Date: May 31, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Recovery Plan Location: Main Office Just in from Whooping Crane Recovery Team chair, Tom Stehn, is the latest version of the International Recovery Plan (IRP). The 163 page report documents Canadian and U.S. plans for the recovery of Grus Americana. To read the report, (.pdf format) click here. It may also be accessed via a link we have placed on our Site Map. Date: May 29, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Bev Paulan Subject: A Day in the life of a 'Crane Chick Mama' Location: Maryland The days speed past in a flurry of activity. It is nothing to work 12 hours, and many days stretch even longer than that. My usual days off are Sundays and Mondays, but its rare I get to take both. Breaks during the day for the OM crew are uncommon, there is just too much to do and not enough hands to do it. Each chick has to be exercised three times a day: trike training, walking and swimming. Each of these sessions are usually a minimum of 20 minutes from pen back to pen, and at the moment there are 23 chicks being worked with. Then there is the socialization - when we bring new chicks together for the first time as we try to build the cohorts. Currently, 702, 703 and 706 are being trained and walked together and 707, 708 and 709 together. 710 had been with them but developed a limp and has been on cage rest/no exercise for a few days. This morning we introduced 710 and 714 together. 714 is such a large bird for its age that we are considering putting in the first cohort with 702 and 710. 714 is 710's sibling, but looks like a miniature version of him. However, 714 does not share 710's sweet temperament and was constantly trying to peck 710. We will try it again tomorrow and hopefully, peace will prevail. Part of socializing includes walking a group of birds to a pond and letting them forage while supervised. The last several days have been very warm here, (upper 80s) and just getting the birds to the pond can overheat them. So we put out a foot bath for them halfway to the pond to let them get a drink and cool down. 702, 703, 704 and 706 were taken to the pond (which is part of an enclosed pen site) and allowed to forage for 5 hours while we all took turns. What a joyful experience this was for me, getting to watch the young cranes just be cranes. The pond had been recently flooded and there were worms everywhere. You can imagine the fun the chicks were having finding and eating the worms. It is amazing to me to watch these birds discover what they can do; what they are supposed to be behaving like. While taking my turn supervising, I watched as 702 foraged in the pond. Every dip of his head resulted in the gulping down of a worm. Then I noticed a head dip with no worm, then another and another. Pretty soon, not only was the head dipping under the water, but the bird was now crouching with its belly touching the water's surface. Soon, the head was dipping just enough to allow the water to run down his neck. There would be an occasional shake of the body, and then it hit me -he was trying to take a bath! Finally all the dipping and shaking came together as the body and bird discovered just the right combination for a bath. With wings flapping, neck dipping, soon water was rushing across his back, under his wings and finally cascading over his tail back into the water. I stood in total awe of this moment, of this eureka moment for the chick as he learned what all his ancestors knew. Soon, 706 waded out into the pond and went through the exact same awkward motions as it made the same discovery. Then 704 did the same. It was as if the same light bulb went on in their heads at the same time. Its not often one gets to observe a 'first' It was almost like watching a child take its first step, or utter its first word. The excitement is there, the joy, the pride! After bath time, I sat on the edge of the water with my back leaning against the shade shelter. The temptation was great to nod off, but I didn't want to miss anything, miss any new discoveries. I was thoroughly enjoying the peace and serenity of watching my young charges forage, preen and do their bird thing when I felt a nudge on my arm. I looked down, and there was 706 trying to burrow under my arm. I moved my arm and he nestled right in against my side and lay down. Tears came to my eyes as the realization hit that I had been accepted as mama crane. I leaned back, sighing and wishing this peaceful moment would last forever. Unfortunately it lasted exactly 30 seconds when 703 took exception to the younger interloper brooding with ‘his’ mama. With a sharp peck to the head, 703 drove 706 away, back into the water and away from my side. In the meantime, 704 had wandered over to investigate. He saw his reflection in my face mask and took a few tentative pecks, ultimately deciding the stranger he saw was no threat. He continued to forage within arms reach until my replacement approached drawing all the birds' attention away from me. Ahhh, such is the life of a crane mama! After experiencing that wonderful afternoon, with those great memories, it broke my heart, when, on Sunday afternoon, Brian Clauss called me tell me about 704. I cried once again over the loss of one of the chicks. 