
over a thickening layer 500 feet below us until the ground was no longer
visible. It is not legal for us to fly without reference to the ground and
just to the north, it was still clear so, before we got to the point of no
return, we turned left and headed for open territory.
We have a stopover site that we have never used and the GPS told us it
was 17 miles to the northwest so we headed there. Once we cleared the cloud
layer, we dropped down and I circled back to have a look underneath it. This
overcast layer was reported to be at 4300 feet but it was much lower than
that. Walter reported that it was very hazy on the ground and that confirmed
what I was seeing.
Within a few minutes, we spotted our site, but there was a small open
marsh just to the west of the field we were to land in. As we descended, the
birds changed course and headed for the water. The wetland was only a few
hundred yards wide with a clump of tree in the center. There were two flocks
of Sandhill cranes, several herons and a number of egrets, all decoying our
birds in. Richard circled and dove, cutting the birds off with each attempt
they made to land. I set up to land on the field hoping to call them over
from the ground, but half the field was cultivated and the other half was a
mess of bull wallows and anthill mounds. On three attempts, I couldn’t find
a place to set down.
Richard made one more heroic attempt and all five birds locked onto his
wing. We have no idea why they did that. Maybe something spooked them at the
last minute, but both of us were shocked that they followed after being so
determined to land. If they had landed I have no idea how we would have
retrieved them from the marsh.
With the birds on the wing, we headed southeast looking for a new field
to land in. The air down low was rough and we banged along at 35 miles per
hour, eventually moving under the cloud cover that was now up to 1000 feet
but hazy underneath.
From our low altitude, we started to lose communication with Walter in
the tracking van, which would have been a problem if one of the birds
dropped out. We headed in the general direction of our original destination
but it was still 45 miles ahead and at our current speed, it was more than
an hour away. The birds had already been airborne for an hour and forty
minutes. We had been airborne for a half hour longer than that, which meant
our fuel would be critical if we made it all the way.
We climbed to get out of the trashy air but had to drop down again
because we were too close to the cloud base. We flew over a large area of
reforestation with no roads and no place to land. We turned to avoid a
wetland section so the birds wouldn’t get distracted and lose interest in
following us.
By this time top cover pilots, Jack Wrighter and John Cooper, were back
on course and they arrived just in time to relay messages to the ground
crew. The haze seemed to get thicker ahead so they circled wide around us to
avoid any chance of collision in the low visibility. They passed us to check
on the conditions.
There are regulations on visibility requirements in order to fly legally
and we did not break any of them - but we were close. Several times we had
to drop down so we wouldn’t disappear into the cloud base. The aviation term
for this kind of flying is scud running, and we were pushing the limits. I
should point out that the adventure in all of this was trying to keep the
birds safe and on course. If, at any time we felt our lives were in danger,
we would simply abandon the birds and land. A four hundred pound aircraft
that travels as slow as thirty miles per hour can land safely just about
anywhere.
Jack and John were almost at our destination and reported that as they
got close, the conditions cleared. We were ten miles out and looking ahead,
that hardly seemed possible. We were down to five hundred feet and still
fighting a headwind. It took twenty minutes to cover the last ten miles, but
halfway there, the clouds did lift and the visibility went up to 10 miles
or better. The thermals were strong and we passed several kettles of
vultures. Richard began a slow descent and circled the field about four
times before all the birds landed with him. We likely had 30 more minutes of
fuel when we arrived. That is about two gallons but it looks like a lot less
in our translucent fuel tanks.
There is great sense of camaraderie when a team faces a challenge and
wins. I was proud that we had pulled it off and impressed with Richard’s
tenacity. In hindsight, it was a great adventure and lots of fun. When I saw
Richard after it was all over, I could tell by his smile that he felt the
same way. I congratulated him on his skill as a master bird flyer and I was
greatly honored when he said, “You taught me well.”
So now we have five birds in Jefferson County at the staging area north
of St. Marks, and another five in Gilchrist County at the second to last stop
north of Chassahowitzka. Richard is monitoring them while Brooke does the
same for the St. Marks birds. I will travel back and forth wherever I’m
needed. We have a spare trike in the aircraft trailer and we will assemble
that so we have two at each location.
I continue to be impressed with this team. They are ready, willing and
able, and no challenge is too great when it comes to the well-being of the
birds. Whooping cranes have never had greater champions.
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 - Entry 6 | Reporter: |
Richard van Heuvelen |
| Subject: | TO FLY OR
NOT TO FLY | Location: |
Gilchrist Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 86
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
To fly or not to fly? That is always the question every morning since the
day the chicks arrive in Wisconsin. But today, amidst the confusion we were
left wanting, with some thinking we were going to fly and others not.
As a result it was a late start to the day by the time Joe and I were
airborne. As we flew over the pensite Brooke and Geoff were ready, so
turning back past the pen the birds were let out and eagerly followed the
trike. They fell back and I quickly did a tight turn over the trees and we
were on our way.
We slowly climbed out of the rough air and soon encountered a cloud bank
in our path. We were high enough to go over it by this time though, and
hoped there would be breaks in it. After thirty miles of flight it became
apparent that there would be no breaks. So we turned 90 degrees and headed
for a stopover site we had never used before.
As we descended past the cloud bank the air became rougher and the farm,
with nice large marshes and wetlands surrounding it, came into sight. This
got the birds attention and they gave up on the trike and descended rapidly
intent on landing in one of the marshes. But, just before they appeared to
land they began to flap their wings and circle around. It was then that I
attempted to intercept them, but they were uninterested in the trike and
continued to circle around.
This procedure of trike temptation versus marsh temptation repeated
itself over and over again. By the tenth time they finally decided on a
landing spot. With legs stretched below them, their feet inches from the
ground, it appeared they were about to land. In desperation I turned the
trike in a steep turn and dipped my left wing in front of them, and, to my
surprise, they tentatively followed.
I slowly turned the trike away from they marsh and they actually followed
over the farm fields away from the marshes. Joe had already informed me that
after doing some low-and-overs, that the fields were not landable. So now we
had to find a new landing site. The birds seemed comfortable with the trike
again so we decided to continue for as long as we could toward the next stop
in Gilchrist County.
Soon we were clear of the wetlands and forested areas and new more
suitable landing sites were below us. The ceiling had lifted to bare
minimums so we continued on with the knowledge that the terrain would allow
us to stop at any time and find a landing site. The birds were well in hand,
but the air was rough and the trike needed a strong arm to quiet the
turbulence. Still forty-five miles out it was a constant battle to keep the
birds from tiring out, and all the while looking for potential landing
sites.
As we approached the next site the ceiling began to come down only to
lift again to allow us passage. Twenty miles out..."We might just make it.
"Ten miles out...hope we make it." Five miles out and the excitement of
making it all the way to Gilchrist County begins to kick in. "Calm
yourself," I thought. Then, as we flew over Stopover site #25 it was total
relief.
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 - Entry 5 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 86
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
Never say never... Anything's possible... and all those other cliches
aside, it is with 99.9999% certainty we say that we will not be flying
tomorrow. The forecast calling for a 50% chance of rain around sunrise,
16mph WSW winds on the surface and 40-60mph aloft.
It's a good bet that the Chass Five will stay put in Gilchrist County,
and as the hunt will not be over at St. Marks until after tomorrow, we would
not be flying from Jefferson County to there regardless of weather.
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: |
Gerald Murphy |
| Subject: | BEST DAY
EVER | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 86
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.3 |
|
Yesterday was the absolute best day of migration in my seven years as a
volunteer with OM. It started out perfect; cold and crisp with frost on the
pastures around us, not a cloud to be seen and the atmosphere was crystal.
Just before sunrise I drove the interns to the designated spot for them to
walk to the pen (which is always out of sight of the vehicle). Then, while I
was waiting, I saw the sun break the horizon with the deep red color it has
just as it is coming up or setting. After looking around just a bit I
realized I could see the hangar (about 3/4 miles away across the pasture)
and by standing in the back of the truck could just see the top of the bird
pen trailer as well. This was going to make a perfect viewpoint for the show
to come.
After about 20 minutes I could see the first ultralight taxi out for
takeoff and the rest quickly followed. They took off, making their normal
test flights, checking the winds and ground speed to the next stop, and
determined it was a go. Joe was the lead pilot. He came in for his pickup
and disappeared out of my sight just as he signalled for the release. I
could see the cranes immediately as they became airborne and were trying to
get up their speed to catch the ultralight. There were a couple turns to
make sure everyone was in line, and then they headed straight for the next
stop.
I watched for several minutes as the planes and birds got smaller and
smaller. I was able to watch for a looong time as the air was so clear. They
just grew smaller with nothing in the atmosphere obscuring the view. When
they were almost to the horizon I could still (barely) see the string of
birds on the right wing of the plane. I got to see the whole show, from the
planes taking off to flying out of sight in perfect conditions. Probably
something that will never happen again in my OM career.
We then got the travel vehicles all hooked up and had an easy drive to
our current campsite with the knowledge that we had skipped which always
improves our attitude.
My final experience of the day was helping walk the five cranes going to
Chassahowitzka to the second pen that we had set up for them about a quarter
mile away. Have you ever walked a dog that is so anxious to go that he is
hard to control? After an initial slow start to walking the birds away from
their original pen (leaving their food and buddies behind perhaps making
them a little anxious), they spotted the new pen with Richard waiting for
them. We lost total control of them at that point as they took to the air
and flew the rest of the way at about 50-75 feet above the ground. In fact,
they weren't quite satisfied to fly straight to the pen but made several
circles around the field, and this is after flying 100 plus miles earlier in
the day.
