Q: How many Gazetteer's does it take to get a crew of 12; fourteen
Whooping cranes; 4 aircraft, and five RV's from Wisconsin to
Florida?
A: Not quite a thousand dollars worth
The 14 members of the Class of 2008 in the travel pen just prior
to leaving their summer home at the Necedah National Wildlife
Refuge and begin the long journey to their new winter home in
Florida.
John Martineau was called into action as today's Swamp Monster at
the East site to deter the cranes from returning. He spent almost an
hour under the tarp until the pilots decided to allow the oldest
cranes; 803, 804 & 805 to return to the pen so they could be crated
for transport.
Eventually the three reluctant flyers were crated and moved to the
first stopover location. Here, John walks 805 into the crate while
Charlie ensures he doesn't bang his head on the frame of the crate,
while Bev gets ready to slide the door into position.
Brooke Pennypacker tries to guide a group of five cranes to the first
migration stopover. The three on the left wingtip seem content but
the two on the right are peeling off to head back to their summer
home.
Here's Richard van Heuvelen with another 3 cranes - still trying to lead them to
the first stopover location. These ones did eventually follow him.
Another pretty shot of Richard and his three cranes.
Brooke guides 827 over some of Juneau County's cranberry bogs on the
way to the first stopover location.