704 was a beautiful bird (as are they all) and was a great follower, staying close to the handler and the trike at all times. I know this is a part of the game and there will always be losses, but they are nonetheless hard and heart breaking. That's one part of being crane mama I won't ever enjoy. View the photos here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Date: May 29, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Eastern Migratory Population Update Location: Main Office This update was compiled from data provided by Richard Urbanek (USFWS), Stacey Kerley (ICF), and N. Frey. Thanks to Sara Zimorski (ICF) and Windway Aviation and pilot Charles Koehler for tracking assistance. In the highlights below, * = female; DAR = direct autumn release; NFT = non functional transmitter. Estimated size of the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) at the end of the week was 57 individuals (32 males and 25 females): 54 in Wisconsin, 1 in Michigan, 1 in New York, and 1 unknown (last record in Ohio). Missing Birds - 202* was last recorded on March 13 as she and her mate, 101, entered Georgia on the first day of spring migration. (suspected dead) - 524 was last observed with his associate, 523 in Levy County, FL February 16. (suspected dead) - 516 began migration from Marion County, FL between April 21-29. He was next reported foraging with two Sandhills in Lorain County, Ohio on 12 May. He left the area shortly after that observation and no subsequent reports have been received. New York 309* remained in Lewis County at the beginning of the week. By May 21 she had returned the Castorland area, and on May 23 she went back to near her former location. Her PTT reading on May 26 indicated she was still in that area. Michigan DAR 533* continued to remain in southwestern Michigan, mostly in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. No reports of visual observations were received however. Wisconsin Notes Due to the onset of the growing season, most of the birds that had been using cornfields returned to wetlands on or near the refuge. - 317 and 303* continued incubating (re-nested May 14) on the Necedah NWR. - First Family adults 211 and 217* remained on their territory on or near eastern East Rynearson Pool  throughout the week. May 24th the pair was observed adding material to the nest that they had been observed building earlier in the month, but no other reproductive activity was noted. - 213 and 218* usually foraged during the day on drawn down West Rynearson Pool and roosted there, on West Rice Pool, or near Site 2. May 20 they were observed building a new nest north of Site 2, but they again produced no eggs. - 307’s transmitter began failing three weeks ago and he was not detected during the week. - May 24th, a Whooping crane believed to be 415*NFT was observed foraging with a small number of Sandhills in Adams County. She had last been observed in Madison County, FL in mid February. Her current location is within her 2006 summering area. - 318 returned to Necedah May 27, landing on West Rynearson Pool where he was observed with Sandhill cranes. He had last been reported May 8 in Mason County, MI. His return to Necedah NWR was his first successfully completed, unassisted, spring migration in four years. Apparently he was finally able to circumvent Lake Michigan. His previous migrations had terminated on the eastern shore of the lake in Oceana or Mason Counties. (He, along with 301*, were retrieved from Mason County in the spring of 2005.) - On May 20th Wild 601* was reported with Sandhills in Sauk County, just south of her frequently used location in Columbia County. She was with 503 and 507* in Wood County May 21 and returned to Necedah on the 24th where she stayed for the remainder of the week. Date: May 28, 2007 - Entry 3 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Chick Mortality Location: Main Office Sadly, we report that 704 died yesterday. Bev advised that he trained normally in the morning, but was spotted sitting not moving in his outside run in the afternoon. A costume went in to check him and he died in her hands. Patuxent's Dr. Glen Olsen will perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Date: May 28, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: OM's Home Page Location: Main Office Since several visitors to our website advised us they were having problems connecting to our home page we have been doing some investigating. We discovered that as a result of some modifications made by our website host, some ‘addresses’ have changed. As most web browsers store data from web pages to expedite their loading, when something in the nature of the page changes, the browsers are not up do date and an error will occur. To resolve this, the computer’s cache needs to be cleared. If you find you need to do this and you use Microsoft Internet Explorer: Go to Tools > Internet Options. On the ‘General Tab’ under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Cookies; under History, click Clear History. If you use Mozilla Firefox: Go to Tools > Clear Private Data. Check off Browsing History, Cache, Cookies. Press clear private data now. To go to OM’s Home page type www.operationmigration.org, or for the Field Journal www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html in your browser window. The 'people who should know' tell me this should resolve the problem for most computers. Date: May 28, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: eBay Auctions end today Location: Main Office Last chance. All of OM's auctions through MissionFish on ebay end today. The Memorial Day weekend/celebrations seem to have slowed the bidding down so there are some bargains to be had. Click here to go to our eBay site. Date: May 27, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Another Hatch Location: Main Office