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Fall Ultralight-Guided Whooping Crane Migration
Wisconsin to Florida
Date: November 26, 2004 | Day 48
Arrival at Walker County, GA
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| After waiting for dense fog to lift, Richard van Heuvelen
performed an air pick-up over the island pen site at the Hiwassee
State Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, TN. |
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| Nine young cranes work to catch up to him... |
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| ...while the other five birds form up nicely over his left
wingtip. |
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| During the usual "crane rodeo over Hiwassee" Brooke
attempts to gather these six birds... |
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| Each and every time we try to leave this site with a new
generation of cranes, they're always reluctant to leave. It could be
that they were there for a full week this year, or it could be the
thousands of Sandhill cousins calling in the area, but the aerial
ballet is a treat for everyone present. |
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This 6-month old youngster shows off his already impressive wingspan
for the crowd before finally forming up with the ultralights, and
beginning the trip south to Georgia.
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As Joe and his cranes arrived in Walker Co., GA and began the
spiraling descent; what appears to be a Golden eagle joins the
group... seemingly quite intent on checking out the bright white
cranes.
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Above and below, pilot Joe Duff gives chase to the curious, and potentially
hungry predator...
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and finally convinces him that our Whooping cranes are NOT take-out
food for his breakfast.
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