Another beautiful sight to add to an already exceptional day with OM.
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | ON THE
GROUND | Location: |
Gilchrist Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 86
Miles | Total Miles |
1199.9 |
|
I finally was able to take a deep breath.... Charlie called to say the
cranes and planes were safely on the ground in Gilchrist County. Gerald was
at that time only about 30 minutes out with the travel trailer so the Chass
Five will be tucked in their familiar pen within the hour.
Top cover also landed at Gilchrist but had to wait for the clouds to
break up so they could take off again to fly back to their airport of
departure. That's happened and they are now enroute with David and Linda
also enroute by road to go and pick them up and bring them back to camp.
While all this was happening, Brooke completed the morning's chores with
the St. Marks Five who will wait for their turn to fly to their wintering
ground on the first day we have favorable flying weather for that direction.
Either way - whether the next good fly day is for Gilchrist to Marion
County, or from Jefferson to St. Marks - there will be an Arrival Flyover
Event we hope you'll come out to see.
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | GETTING
DIZZY | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | ?? | Total Miles |
1085.9 |
|
Feeling a bit like the hub of a wheel here as messages come in via radio,
phone and text from our scattered crew. Pilot news comes via phone from
Charlie and Walt in the tracking van who want messages relayed to the ground
crew and top cover. Then the latest info and responses have to be circled
back around to the waiting questioners.
The pilots and cranes ran into low cloud bank and diverted to Madison
County, a never before stopped at site. Unfortunately, they couldn't land
for reasons that will take too long to explain here. In the meantime, top
cover had flown back to the airport of their original departure, and we
couldn't find David to tell him to go back and pick them up.
The trike pilots circled around trying to find an alternative landing
site to Madison County, but eventually gave that up to turn back on course
for Gilchrist County. They relayed a message to me via the tracking van to
contact top cover and tell them to get back in the air. Because of a cloud
bank over their location, however, top cover couldn't take off.
Then, Gerald and Geoff pulled in with the travel pen in tow and we
directed them to ignore the message to go to Madison and return to original
plan to go to Gilchrist. They hustled out frantically flipping the pages of
our migration guide book and madly trying to punch new coordinates into
their GPSs.
But we still couldn't find David, and as we were trying to track him down
to tell him to go back and pick up top cover guys Jack and John at the
airport, John radioed to say they had a break in the cloud bank and were
back in the air. I passed this news to the trike pilots via the tracking
van, and the pilots passed back the info that at that point they were trying
to stay under the clouds and were 27 miles out from the Gilchrist
destination. I was afraid to ask what their fuel situation was.
There's considerable that is left out of this report for simplicity's
sake and the fact that standing at the hub of the wheel with messages and
everything and everybody zipping around and around me I'm getting dizzy
trying to keep it all straight. I sure won't be the only one who will be
heaving a great big sigh of relief when this flight/day is over! As my
grandma would say...Oh my shattered nerves....
|
| Date: | December 11,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 63 | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | ?? | Total Miles |
1085.9 |
|
We stepped outside to a much warmer temperature this morning; a balmy 37
degrees here in Jefferson County, Florida. After much debate, and some
constant weather checking, the decision was made to 'go', despite the timing
of that call giving us a considerably later start than normal.
It was the fastest morning scramble of the migration as the team got
themselves in motion. David left with Richard and Joe for the hangar 10
miles away where the ultralights had been tucked up for the night. (With
just five cranes to lead to our next stop - those designated to winter at
Chassahowitzka - only two trike pilots will be in the air today.) After
dropping Joe and Richard off, David carried on to take top cover to the
airport another 30 minutes away where they, Jack Wrighter and John Cooper,
had sheltered Jack's Cessna.
Pulling out right behind them was today's ground crew; driver Gerald
carting Geoff and Brooke to the pensite. Hard on their heels was the
tracking van with Walter and Charlie Shafer who headed for their starting
position in order to be ready to follow the flight on the ground.
After the release, Geoff, Brooke, and Gerald quickly dismantled the empty
pen. Once it was packed it onto the travel trailer and hooked up to the
white truck, the plan was for Gerald to light out to drop Geoff back in camp
to pick up the Flair motorhome so Geoff could move it to Gilchrist. Gerald
would then take to the highway himself to haul the pen as quickly as
possible to our Gilchrist stopover.
Two crew, Richard and Charlie would remain at our Gilchrist stopover to be
with the Chass Five. The rest of the crew would return to camp in Jefferson
County as we anticipated the weather would give us a fly day suitable for a
flight to St. Marks before it would be favorable for a flight out of
Gilchrist.
Last night, as we tentatively strategized today's plans A, B, and C, as
to who would go where and do what and when, it got to the point where we had
to reduce the logistics to paper to keep it straight. Now, with planes,
cranes, people and vehicles are on the move we thought the logistics were
behind us. But...
Joe and Richard took off with the Chass Five only to encounter a low
cloud bank part way to Gilchrist. They are at this moment diverting to
Madison County, Stop #24, and one we have always managed to skip in previous
years.
We're back to figuring out logistics, so check back here later for more
news.
|
| Date: | December 10,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Joe Duff |
| Subject: | NEW
FRIENDS | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 104
Miles | Total Miles |
1085.9 |
|
When we developed our new, more westerly migration route, we got
permission to stop at rough thirty locations between Wisconsin and Florida.
Each of those landowners agreed to let us take over a portion of their land
for an undetermined amount of time on an unknown date. Many have hosted us
several times and over the last three years, we have become great friends.
Others have seen us pass overhead year after year with little more than a
wave and an apology. All of them have been very understanding of our need to
keep going if the weather is on our side but for some, it is disappointing.
Yesterday we arrived at a stopover we have never used before. The owner
has been waiting to witness this spectacle since Brooke and Bev first
knocked on his door almost 4 years ago. He moved his cattle to another field
to let us in and did whatever he could to make the birds and us feel
welcome. Only a few miles away a local crop duster agreed to let us use his
hangar. His spraying season is over for the year so he pushed his big Ag Cat
turbo-prop plane to the back and let us cram in our three trikes.
He was there this morning when we were preparing to take off. We only had
a short time to talk and he was very interested but you could tell by his
demeanor that he wasn’t 100 percent sure about us. He was willing to help
and very generous but the costumes and toy airplanes must have seemed odd to
him. We shook hands and took off into the cold morning air.
Less than a mile away, the ground crew had the pen all organized and
ready for the launch. I flew low over the field and turned on the vocalizer
while Geoff and Trish opened the gates. The birds came out just as I passed
by. They were lower and as we crossed the field the climbed up all around
me. We made one circle to let the straggles catch up and headed on course.
By the time we passed back over the crop duster’s field, the birds were line
up like troopers. We passed directly overhead. I saw him standing next to
our outreach volunteer, Linda Boyd and knew he was getting an accurate
description of how it all works. I think the birds have made another friend.
The air was calm and cold and the birds seemed strong as they climbed. At
a thousand feet, the headwinds were slowing us to just 24 miles per hour. We
kept moving up until we found neutral ground at about three thousand feet
where we were flying directly across the wind. It was neither pushing us
along nor holding us back. Our next stop was 61 miles to the southeast in
Decatur County Georgia and it was directly in line with the one after that,
which was 100 miles away in Jefferson County Florida.
The temperature aloft was a balmy 44 degrees. It was cold enough so the
birds don’t overheat yet warn enough so we don’t risk frostbite. When we
determined that going higher wouldn’t yield any speed advantage, we settled
in at three thousand and patiently waited for the miles to drag by. After an
hour and sixteen minutes, we made the decision to keep going for another two
hours.
When we landed in Jefferson County, the winds were still calm on the
ground and after setting up the pen and securing the birds, we took off to
meet another new friend. Nine miles away we were introduced to Jim and his
wife Charlotte who have a quiet little airstrip hidden in the trees. In true
southern hospitality, he pushed his own aircraft back and let us tuck in the
hangar, safe from the wind and the cows. Normally we tie down the trikes in
the same field as the birds. We drop the wings, cover them against the frost
and surround them with an electric fencer to keep the cows at bay. Before we
learned the fencer trick, we couldn’t figure out what the unusual slime was
that covered all the fiberglass parts. Turns out the curious cow were
licking them and leaving behind the residue of dried slobber.
Jefferson County is only 28 miles from St Marks National Wildlife Refuge
where half of our flock will winter this year. This is the staging area
where we divide them into two groups in preparation for the last migration
leg. Thereafter we take the remaining five to Chassahowitzka National
Wildlife Refuge.
Eleven years ago when the rule was enacted that allowed this project to
begin there were a few stipulations included. One of them was an agreement
not close areas normally open to the public on state or federal land and not
to impact hunting. This is the last weekend of the hunting season at St
Marks and the area where we bring the birds is very close to the open
hunting area so we are not able to complete this portion of the migration
until Monday at the earliest.
This is the first time we have arrived at St Marks before Christmas so it
has not been an issue in the past and in fact, it is not an issue now. We
are very supportive of hunters. Through fees, taxes and the Duck Stamp
program they fund much of the conservation work being done. Organizations
like Ducks Unlimited and others provide important research and critical
habitat protection.