Intern Megan Kennedy let us know a short while ago that 727 hatched this morning. Reporting on some of the other chicks, Megan advised: - 718 and 719 are showing signs of healthy appetites but are still unwell from the diarrhea they and several other chicks contracted. - 722 has now learned to eat and drink on his own and is doing well. 723 was eating on his own when he left the ICU, but suffered a setback when he dehydrated overnight. He's doing much better now and fell asleep in the handlers’ hands when they were taping his toes. Megan said, "When we put the ramp in to let 721 go outside he got really excited. He likes to jump around. When we first moved 724 from the Propagation Building to the Crane Chick Building (CCB), he cried and cried. He'd get really angry at the puppet and unless the puppet gave him his food, he wouldn't eat. He's eating on his own now and he's one of the best drinkers." - 725 and 26 were moved to the CCB yesterday and are slowly learning to eat and drink on their own. Hope to have pictures of the rest of the chicks to post this week as well as updates to the chick bios on the Class of 2007 page. Crawling around trying to capture the little critters using a camouflaged camera while gloved and fully costumed isn't exactly easy. But it isn't for lack of trying. Bev says if it wasn't for blue jeans under the costume her knees would be full of rug burns. View the photos here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Date: May 27, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Carl Wagle Subject: First posting from Intern Carl Location: Maryland I watched as 707 raced to and fro along the Plexiglas that separates it from the adult role model next door, where perceived comfort, attention, and love abounds. The young crane had the side of its head, all its neck, and part of its breast pressed firmly flat against the clear barrier as it careened to the right, then stumbled to get to the left. It appears as if some invisible part of this young bird has gotten through to the other side. The frantic body wants to join it. It is my calling to step into his pen with puppet head, vocalizer, and silent companionship to help this little one accept and adjust to his reality. Date: May 26, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Chick Training Video Location: Main Office Thanks to Bev, we were able to bring back a short video of Circle Pen training. In it you can see the contrast in size between 702, hatched April 18, and little 703, hatched 11 days later on April 29. Be patient, the video may take a while to load. Date: May 26, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: New Faces Location: Main Office Say hello to our new interns for the 2007 season. You can read their bios on the 'Meet Our Team' page. Carl has been working at Patuxent with Bev and Brooke and the PWRC chick crew for the past month. As much as we would love to have him continue through the summer in Wisconsin and on migration, Carl's internship will conclude with the shipment of the third and last cohort to Necedah. We met Megan and Nathan when they arrived in Maryland on Saturday the 19th and found them enthusiastic and ready to learn. While it will take them a while to absorb the protocols and the ins and outs of chick handling, they are a welcome addition to the OM Team. The extra hands will give the terrifically busy chick crew some needed relief. View the photos here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Date: May 25, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Chick News Location: Main Office The chick count in climbing with two more hatching out. 725 (egg from ACRES) hatched on the 24th, and 726, a PWRC egg, hatched today. Several of the chicks have developed diarrhea, (714 - 719) and have the chick crew concerned. They have looked at every possible cause and are doubling precautions to ensure nothing is transmitted to the other birds. Date: May 25, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Current eBay auctions ending soon Location: Main Office Our final set of items for the Earth Day celebration auction on eBay have been posted. All the auctions end with the Memorial Day weekend. By popular demand we have included 10 prints selected by the OM staff, including a few favorites requested by Craniacs. Take a moment and have a look – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Click here to go to our eBay site. Date: May 24, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: OM Volunteer Nominated for Canadian Environmental Award Location: Main Office We've always said our volunteers are extraordinary people. While the talents they contribute are as diverse as they are, they all share three special characteristics. They are committed, selfless, and passionate about what they care about. And they all care deeply about conservation and the environment. Beyond the time and effort they devote to OM, many have other related interests. One such individual is George McCubbin, who volunteers one day a week in OM's Port Perry office. Besides our having come to rely on George for many things, he is always the bright spot in our week. We are thrilled to report that George is one of three people short-listed for a prestigious 2007 Canadian Environmental Award. The winner will be announced June 4 in Montreal, Canada. George has been nominated in the category of Sustainable Living, based on a number of environmentally-oriented programs he instituted in his Lindsay, Ontario condominium complex. Since moving to the complex in 2004, George has