But Saturday promises to be a good flying day and we are reluctant to sit
still and ignore it, especially after 62 days on the road. A team meeting
was held and all the options were weighed. If tomorrow is as good as
predicted, we will head east with the five birds destined for Chassahowitzka
and leave the other five at the staging area. What we do next will depend on
the weather. Possibly one pilot, along with the top cover crew will lead a
group to St Marks while the other two continue the journey to Chassahowitzka.
Or we could come back and finish this leg before continuing with the other.
Either way we will take advantage of every flyable day.
In preparation for whatever happens, we divided the flock into two groups
and penned them separately. Numbers 3, 9, 15, 16 and 17 will winter in
Chassahowitzka while 1, 5, 6, 8, and 10 will be led to St Marks.
|
| Date: | December 10,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | THE YEAR
OF 'TENS' - ST MARKS ARRIVAL INFO | Location: |
Jefferson Co., FL |
| Flown Today: | 104
Miles | Total Miles |
1085.9 |
|
There is always a big sigh that goes up when we cross into Florida. It's
like we all finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and truly feel
like we're on the homestretch.
It was especially neat that we arrived at our first stopover here in
Florida on this date. We launched on this our 10th migration on 10/10/10. We
arrived in Florida with 10 birds (although we'd give anything for that to
have been 11), and here it is the 10th of December.
A skipped stop always means a late arrival and set up for camp. Chores
that are usually accomplished by mid afternoon get pushed back to later in
the day. With the dinner hour approaching, the crew is out at the pensite
setting up our second travel pen. You'll remember that this is the site
where the Class of 2010 is divided into two cohorts; one destined to winter
at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge just to the south of us; the other
we will lead further south to the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
near Crystal River. (In a future Field Journal entry we'll let you know
which of the young cranes will winter at each of the refuges.)
Under normal circumstances, if we had flying weather tomorrow morning,
we'd be launching with the five young cranes designated for St. Marks and
leading them the final 28 air miles to their wintering ground. However -
good flying weather or not, that will not happen tomorrow. The refuge
is open for hunting this weekend, and with safety issues in the forefront of
their minds, the folks at the refuge wisely asked that we postpone our
arrival until the hunt is finished.
Never fear all you folks anxious to attend the St. Marks Arrival Flyover
Event ... the cranes ARE coming. It will just be postponed until the first
good fly day after Sunday. Stay tuned to the Field Journal and we'll do our
best to give a heads up as to when we think that might be.
|
| Date: | December 10, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MOVING SOUTH!
AND SKIPPING! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 104
miles: Clay Co., GA to Jefferson Co., FLORIDA! | Total Miles |
1082.9 |
|
We ARE in the air and we are SKIPPING A STOP!
Today's lead pilot Joe did an air pick-up this morning from our Clay County, GA location at 7:59 and it appeared that all the birds followed
him directly out of the location as there was very little circling.
The next planned stop was in Decatur County, Georgia and as I just heard
from Liz that we're skipping the Decatur County, GA stopover.
Tune in a bit later to learn the outcome, or c'mon by and watch LIVE:
CraneCam
|
| Date: | December 9, 2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: | Richard van Heuvelen |
| Subject: | COLD NIGHTS | Location: |
Clay Co., GA |
| Flown Today: | 55 Miles | Total Miles | 978.9 |
|
Oh those cold Alabama nights! Even a Canadian needs heat... Charlie and I have spent the last three days trying to fix the RV furnace which decided to quit intermittently over a few days before dying completely three days ago.
Charlie, Jack and I share sleeping quarters and would huddle next to a small box heater each night before going to bed. Curled up in our sleeping bags we blissfully went to sleep. But as the night wore on the cold slowly crept in as the heater slowly lost ground and by morning we were reluctant to get out of our sleeping bags. This morning I just jumped out of bed, thrust my cold clothes on, had a coffee then was off to test flying conditions.
The air was smooth but came with a head wind and as we rose up the wind became more and more of a head wind until finally, at about 1500 feet, it began to turn more in our favor. After a couple of turns over the lake we were on our way.
The young birds followed well as we slowly climbed to the relatively faster air. As our journey slowly crept along we began to lose what ground speed we had and the birds reluctantly followed. When we were about twenty miles out from our destination, with a burst of energy they flew ahead of me and began a descent and could not be caught.
Then they turned to the south and I was able to head them off and as I slowly descended they were enticed to once again follow the trike.
With a slower rate of descent they were more cooperative and we slowly crept
along to our next stop in Clay County GA.
The lower we got – the rougher the air became so I had to fly faster to stay ahead of the birds. With the bar tucked under my arms we made wide circles around the new pensite, keeping the birds near the trike to prevent them from wanting to thermal and take off. They landed without incident and Walt and Charlie were already there waiting for us so we soon had the pen up and the birds safely inside.
Now - its off to find a circuit board for the RV furnace, for there will be no cold nights in Georgia.
|
| Date: | December 9, 2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PREDICTING
& A TARDY REPORT | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 55 Miles | Total Miles | 978.9 |
|
With today's successful flight into Georgia, we're now 334 miles ahead of
where we were on Day 61 of the 2009 southward migration. And at the moment
conditions for tomorrow look hopeful for another flight! Our next stop is in
Decatur County, GA - 61 miles from our current location.
Both surface winds, and aloft will be out of the east but should be light
enough that they won't pose any problems, and the temperature will be a
chilly 25 degrees at sunrise, making it easier for the young cranes to
breathe. I'm going to give an optimistic set of odds at 70-30%
Those of you keeping track of lead pilot reports are probably wondering
where Joe's lead pilot report from the December 3rd
flight went to. Well Liz and I were wondering too so we asked Joe. Turns out
he did write one but forgot to attach it to the email he sent us. Here it
is, with his apologies for being late:
HARD WORK FOR 58 MILES
There were two life lessons to be learned during this morning’s flight. The first is that you can always trust your friends and the second is never to trust electronics.
Each member of the migration team plays a critical role and one depends on the other. Without everyone pulling his or her weight, the others are left on their own. On this team, no one gets left alone.
Our team is broken down into multiple parts and often members perform more than one duty. We have the top cover pilots flying circles over head and the ultralight pilots leading the birds. There is a tracking team trying to stay under us to lend a hand if a birds drops out and our Outreach team who man the fly over sites where the public can gather to see the birds flying with the aircraft. Next is the team that transports Number 2 in his crate and the crew who disassemble the pen and finally the people who move the motorhomes, campers and trailers. Each of these groups sees the day’s journey from a different perspective and each of their stories is important to tell because without any of these team members, we would not be leading birds. The problem when telling those stories, is trying to find different ways of saying “meanwhile back at the ranch.”
A thick layer of frost covered everything that was exposed to the night air but our aircraft were safe and warm thanks to the generosity of Saunders Aviation who allowed us to tuck them in beside their much larger and faster hardware.
We had to wait until the sun broke the horizon before we pushed out or frost would from on our wings before we could get them started and take off. It was during that process that I noticed my GPS was cycling between screens and not acquiring its position. We took off anyway and headed towards the pen hoping it would find itself but it never did. We worked out a plan for Richard to fly out in front and let me follow him while Brooke flew chase.
The pen was set up in an old excavation site. There are rolling hills and a deep valley with gravel roads leading to a small stream in the bottom. There are three communication tower surrounding the area and forest on all sides. It is very secluded and not as bad as it sounds. Rather than land, I flew in slowly from the south while Geoff Tarbox and David Boyd released the birds. Once out, I was surprised to see them all cluster there as if unsure which way to go. As I passed by they all launched and we circled once in the tight valley.
One of these days, we are going to identify which bird it is that seems reluctant to leave. He consistently turns back and calls the others to join him. When they fly, their ID bands are tucked up into their feathers and it is impossible to tell one from the other. It seems like there is always one who turns them back and causes an aerial rodeo that can last a few minutes or an hour. In this case, we circled several times and with each pass, they dropped lower. We called for the swamp monsters and Gerald Murphy drove the truck close to the pen and honked the horn. After one or two more passes, they started circling the stream. It was too tight to circle with them and after a minute they landed by the water.
Mucking in the water is one of their favorite pastimes and we expected it would take a lot of convincing to get them out, so we all landed. On Brooke’s advice, Geoff and David stuffed swamp monster tarps under their costumes so that if we got them airborne again, they would be discouraged from heading back to the stream. Surprisingly it took very little coaxing to get them to follow us back up the hill. Richard Van Heuvelen took off again and Brooke hid in the pen trailer so he wouldn’t distract them. I found a smooth section of road and they all followed me up and out of the valley, however they hadn’t finished playing turn-back.
Eventually, we got them far enough away that they fell into a line and settled in for the long trip. By this time, we had been trying for a little more than an hour and the sun was beginning to create some thermals and the wind on the surface picked up. We bumped and bounced along, gaining only a few feet of altitude every minute. Above a thousand feet things smoothed out and we started to pick up some speed.
Jane Chandler, from Patuxent and Walter Sturgeon were in the tracking van and they tried to stay reasonably close in case we needed help. They were also pulling the travel pen trailer so it could be set up at whatever stopover we made. In the hills of Alabama, they began to fall behind and that is when the second piece of electronic equipment failed. The radio they use to communicate with us quit and they were forced to use a much lower powered handheld radio. It wasn’t long before they were out of range.
Once we were within 20 miles of our destination, Brooke and Richard programmed their GPS units to the next site to evaluate our chances of skipping one. It was 85 miles further but with the delayed take off, it was beyond our fuel range so we began a slow descent, satisfied to have covered
58 miles.
As the sun got higher, it began to heat the earth’s surface. The resulting warm air started to rise, creating thermals and very rough air that was getting higher every minute. Once we started to land in very bumpy conditions, we knew we had made the right decision.
Meanwhile Walter and Jane were stuck in a long line of traffic that resulted from a serious car accident. They would be at least an hour behind. This information was relayed to us by the top cover pilots Jack Wrighter and John Cooper.
The temperature on the surface was approaching the 60’s so we took turns discarding some layers before leading the birds off to their hiding place to wait for the pen.
Meanwhile, David Boyd arrived with number 2 in his crate. He had been contained for several hours and it would be for another one or more before the pen was ready. We decided to let him out and lead him to the other birds while we waited. Brooke was with the main group and I planned to lead number 2 out to their hiding place. After coming out of his crate, he followed fairly well until we reached the entrance to a large fallow field. Despite his diagnosed wing injury, he took off and flew two or three hundred yards. He ran out of steam in the center of the field and landed in a collection of every thorny vine and sticky bramble that grows in the southern US. I waded into the five foot tall briar, thankful for the costume that attached to every plant but protected my skin. It took 20 minutes of plowing through nature’s version of Velcro to find number 2 and another 15 to lead him out. We found a stream bed but never did see Brooke and the others birds.
Jane Chandler came to get us when the pen was done. On the walk back, the 10 birds with Brooke took off and flew. They had to be retrieved from two different fields but by mid afternoon, they were all secure.
By now David and the top cover pilot had headed back to the starting point to collect the two vehicles we had left behind.
In the end it was this team the pulled it off. Each member played their role over and above what is expected so that every other member could depend on them – despite the electronic failures. Still it is a hard way to earn 58 miles.
#2-10 relaxing in the stream Joe lead him to.
|
| Date: | December 9, 2010 - Entry 2 |
Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | WHOOPING CRANES AT ST. MARKS NWR! |
Location: | Main Office |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Date: |
December 9, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | GEORGIA BOUND! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 55 Miles: Pike Co., AL to Clay Co., GA | Total Miles | 978.9 |
|
The deep south is still under a deep freeze and temps this morning were a
bone-chilling 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I hope the pilots put and extra pair of
long johns on this morning because it will be much colder aloft!
Today's lead pilot Richard launched with the Class of 2010 Whooping
cranes at 7:14 and began on their southeast heading toward Georgia. At last
word, we will NOT be skipping a stop today so the flight will be 55 miles
and will take them to Clay County. This will be the first time the crew gets
to land at this location as for the past two years, we've skipped this
stopover.
 HUGE
thanks to Duke Energy for
making the CraneCam possible for allowing us to watch the action unfold
LIVE.
While we did lose our signal about 30 minutes into this morning's
flight, the imagery we were able to watch was breathtaking while it lasted.
Our green line which indicates mile funded in the
MileMaker campaign is getting longer, but
we're still a wee bit behind the migration team. Mary O'Brien very
generously issued a 10-mile challenge on Tuesday and offered to DOUBLE all
MileMaker donations. We're thrilled to let you know that Mary's challenge
has been met - and even more thrilled that this seems to have initiated a
bit of competition! Toronto Craniac Annelise Jorgensen has issued her second
challenge of the 2010 journey, and is again offering to MATCH every 1/4, 1/2
or full mile up to a total of 10 miles. This should help that green miles
funded line catch up and maybe even get ahead of the team. Thank you to Mary
and Annelise - and everyone that sponsored miles!
To select YOUR mile (or portion thereof) visit this
link - and don't forget that
we'll enter your name into the draw to win a copy of Klauss Nigge's
hardcover book: Whooping Crane - Images from the Wild. This
absolutely gorgeous hardcover book features
156 color photographs
captured at Wood Buffalo National Park, where the only naturally occurring
migratory population summers, and at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
where they spend the winter.
As soon as the migration team delivers half of this year's flock to St.
Marks NWR, we'll draw one
winner and another winning name will be drawn when the remaining half of the
flock arrives at the Chassahowitzka
NWR.
Visit the
Marketplace to see a
preview of this beautiful book.
|
| Date: | December 8,
2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Pike Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
923.9 |
|
This predicting business is getting way beyond funny. When we check the
forecasts before we went to bed in Chilton County on Monday night we were as
close to dead certain as we could be that we wouldn't be able to fly on
Tuesday morning. And - what did we end up doing? Not just flying but
skipping!
Last night before we turned in it looked like we'd have a good chance of
not just flying but skipping again. What did we find when we got outside
this morning? Not even a chance of flying much less skipping.
It is hard to believe that what is forecast can change so drastically
over an 8 hour period, but, I guess that's why they say there is nothing
more unpredictable than the weather. Which leads me to wonder what the heck
we are doing here trying to predict our odds of flying the next morning.
At any rate, here goes nothing for tomorrow. Winds are supposed to be out
of the northeast and our flight path is to the southeast... leading us to
give odds of 30-70. Really, it is too funny.
|
| Date: | December 8,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Walter Sturgeon |
| Subject: | ADVENTURE
TO JAPAN | Location: |
Pike Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
923.9 |
|
OM supporters and others are invited to join me on an incredible bird
watching journey to the extraordinary country of Japan. Made possible by
EcoQuest Travel, the trip encompasses a variety of experiences, from the
crowded bustle of Tokyo and the glitter of skyscrapers, to the still forests
of Hokkaido and the quiet reverence of ancient temples.
Japan's
birdlife is rich and varied, and the time of travel (February 12 to
26th, 2011) was chosen
in order to take advantage of the abundance and diversity of cranes and
waterfowl in particular.
The trip includes a visit
to
three of Japan’s main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu. The sight of Red
Crowned Cranes dancing against a backdrop of snow and green conifers is
startlingly beautiful and breathtaking. No less spectacular are the the huge
gatherings of Steller’s sea-eagles,
eiders, and alcids;
large rafts of harlequin ducks, and a chance to observe the rarely seen
Blakiston’s fish-owl hunting. From the cold expanses of Hokkaido we will
travel far to the south to the rice paddies and wetlands of Kyushu. The
marshes of Arasaki are famous for their flocks of wintering cranes.
Thousands of hooded and White-naped cranes are often joined by Eurasian,
Sandhill and sometimes even Demoiselle and Siberian cranes. Ducks, geese,
cormorants, gulls and other water birds are also abundant, and along with
bugling cranes, add to cacophony. From the south we'll return to Honshu and
travel up into the Japanese Alps to witness snow monkeys soaking away the
winter’s chill in the hot springs. The opportunity for dramatic photographs
of the monkeys with snow and ice upon their fur is not to be missed.
Come join me and co-leader and zoologist, Dave Davenport as we explore the
fantastic birdlife, natural wonders, cultural sites and magic that is Japan.
We have room for just a few more participants so you'll have to act
quickly. You can contact me at: sturgeon2ATembarqmail.com. (replace AT
with @ in your email).
Remember too, a portion of
all receipts from this trip go to benefit Operation Migration.
|
| Date: | December 8,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
Costumes de rigor for more
than Whooping cranes | Location: |
Pike Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
923.9 |
|
We are far from alone in wearing costumes to work with wildlife. Tom
Stehn brought the photos below to our attention and they can’t help but make
you smile, if not chuckle. While the costumes we use are merely designed to
disguise the human form – not to make us look like Whooping Cranes, the
costume developed for a Panda reintroduction in China takes human disguise
one step further.
|
 |
 |
| Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Center in Wolong,
China: A four-month-old panda cub is picked up to be released
into the wild by a panda researcher who dressed up as a giant panda
to prevent the panda cub seeing his human shape. Panda researchers
in southwestern Sichuan province are working to reintroduce giant
pandas into the wild within 15 years, after successfully breeding
them in captivity. |
A researcher puts a panda cub into a box before its physical
examination at the Hetaoping Research & Conservation Center for the
Giant Panda. The cub, the first in the centre to be trained for
reintroduction into the wild, is monitored by hidden cameras.
Researchers performing physical examinations on the cub wear panda
costumes to ensure that the cub's environment is devoid of human
influence. |
Read the online article here
|
| Date: | December 8, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MIGRATION DAY 60
-DOWN DAY #1 | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 0 | Total Miles | 923.9 |
|
Richard van Heuvelen was this morning's test-trike pilot and
unfortunately, as our heading for the next migration leg is toward the east,
the winds aloft, which are out of the northeast, presented too much of a
headwind. Today will be down day #1 in Pike County, AL.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common
Name |
Gray
Wolf |
Genus/Species |
Canis Lupis |
|
Status |
Endangered. Threatened in
Minnesota |
Status
Cause |
Targeted by predator-control programs; habitat destruction; loss of prey. |
|
Description |
Size varies with larger sizes in the north. Males 5 - 6.5 feet long, 26 - 32 inches shoulder height; 70 - 115 lbs. Females smaller. Tend to be buff-colored tan grizzled with gray and black; relatively short rounded ears; muzzle large and blocky; tail black-tipped, 18" long. Footprints are 4.5" long, 3.5" wide. Places the hind foot in the track left by the front. |
|
Behavior |
Live in packs, extended family unit including alpha pair, young pups born that year, perhaps last year's pups and a few older wolves that may or may not be related. Pack size ranges from 4 to 16. Hunt in packs in a specific territory that can be a large as 50 square miles. Trot at about 5 mph, can attain speed to 40 mph. Prey mainly is white-tailed deer, but also moose, beaver, snowshoe hare, elk, bison. Communicate with a distinctive howl. Only the alpha pair breeds, giving birth to 4 to 6 pups March to May. |
|
Where
found |
Once found in all 48 states. Now mostly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming |
|
Habitat |
Historically many habitat types, presently mostly in areas of forest and agriculture with abundant prey and human tolerance. |
|
Recovery
Plan |
Recovery so successful, were delisted to threatened April 2, 2009. Withdrawn July 1, 2009 to provide for public comment. |
Don't forget to
cast your
DAILY vote for Operation Migration in the
RefreshEverything Project!