helped fellow residents increase their recycling, cut their garbage in half, and save more than 67,000 kilowatt-hours a year in energy use; enough energy to power 6 American homes for a year! They now have a battery recycling box, soda-can tab collection, an eyeglass collection for third-world countries, plastic bag collection for recycling, cell-phone recycling boxes and even scrap metal collection. George has been visiting surrounding complexes in the hope that they, and eventually the city, will adopt many of his programs. Although George has met great success in making his complex environmentally  sustainable,  he is constantly looking to find even more ways to recycle. "My goal," he says, "is to leave no stone unturned in the name of reducing our impact on Earth." George also hopes to create a legacy of environmentally sustainable living through education. "Educating people is an important part of the process because this is a co-operative effort. Now I've begun giving talks to other groups.” The gold and silver 2007 Canadian Environmental Awards winners will be recognized with $2500 to $5000, to be given to a cause of their choice. We are honored and delighted that George has decided to donate any award funds to Operation Migration. If you would like to learn more about the awards, please visit 2007 Canadian Environmental Awards. George's feature can be found under Sustainable Living in the Community Awards section. George's environmental sustainability initiatives along side his support and contributions to OM make us so proud to have him as a Craniac. Way to go George, and good luck in June! If you live in a condo or apartment and would like to learn how to institute any of George’s programs, please contact info@operationmigration.org. Date: May 23, 2007 - Entry 4 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Chick Snaps Location: Main Office View the photos here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Don't forget to visit the Class of 2007 Bio page. We'll update it as fast as we receive the info from Bev. Date: May 23, 2007 - Entry 3 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Florida Population Loses Nest Location: Main Office In a posting April 26th, we told you about two eggs that were removed from the nest of a pair of Whooping cranes in the Florida non-migratory flock. There is now a sequel to this story, and you can read about it below in the words of Marty Folk, Biological Scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "On 16 April we took two eggs out of a nest on Lake Kissimmee in an effort to reduce the threat of an airboat strike to a pair of nesting Whoopers. Disney's Animal Kingdom incubated the eggs until we could determine that they were developed enough to be transported to Patuxent. April 27 the eggs were flown to Baltimore-Washington International airport, accompanied by Florida Whooping crane biologist, Kathy Chappell, and handed off to Patuxent's Dan Sprague. The eggs hatched May 3rd (708) and May 5th (709). Meanwhile, despite how late it was in the breeding season, the Florida pair of Whooping crane re-nested. May 8th we discovered them incubating just over 100 yards from the location of their previous nest. This time we tried a different approach to reduce the threat of airboat strike. On May 11th we posted a protective zone around the nest to reduce human disturbance. Our agency's law enforcement division was providing support, especially on weekends, when boat traffic is heaviest. Most boaters honored the closed area, but we documented boats entering the zone several times. On one occasion, six airboats entered the zone, flushing the incubating bird off the nest. On Saturday, May 19th, there was an air boat festival based at the boat ramp a mile from the nest. Two of our agency's law enforcement officers in one airboat and two biologists in another, ‘patroled’ the edge of the closed zone around the nest during the festival. Most people respected the signs and went around the zone. However, several groups of airboats blatantly crossed the closed zone. An airboat ran over the nest and destroyed the clutch. It could not be determined which boat was responsible for the act, so no one could be arrested. Fortunately the adult pair were unhurt - although there might have been a different outcome if it had happened at night." Date: May 23, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Chick Update Location: Main Office The chart below contains as much information as we have at the moment on some of the chicks in the Class of 2007. There are pictures and some personality notes on the Class of '07 Bio page. # Egg From Hatch Weighed 702 SAZ 4 / 18 122 grams 703 CZ 4 / 29 150 704 PWRC 5 / 01 134 705 CZ 5 / 01 Euthanized 706 CZ 5 / 01 127 707 PWRC 5 / 02 116 708 FNMP 5 / 03 135 709 FNMP 5 / 05 132 710 PWRC 5 / 07 154 711 PWRC 5 / 08 Genetic Holdback 712 CZ 5 / 09   713 CZ 5 / 10   714 PWRC 5 / 10   715 CZ 5 / 15   716 PWRC 5 / 16   717 EMP/NNWR 5 / 16   718 PWRC 5 / 17   719 PWRC 5 / 18   720 PWRC 5 / 19 Euthanized May 21 721 PWRC 5 / 21   722 CZ 5 / 21   723 PWRC 5 / 22   724 ? 