We seem to be stuck in
our current ranking of 10
and could use your help to advance.
|
| Date: | December 7,
2010 | Reporter: |
Brooke Pennypacker |
| Subject: | WHERE'S
MY CHECK? | Location: |
Pike Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 110
Miles | Total Miles |
923.9 |
|
On April 30, 1957 the New Jersey State Legislature went into session. The
guest speaker that day was none other than the State Poet Lauriat, Joe
Bachagaloup. When it came his time to deliver his address, Joe ascended the
stage, placed himself firmly in front of the podium, and adjusted the
speaker with a fist as big as a grocery store ham. Then he looked out into
the dark auditorium and said, “It is a whole lot better to be lucky than it
is to be smart.” Then he thanked the legislature, took a deep bow and left
the stage. As an obligatory trickle of applause rose from the stunned and
confused audience, he walked over to the State Comptroller who just happened
to be his cousin and said, “I gave you pearls, now you give me my check.”
There wasn’t even a suggestion of morning in the early darkness as Liz
and I stared into the computer glow at the winds aloft forecast. 30 mph from
the northwest at a thousand feet. In the endeavor of flight, as in
everything else in life, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing,
despite the fact I spent most of my college years trying my hardest to
disprove this. So despite the almost too calm to be true conditions outside,
the chances of morning flight were not good, while above, the fates awaited
our decision knowing our growing impatience to finish the migration was
casting an ever greater spell on our ability to discern wishful thinking
from reality and set their trap.
And so as the sun lifted itself above the horizon, so did the trike. And
when he landed, Richard said, “Calm right up through a thousand feet .” The
all too familiar morning scramble began. Trikes readied, top cover headed to
the airport, campers disconnected, closed up and made road ready. Geoff and
Dave headed out to the pen for the release, and in a just in case move, we
fitted Gerald with a one size fits all swamp monster tarp and he started his
trek out to the pond in case the birds decided a swim was preferable to a
flight. Soon the birds were off and the day’s drama begun.
Sure enough, the birds had some Olympic swimmer hopefuls among them as
they circled the pond, but Gerald displayed his swamp monster talents and
discouraged them. So round and round we went, finally rounding up the birds
and heading on course. But the “trashy” conditions revealed themselves, and
as the trike bounced around the birds began to get discouraged.,
On we went, trying to coax climb and follow out of this increasingly
disgruntled flock. “Where is the smooth air you promised?" they peeped from
behind and to the side of me. Finally five broke off and flew to Richard a
hundred yards behind me and we all continued to claw our way out of the
trash. At a thousand feet we got our 30 mph push and at 1500 feet it got
smooth and the flight became an effort of peace and harmony.
Skipping the next stop with this tailwind was a no brainer although it
carried with it the regret that all skips carry. The wonderful folks below
who so generously offered to host this migration circus, who had bush hogged
a runway for us out of a pasture and planned a wonderful dinner for us would
be disappointed as would we. A skip is always bittersweet that way. But we
know they always understand and wish us godspeed. Without these people there
would be no migration, and our effort would be nothing more than a little
bag full of empty hopes. So with a couple of touches on our GPS’s and a
slight turn a few degrees to the left we flew on.
“Watch out for that Learjet! “ Joe calls from behind. I shift around in
my seat almost 360 degrees in an urgent effort to spot it as it suddenly
slides silently into view from below and shoots directly ahead. I’m
strangely calmed by its incredible beauty; this man made creation of form
and function which is nothing less than art itself. Then into the morning
haze it is gone as I hear the always comforting voice of Jack, our top cover
pilot, informing air control of our presence and clearing our path through
the sky ahead.
At 8 miles out we begin our decent into what we know will be an awaiting
interface of turbulence and chaos; where the fates lie waiting to taunt us,
push and shove us, wrestle us for control of the ultralight as we battle
them on the slow return to earth. This is where we pay the price for the
great tail wind and the too much of a good thing exacts its fare.
The birds, no lovers of chaos, follow but only tentatively. As our
control of the ultralights wavers so does our control of the birds. As we
drop, the trees grow in wind driven animation and the gnomes try to wrest
the control bar from our steely grip. At such times, one envies the rodeo
bull rider for he only has to stay on the bull for 8 seconds. We’re not so
lucky.
Richard is just ahead and below and in the chaos his birds catch a
thermal as I fight to maneuver over to collect them. Joe radios his throttle
cable is frozen and he may have to cut power and “dead stick” it in to
land….a less than desirable choice in these conditions. Then as I line up to
land, the birds leave me, catch another thermal and soon are above at Joe’s
altitude. If they chose the thermal over the trike, they will soon be gone
and in these conditions we will be unable to pursue them. It would be to
Jack and John in the cover plane to shadow them probably until late in the
day when the thermals cease and release their grip on our little flock. Then
ground crew would have to carry the day and hopefully retrieve them and we
would have to…………
Just then a helicopter appeared low and behind us, or it may have been
two…too much happening to tell, but its affect was that it so frightened the
birds that they rejoined Joe’s wing, glomming onto it like velcro just as
the warmer temperatures of near earth thawed his throttle cable and he could
set up for a controlled landing.
In they came, trike and birds and made a perfect landing on the violently
pitching deck of earth. We had dodged a bullet, but we were down and safe,
and in those moments lay more than a little emotion. It’s like Confucius
used to say, “It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air
than in the air wishing you were on the ground.” And, it’s also like Joe
Bochagaloup used to say, “Where’s my check!”
Photo above is of Brooke as he departed Chilton County with the Class of
2010.
|
| Date: | December 7, 2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | PREDICTING | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 110 Miles | Total Miles | 923.9 |
|
The current forecast is calling for chilly flight time temps of only 22 degrees and surface winds out of the west-northwest at 4mph. Winds aloft are predicted to
15 knots and out of the same desired direction. There's a slight (10%)
chance of snow flurries in the morning.
Given this information, I'm going to say that our odds are 60-40 that
we'll be able to advance into Georgia tomorrow!
Addendum: I can't resist adding this footnote to Heather's
Predicting entry. I was doing my usual evening scoping out of all the
weather websites and discovered that there is a hard freeze warning out from
10pm tonight to 9am tomorrow morning for EVERY stopover site ahead of us,
right through to the last one near Chassahowtizka NWR - which even has a
hard freeze 'watch' for the subsequent 24 hours.
Here we are in the 'south' - I even passed some palm trees today - and we
are about to be in the coldest temperatures that we have seen so far on the
whole migration. In fact, the morning temperature for us here in Pike County
is predicted to be 21°, one degree colder than what is forecast for our
office in Port Perry, Ontario in Canada. Oh the irony.. Liz
|
| Date: |
December 7, 2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | MILEMAKER CHALLENGE! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 110 Miles | Total Miles | 923.9 |
|
Many faithful readers will recognize the name Mary O'Brien. For those that don't Mary has supported our efforts and Whooping cranes since at least 2003 and perhaps longer. And if that's not enough, for the past few years,
she has contributed countless hours to cut and assemble the costumes worn by
our field team, which mask our humanness and prevent the young cranes from
imprinting on people.
In response to the message this morning that the migration team has just
surpassed the funded miles, Mary has issued a 10 mile challenge! For each
and every mile, or portion of a mile, Mary will DOUBLE YOUR DONATION to a
total of 10 miles!
So, if you've been waiting for the perfect time to become a
MileMaker here's a great opportunity to make
you contribution count twice as much.
Click here to select your mile or portion of a mile and we'll add you to
this list along with all
the other MileMakers, which are making this migration possible with their
generosity.
And don't forget we’re
going to give away TWO
copies of the GORGEOUS NEW hardcover book by wildlife photographer Klaus Nigge,
titled Whooping Crane – Images from the Wild.
Once the 2010 Migration
reaches the final destinations at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in
Wakulla County, FL and the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Citrus
County, FL, we’ll draw TWO names from the list of MileMaker Supporters.
Each of
these folks will win a copy of Klaus Nigge’s new book! Visit the
Marketplace to see a
preview of this beautiful book, which features 156 color photos taken at Wood
Buffalo National Park, where the only naturally occurring migratory population
summers, and at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where they spend the
winter.
|
| Date: | December 7, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | NEVER SAY NEVER! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 110 Miles: Chilton Co., to Pike Co., AL | Total Miles |
923.9 |
|
Those that checked the Field Journal last night would have read Liz'
Predicting entry, which basically stated there wasn't a chance at all that
we'd be advancing this morning. In fact during a Skype session at 6am today
that's the message that she gave me again.
Then Joe sent a text message that read "Winds aloft are 30 @ 1000 feet
and 40 @ 3000. Toooooo strong. Pity cause it's dead calm on the surface."
Then, at 7am, I received another Skype from Liz that said Richard was
going to go up to test conditions... He reported that he thought it was
doable, so everyone scrambled to get ready. Currently, all 10 cranes are
with today's lead pilot, Brooke Pennypacker and they ARE SKIPPING A
STOP!!!
While this progress is incredible, it's also worrisome as the team has
just surpassed the point for which we have MileMaker sponsors. Currently we
have 871 miles of the 1285 mile journey
funded. Once they land
this morning they will be 52.9 miles ahead of where the migration is funded.
We need your help to get the word out so that we can fund the rest of
this trip! Please visit the MileMaker page to
learn more and select YOUR mile, or portion thereof. Thank you!
Tune in later to learn how the flight went!
Don't forget to
cast your
DAILY vote for Operation Migration in the
RefreshEverything Project!
We've moved UP to
our current ranking of 10!
All because of your DAILY
VOTES and for alerting your friends and family
to begin voting.
|
| Date: | December 6,
2010 - Entry 3 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
If I didn't have to get up and get working in the morning I'd pick
tomorrow as a good day to roll over and stay in bed.
Winds aloft are forecast to be 30 to 40mph at flight time with no
prediction for much change until well into the afternoon. We think our
chances for a flight in the morning are sitting around nil.
|
| Date: | December 6,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | WHOOPING
CRANE 2-10 | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
The diagnosis of a torn tendon in his wing by Nashville, TN avian vet,
Dr. Lutz ended Whooping Crane #2-10’s chances of being released into the
wild. Following this determination, WCEP officials decided that he would be
returned to U.S.G.S. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center where he would become
a research bird.
Since departing Necedah on the 2010 migration, #2 has travelled all but
~40 miles of the more than 800 air miles logged so far by his classmates, in
a crate in the back of a van. Yesterday, he left on his last road trip.
Robert Doyle and Charlie Shafer arrived mid Sunday morning from Patuxent
with a special crate for #2’s journey. Brooke and Richard went out to the
pen to separate #2 from his classmates. They walked him away from the pen
and into the crate they had placed out of sight of the rest of the Class of
2010.
When they arrived back from the pen with the crate, most of the crew had
quietly gathered at the top of the lane in a sort of farewell gesture.
Within minutes, Robert and Jane Chandler pulled out with #2 in the back of
the U.S.G.S. Patuxent van. They had a 13 hour trip ahead of them, and in
#2’s best interests, planned to drive straight through to Laurel, Maryland.
Jane’s migration rotation is finished and Charlie stayed behind to take
her place.
|
| Date: | December 6,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 58 - DOWN DAY #3 | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
Today did shape up to be an improvement over Monday - - just not
improvement enough. On the surface it seemed like we had a possible fly day,
but that notion was quickly shot down on investigation of what was waiting
for us aloft. Not long after the decision was made to stand down, hope got
the better of us and Richard launched in his trike just to be sure we
couldn't eke out a migration leg somehow. Everyone gathered at the edge of
the field to watch and listen to his findings.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common
Name |
Smalltooth Sawfish |
Genus/Species |
Pristis
pectinata |
|
Status">Status |
Endangered |
Status
Cause |
Entanglement in commercial fishing nets; loss of juvenile habitat;
low rate of population growth. |
|
Description |
Closely
related to shark and ray. Body color blue-gray to brown; ventral
surface white. Can reach 24' in length. Skeleton is cartilage.
Flattened shark-like body. Long flattened rostrum (saw) is about 1/4
of overall length; contains 21-34 pairs of teeth.
The rostrum is covered with motion sensitive pores that allow
sawfish to detect the movement and even heartbeats of prey that may
bury themselves on the ocean floor.
Gill slits on ventral side. Mouth located on underside. Pectoral
fins broadly rounded with pointed tips. |
|
Behavior |
Life span
25-30 yrs, maturing at 10 yrs. Ovoviviparous, meaning female holds
the eggs internally until young are ready to be born. Litters of
15-20 pups. Diet mostly fish, some crustaceans. Swims into schools
of fish, thrashes saw from side to side, wounding and killing fish.
Uses rostrum to dig for crabs and mussels from sediment. |
|
Where
found |
Gulf of
Mexico, Texas through Florida, and Atlantic Florida through North
Carolina. |
|
Habitat |
Fresh or
brackish water in lakes and rivers. Shallow sand and mud bottoms
close to shore in estuaries, bays and lagoons. |
|
Recovery
Plan |
Recovery
efforts in progress, but no implementation information as yet. |
|
| Date: | December 5,
2010 - Entry 3 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
Tomorrow is shaping up to be a better day than today. If the forecast
holds, we should have almost identical temperatures at both our departure
site and the next stopover site in Lowndes County. The humidity will have
dropped even further, and surface NNW winds will have slackened off
somewhat.
At altitude however, it still looks like we could be on the receiving end
of a little too much power; as much as 20–30mph. All things being equal
we’re going to predict flying odds of 60-40% in the morning, a marginal
improvement over yesterday's 50-50%.
Click here to go to the directions to the Chilton County departure flyover
viewing location. IF we’re able to fly, we’ll see you there.
|
| Date: |
December 5,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Jane Chandler |
| Subject: |
REMEMBERING.... | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
Share
|
|
| Date: | December 5,
2010 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 57 - DOWN DAY #2 | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
My personal roosting spot on the migration is four steps up a ladder to
the cab-over of the Jamboree motorhome. Because I sleep 'upstairs', I get a
different sense of the wind than the rest of the crew whose beds and bunks
are 'downstairs'. Being at the long end of the pendulum so to speak, when
the wind gives us those rock 'n roll nights I get more sway. More than once
on this migration I found myself digging in with my fingernails thinking,
'Over we go..', but in reality, it always feels more tippy than it actually
is.
It was just before 3:45 this morning when I blindly stretched one foot
out behind me toward the top rung of the ladder. Couldn't have timed it
better (worse) if I tried. Just at that moment a gust hit - more like
whacked - the motorhome and... well, suffice to say that the ladder rungs
never came into play and the most padded part of my anatomy hit the floor
before my feet.
Need I say that if I had needed any confirmation that we'd not be able to
fly today, I had just had it. The cranes and planes will most definitely be
spending a second down day in Chilton County.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common
Name |
Key Largo
Cotton Mouse |
Genus/Species |
Perromyscus gossypinus allapaticola |
|
Status">Status |
Endangered |
Status
Cause |
Habitat
loss due to urbanization; competition from the Black Rat; predation
by domestic animals. |
|
Description |
Body 4"
long, furry tail 3" long; large ears; protuberant eyes; Fur on back
is dark hazel changing to reddish-brown on sides; underside white.
Tail is brown above, white below. Feet are white. |
|
Behavior |
Nocturnal. Omnivorous. Males' females' home ranges overlap; males'
are larger. Communicate by short musical barking sounds. Build
leaf-lined nests in logs, tree hollows, and rock crevices. Breed
throughout year, producing 2-3 litters annually, average of 4
young/litter. Short-lived, average life expectancy of 5 months; may
live to 2-3 years. |
|
Where
found |
Northern
Key Largo. |
|
Habitat |
|
Recovery
Plan |
Restoration and strict monitoring of tropical hammock. Protected in
Key Largo Hammock State Botanical Site. |
|
| Date: | December 4,
2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
465.1 air miles to go and we would sure like to reduce that number
tomorrow morning. We will have nice cold temps and the humidity won't be as
high as today's. Winds both on the surface and aloft are favorable; out of
the NW and the N respectively.
Assuming what is forecast is what we wake up to, all that remains to be
seen is how strong those NW and N winds will be. At the moment they are
predicted to be manageable on the ground, but almost double in strength to
what we'd prefer to see at altitude.
This means it will undoubtedly be test trike time come morning to check
things out. The 'wind dummy' will be looking for some smooth air both to
climb through and at which to fly at altitude. Keep in mind that while the
wind direction is just great, the pilots will have to make absolutely
sure they can get the birds up and going, and without fail. With a 30mph
tailwind if a crane rodeo took them any distance to the south at all, it
would be next to impossible to get them all back to the pen if that call had
to be made.
So, with all those thoughts we're going to call our odds for a flight
tomorrow as being 50-50.
|
| Date: | December 4,
2010 - Entry 3 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | EASTERN
MIGRATORY POPULATION | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
WCEP’s Tracking & Monitoring team’s update (for the period ended Nov. 27)
came in last evening. Although beyond the end of the report period, the
update contained news of a recent mortality.
1-09* was found dead in Adams Co., WI on Dec. 1st. The crane’s body was
spotted by WI DNR pilot Bev Paulan, who was doing an aerial wolf survey at
the time. The scavenged carcass was recovered, but the cause or date of
death has yet to be determined. The death of 1-09* reduces the Eastern
Migratory Population (EMP) to a maximum of 105 cranes; 58 males, 47 females.
As of Dec. 1st most if not all Whooping cranes in central WI had begun
their fall migration with some already having arrived on their wintering
grounds. grounds.
ON OR COMPLETED MIGRATION
13-09 and 19-09 were in Madison Co., IL, by Nov. 2. They resumed
migration Nov. 23. No subsequent reports.
12-02 & 19-04* and W3-10 began migration on Nov. 4. They
were reported in Greene Co., IN the following day and have remained there.
3-07 and D38-08* began migration after Nov 8. They were
next reported on the wintering territory of 3-07 in Lowndes Co., GA Nov. 28.
5-05 & 15-04* began migration on or after Nov. 10. They were found
with 24-05 & D42-07* and D21-10 in Warren Co., IN Nov. 25. They continued
migration the next day to Clark Co., IN. The pair, accompanied by D21-10,
continued migration Nov. 27, arriving on their wintering grounds in Meigs/Rhea
Counties, TN the same day.
24-05 & D42-07*; D42-07* began migration after Nov. 10. They were found
with 5-05 & 15-04* and D21-10 in Warren Co., IN Nov. 25. They continued
migration the next day to Clark Co., IN. On the morning of Nov. 27 they
left, leaving the other 3 cranes behind. The pair was confirmed at their
wintering area in Morgan Co., AL Nov. 29.
17-03 & 3-03* began migration Nov. 17. They were reported in Parke
Co., IN, with 1-04 and 8-05* Nov. 19 and remained through Nov. 26. There
were found Dec. 3 during an aerial survey in Sullivan Co., IN.
1-04 and 8-05* began migration Nov 17. They were reported with
nos. 17-03 & 3-03* in Parke Co., IN Nov. 19 where they remain.
12-07, 17-07*, and D31-08 began migration after Nov. 17. A
high precision PTT reading for D31-08 indicated a they were in Winnebago
Co., IL Nov. 21. Three whooping cranes were reported in the area the
following day. A lower precision PTT reading for D31-08 Nov. 29 indicated
they were in Shelby Co., IL and all three were seen there during an aerial
survey on Dec. 3.
12-05 & 22-07* began migration after Nov. 17. They were next
reported in Gibson Co., IN Nov. 22 where they remained.
D27-05* was captured for transmitter replacement Nov. 20 and
apparently began migration Nov. 20.
10-03 & W1-06* began migration Nov. 20. They were found in
Clay/Vigo Counties, IN Nov 24 where they remain.
18-03 & 13-03 began migration Nov. 20. They were found in Jackson
Co., Iowa, with D22-10*, D25-10, and d27-10* Nov. 21. The pair remained
there until continuing migration Nov. 23 to Greene Co., IN.
12-04/D27-05* apparently began migration Nov 20. They were found
Nov 23 in Lee Co., IL until Nov. 26 when they were detected in flight headed
SE. They were reported in Greene Co., IN Nov. 29.
D22-10*, D25-10, and D27-10* began migration Nov. 20. They
were found with 18-03 & 13-03* in Jackson Co., Iowa, Nov. 21 and remained
with them as migration continued.
8-04/19-05* 4/19-05* apparently began migration Nov. 23 and were reported
in Greene Co., IN Nov. 26 where they remain.
5-01 and 14-09* apparently began migration Nov 23. 5-01 was found
at Hiwassee, TN Nov. 28, but no radio signal of 14-09* was detected.
11-02 & 30-08* apparently began migration Nov 23. They were found
with D19-10 in Vermillion Co., IN, on Dec 2.
13-02 & 18-02* apparently began migration Nov. 23. They were found
with 2-04 and D46-07* in Will Co., IL Nov. 26 but were not detected on an
aerial survey Dec. 2.
16-02 & 16-07* apparently began migration Nov 23. They were with
4-08 and 10-09 in Knox Co., IN Nov. 28.
D28-05* began migration on Nov23. She was next reported in Jackson
Co., IN Nov 27 and apparently departed the next day.
2-04 & D46-07* apparently began migration Nov. 23. They were found
with 13-02& 18-02* in Will Co., IL Nov 26 where they remained at least
through Dec. 2.
27-08 and 29-08 began migration Nov. 23. They were reported in
Winnebago Co., IL that evening and remained in the area until continuing
migration Nov 27.
4-08, 10-09, 12-09, 24-09, D34-09* D35-09* and D41-09
apparently began migration Nov. 23. 4-08 and 10-09 were reported with 16-02
& 16-07* in Knox Co., IN Nov. 28. D34-09* and D35-09* were reported in
Jackson/Jennings Counties, IN Nov. 26 and remained at this location. No
subsequent reports of 12-09, 24-09, or D41-09.
D19-10 and D21-10 began migration Nov. 23. D21-10 was found
and remained with older whooping cranes 5-05 & 15-04* Nov. 25. D19-10 was
found with 11-02 & 30-08* on Dec. 2.
D20-10, D23-10*, D24-10*, D26-10 and D28-10 began migration
with 6-05, 6-09, and D38-09 Nov. 23 and remained with them as migration
continued.
6-05, 6-09, D38-09, D20-10, D23-10*, D24-10*, D26-10, and
D28-10 began migration Nov. 23. They made small movements the next day
then continued migration on Nov 25-26 to Jackson/Jennings Counties, IN,
where they remained.
3-04 * 9-03* and W1-10 began migration Nov 25 or 26. They were
heard Dec. 3, possibly in flight, in Lawrence Co., IL during an aerial
survey.
D27-06 and 26-09* began migration Nov 25-26. They
were found in Grundy Co., IL, during an aerial survey Dec. 2.
remained in Dodge Co., WI through the last check on Nov. 5.
He was no longer present by the evening of Nov. 25 and was found at his
previous wintering location in Meigs/Rhea Counties, TN Nov. 28.
16-04 16-04 and 4-09* began migration on Dec. 1. They were found
Dec. 2 during an aerial survey in Salk Co., WI.
8-09*, 11-09, 15-09*, 18-09, 25-09*, 29-09, D32-09* and D37-09*
remained on in Dodge Co., WI at least through Nov5. They were no longer
present by the evening of Nov. 25. Radio signals of D32-09* and D37-09* were
detected in flight Nov 26 in Owen Co., IN. Low precision PTT readings for
15-09* indicated a roost location in White Co., IL Nov26; Monroe Co., MS on
Nov. 28, and Lowndes Co., MS Nov 30. Six cranes were reported in Hamilton,
Mississippi Dec. 3 and were confirmed during an aerial survey that day as
being 8-09*, 11-09, 15-09*, 18-09, 25-09* and 29-09.
33-07, 5-09*, 7-09*, and D42-09 began migration by Nov 26.
Their radio signals were detected, possibly in flight, in Rock Co. No
subsequent reports.
13-08* was found in Morgan Co., AL Nov. 29.
MIGRATING?
14-08 and 24-08* remained in Dodge Co., WI through at least the last check
on Nov 10. Only 14-08 was detected on the evening of Nov. 25 but he was no
longer present by Dec. 1. No subsequent reports.
D37-07 remained in Jackson Co., MI at least through the morning of Nov.
25. No subsequent reports.<27-07* was reported in Kosciusko Co., IN through Nov.17 but was no longer
there Nov. 24. She was next reported in LaPorte Co., IN Nov. 27 and 28.
33-07, 5-09*, 7-09*, and D42-09* remained mainly in Adams Co at least as
of Nov 8. Their radio signals were detected, possibly in flight, in Rock
Co., Nov. 26. Nov. 26.
Two possible Eastern Migratory Whooping Cranes were reported in Alachua
Co., FL, Nov. 28. Identification pending. Two unidentified Whooping Cranes
were also reported flying over the pensite on Chassahowitzka NWR, Citrus
Co., FL, Dec. 2 however an aerial survey in these areas on Dec. 3 produced
no results.
Long Term Missing (more than 90 days)
- 5-08 and 12-08 last reported in Columbia County, WI, Dec 10, 2009
- D36-08 last detected in Lawrence County, TN Dec 11, 2009
- D33-05* last reported in Jackson County, IN Mar. 6
- 27-09 last detected in Waukesha County, WI Apr. 10
- 7-01*: last reported in Fond du Lac County, WI May 2.
- 16-03NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 6.
- 14-05NFT last observed on Necedah NWR May 1- 20-05*NFT believed to have been in Jackson County, WI May 24.
|
| Date: | December 4,
2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:>Subject: | PHOTO
ALBUM | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
Before I begin my 'real' work for the day, I spent a little time
gathering and processing a few photos of the past days action.
|
 |
 |
| View from lookout on Watermelon Hill at the Hardin
County, TN departure flyover. The circle shows the cranes and planes
emerging from the little alcove in the trees in the back of the
photo. | Above photo was taken by Linda Boyd and shows pilot Richard van
heuvelen leading the chicks out of the alcove at the end of the
valley where the pen was set up in Hardin County.
|
 |
 |
| The two photos above were also taken by Linda. On
the left she captured Richard and his charges as they made
'departure #1' and before the first crane rodeo. |
Because the Hardin County flyover viewing location is on a high
hill (situated on the Horse Creek Wildlife Sanctuary and Animal
Rescue property) it affords watchers an almost side on view of the
departing cranes. |
 |
 |
| The top photo was snapped by Linda yesterday
morning. A crowd of about 25 to 30 people who had waited patiently,
(it was very cold) for the crane round-up to end were rewarded with
a super flyover. |
The bottom left photo and the one above was taken by Shirl Ganey,
one of the folks who braved the frosty temperature to witness our
departure from Walker County, AL. Thanks for sharing your photos,
Shirl! |
|
 |
 |
| Joe Duff was lead pilot yesterday when we departed
Walker County. You can see he had two off his right wing and the
other eight off his left as he approached the flyover. If you look
at the next photo you can see the chicks had moved to all be in a
long line off Joe's right wing.ght wing. |
It was a super flyover, firstly because they flew overhead at a
low enough altitude for not just a great view, but also a long one.
I took the photo above just before they got totally out of sight. |
|
| Date: | December 4,
2010 | Reporter: |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:>Subject: | MIGRATION
DAY 56 - DOWN DAY #1 | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 0
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
In the last Field Journal entry yesterday, I said that the prediction
regarding our chances of a flight this morning was more based on heart
rather than head. Because we just hated to give in, we gave ourselves 10%
odds of flying when what we really expected was a zero chance.
Sure enough, stepping outside in this morning’s half dark-half light,
what we had was just what we dreaded but expected. The surface wind was out
of the south, and at altitude it was also from the wrong direction and
blowing strongly. With the humidity topping out in the high 90’s it felt
like breathing in moisture – not something that the chicks could handle on
the tough, rough, flight today’s wind would produce.
The call was made - we would stand down. Then, around 7:30am, the sky
lightened and brightened, the clouds that previously were scuttling by
slowed down to a walk. It was so tempting it was decided to launch a ‘wind
dummy’, if only to prove for certain that standing down was the right call.
We have now stood down for a second time today; Down Day #1 in Chilton
County, AL. Check back here later today for photos from yesterday’s Walker
County, AL departure flyover.
IMPERILED CREATURES – InfoBits compliments of Vi White and Steve Cohen
|
Common
Name |
Blunt-Nosed Leopard lizard |
Genus/Species |
Gambelia
Silus |
|
Statusf">Status |
Endangered |
Status
Cause |
Habitat
degradation by farming, urban development, overgrazing, oil wells,
and mining. |
|
Description |
3.4" to
4.7" long plus long regenerative tail; long powerful hind limbs;
short, blunt snout. Weigh 1.3 to 1.5 ounces. Females slightly
smaller then males. Vary in color and pattern on their backs from
yellowish or light gray-brown to dark brown; rows of dark spots
alternate with white, cream-colored or yellow bands. Undersides
uniformly white. Color depends on soil color and vegetation.
|
|
Behavior |
Diurnal.
Diet is insects, particularly grasshoppers, crickets, moths; other
lizards; plant material. Males highly combative in establishing and
maintaining territories. Breed May to June. Female lays and
incubates 2-6 eggs, until hatching July or Aug. |
|
Where
found |
Southwest
California |
|
Habitat |
Semi-arid
grasslands, scrubland, alkali flats, and washes. Prefer flat areas
with open space for running. Live in abandoned burrows, but can also
dig their own tunnels. Prefer areas under rocks for safety. |
|
Recovery
Plan |
Calls for
study of habitat management and compatible land uses. |
|
| Date: | December 3,
2010 - Entry 2 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject:>Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Chilton Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 58
Miles | Total Miles |
813.9 |
|
We're finding it very hard to make a prediction for tomorrow. The
forecast is not favorable to say the least; SW surface winds and 20 to 30mph
winds almost straight out of the west aloft. Not totally impossible so we’re
reluctant to rule out the possibility, but in reality, a flight is not all
that probable.
Still, we’re going to give it 10-90% odds – a prediction which, quite
frankly, has more heart in it than head.
|
| Date: |
December 3, 2010 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | SUCCESS! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 58 Miles: Walker Co. to Chilton Co., AL | Total Miles | 813.9 |
|
Another successful day! Today's lead pilot Joe Duff launched with the birds this morning. An air pickup, first at 7:15 CT and after a 5 minutes rodeo, he landed back at the pensite because apparently the birds decided they wanted to frolic in a nearby stream.
We watched on the camera as first one costume, then another, followed by two more wandered off down to the stream to collect the cranes and lead them back to the waiting aircraft. Next Joe launched with them again, this time from the ground, and they seemed to lock onto his wing pretty quickly
and follow him out of the valley they were sequestered in.
Some of the ground crew is dealing with a traffic jam in nearby Birmingham, so it may take them a bit longer to arrive. Tune in later to read the lead pilot report.t report.
We're getting many questions regarding #2-10, the still young, but large
beautiful Whooping crane who has only been able to fly one partial leg of
the southward migration. #2 went for an examination on Wednesday in
Nashville, and while we still don't know ALL the details, such as where he
will eventually end up, he will, unfortunately, be removed from the
ultralight cohort, which we're all very sad to learn.
CLICK here to read the article which ran in yesterday's Tennessean
Newspaper.
|
| Date: | December 2,
2010 - Entry 5 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: | DEPARTURE
FLYOVER PHOTOS FROM HARDIN COUNTY, TN | Location: |
Walker Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 110
Miles | Total Miles |
755.9 |
|
Thanks to Patrick and Marion Marsh for sending along photos they snapped
at this morning's departure flyover. Was that just this morning....it seems
sooooo long ago. Richard, today's lead pilot managed to give us all a
terrific view despite his less than cooperative charges.
|
| Date: | December 2,
2010 - Entry 4 | Reporter: |
Richard van Heuvelen |
| Subject: | FLYING A
TWO-FER | Location:Location: |
Walker Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 110
Miles | Total Miles |
755.9 |
|
A cold and heavy frost lay over the landscape, as we flew toward the pen
site in Hardin County, TN. When I dipped down into the valley the
temperature dropped considerably and I didn’t want frost to develop on my
wing, so as I approached the pen I quickly gave the ground crew the thumbs
up, turned away, and took off as fast as the chicks came out of the pen.
All of them came on to the wing quickly, and soon we were climbing nicely
out of the cold valley into the sunshine above.
The birds followed well for a mile down the valley, then, for no
particular reason it seemed, they turned away from the trike. Throwing the
trike in a steep turn I quickly intercepted them and slowly got us all back
on course again.
All seemed to go well when again - for no particular reason - they turned
back once more. By pulling in the bar and making another steep turn I
intercepted them for the second time. By now we were beginning to gain some
altitude, but still they turned back.
This time since we had some altitude we headed west over the ridges
before getting on course. This seemed to work, but on occasion they still
would veer off. But as I stayed the course, they would come back to the
trike. As the miles ticked by we steadily gained more altitude and ground
speed.
By the time we were approaching Franklin County, Alabama, we were nearing
3800 feet above sea level. So we punched Walker County into the GPS (and
with heavy winter mitts I do mean punched) and found it to be just
over an hour's more flying away. With the air so smooth, the sky so bright,
the birds so soothed, we led the birds in flight.
And yes.... that meant there would be no Christmas spent in Franklin
County as we skipped to Walker County on an uneventful flight limited today
by fuel and oil pressure for a change rather than by weather.
|
| Date: | December 2,
2010 - Entry 3 | |
Liz Condie |
| Subject: |
PREDICTING | Location: |
Walker Co., AL |
| Flown Today: | 110
Miles | Total Miles |
755.9 |
|
Boy oh boy, are we glad to be in Alabama. Just a couple of days ago it
seemed verrrrry far away, and now, here we are at our second stopover site
in this state. What a kick it was to get the phone call saying, "We're
skipping!"
Skipping is great but it does mean the post migration leg chores get
pushed back somewhat. It's already late afternoon and we are just getting
settled into our new campsite. Top cover pilot Jack Wrighter and
spotter/driver John Cooper flew in this afternoon to join the migration and
they're with us now.
Joe and Walter left around 2pm to drive the ~150 miles back to our Hardin
County stopover to pick up two vehicles we left behind. (We're short a
driver; Trish left on Sunday for a week at home in Philly.) They have about
a three hour drive up and then the same number back, plus the time it takes
to hook up the aircraft trailer to the van and then go and retrieve the
Dodge/Arctic Fox. We're not like to see them until sometime between 8 and
9pm.d
9pm.
When they get back we'll give them the good news about tomorrow's weather
outlook that we're going to give you right now. If anything, it appears it
will be as favorable, if not more so than was today. Perhaps not quite as
big a 'push' as the cranes and planes had this morning, but should be close.
Looking good enough right now to say we're 98% sure we'll be in the air
again in the morning. There is a super flyover location from which to watch
our Walker County departure. Click the link to the right to read the
directions and get a link to the site location on Google Maps.
See you there? You'll want to be on site sometime around 6:45am and
certainly no later than 7am. Dress for the cold.
|
| Date: | December 2, 2010 - Entry 2 | Reporter: | Heather Ray |
| Subject: | A DOUBLE MIGRATION LEG! | Location: | Main Office |
| Flown Today: | 110 Miles: Hardin Co, TN to Walker Co, AL | Total Miles | 755.9 |
|
As the team flew a DOUBLE leg this morning I thought I'd provide a brief update as it may be some time before the ground crew arrives at the new location in Alabama.
Today's lead pilot, Richard van Heuvelen launched with the birds in Hardin Co., TN at 7:18 and after a bit of back-and-forth rodeo round-up, he eventually was on course to Franklin County, AL.
Apparently he was able to climb with the birds to 4000ft and had them locked onto his trike when they approached the planned stop near Russellville so they decided to take advantage of the tailwind and push on to the next stop
in Walker County.
Liz reports the total flight time this morning was 2.5 hours and they covered 110 miles - WHOOP!
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