5 / 22   (100 grams = 3.53 ounces) (There is one other genetically valuable chick that will be pulled from the program but at this moment we don't know which one it is.) (Legend: SAZ = San Antonio Zoo; CZ = Calgary Zoo; PWRC = Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; FNMP = Florida Non-migratory Population; ICF = International Crane Foundation; ACRES = Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species; EMP/NNWR = Eastern Migratory Population parents on Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. While we were were in Patuxent, Joe and I sat in on a Chick Crew meeting chaired by John French. The current egg count there is 11, more than enough to give us our hoped for 24 birds. Key to attaining this is the number of chicks that can be reared and trained by the Chick crew. OM has supplied a team of five people to help this year, so we have our fingers crossed. Date: May 23, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Eastern Migratory Population Update Location: Main Office Note: Once again I apologize to our readers for the time between postings. Joe and I arrived back at the office this morning from two weeks on the road. We slowly made our way back north from Florida giving presentations to schools and other groups along our route. In our travels we try to stay in small of the way places to keep expenses down, that's the upside - but the downside is they rarely have internet. This update was compiled from data provided by Stacy Kerley (ICF), and Richard Urbanek (USF&WS). Thanks to Gordon Moschke for property access; Glenn Klingler and Heather Keough (USDA Forest Service), Windway Aviation/pilot Charles Koehler, and Sara Zimorski for tracking assistance. In the highlights below, * = female; DAR = direct autumn release; NFT = non functional transmitter. Estimated size of the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) is 57 individuals, 32 males and 25 females. The onset of the growing season resulted most of the birds that had been using cornfields returning to wetlands on or near the refuge. Michigan - 318 was last reported in Mason County on May 8 but was not found there or in Oceana County during checks made May 14 and 18 but was not found during a check on May 14. - DAR533* remained in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren Counties but was not found when these areas were checked on May 14. New York/Ontario - 309* remained at previously used location in Lewis County at the beginning of the week then crossed the St. Lawrence River to roost near Fenaghvale, Ontario. On May 15 she roosted near Ottawa and was reportedly foraging in a cornfield there the next morning. By the 18th she was back in Lewis County. Migration - 516 began migration from Marion County, FL between 21 and 29 April. He was next reported in Lorain County, Ohio May 12th. He left the area shortly after that observation and no subsequent reports have been received. Location Unknown - 202* was last recorded with her mate, 101, on March 13 as the pair entered southern Georgia on the first day of spring migration. (mortality suspected) - 524 was last observed with 523 in Levy County, FL February16. (mortality suspected) - A Whooping crane believed to be 415* (NFT) was last observed February 19th with a small number of Sandhills in Madison County, FL. No subsequent reports have been received, but Dr. Urbanek says he expects she is back in WI. Wisconsin Notes The passage of a cold front on the 15th appears to have triggered a flurry of nest building but no eggs have as yet been produced. - 317 and 303* re-nested and began incubating on May 14th and continued incubating through the remainder of the week. - 201* and 306 were observed nest building on May 15 but apparently produced no eggs. - 211 and 217* remained on their territory throughout the week and were observed nest building on May 15 but produced no eggs. - 213 and 218* were observed nest building on 15 May but apparently produced no eggs. They were also observed nest building north of Site 2 on May 20 but again produced no eggs. - 209* and 416: 209* was observed sitting on what appeared to be a nest but an examination of the marsh on 20 May revealed several Sandhill crane nest platforms, an active Sandhill crane nest with one egg, and a possible old whooping crane nest, but no recently constructed whooping crane nests. Wild 601* returned from Columbia County with 510* and 511 on May 14th. She joined 205 on May 16, disassociated from him on the next day, and then rejoined 510* and 511 to roost north of Site 3. She left the refuge on May 18 and returned to Columbia County. She was reported in Sauk County May 20, and was found with 503 and 507* in Wood County on May 21. View the photos here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Date: May 17, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Time’s running out Location: Pennsylvania Only two weekends remain for OM’s eBay auctions. For the May 18th weekend, we are auctioning off a copy of the script for movie Fly Away Home, a string of 18 cranes made by the Studnickas, some wonderful artwork, photography, and books and videos. Remember, these auction items will only be a 'weekend event', so visit OM's Auction Page to bid! Date: May 16, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Bev Paulan Subject: Chick Report Location: PWRC Another day, another chick! Amongst all the other happenings here, 715 hatched yesterday. Rather speedily, too. He was moved to the hatcher tray (from the incubator) in the morning, and by 2pm we moved him into the ICU. You might notice I have a tendency to dub all the chicks 'him'. None have been sexed yet and it is so much easier than saying ‘it’ Everyone here does it, so, rightly or wrongly, I have followed suit. The socialization of the young 'uns continues. 702 and 703 continue training together and seem to be getting along. 704 and 706 are training together, and as long as we feed 706 right before we put them together, they get along. (706 gets a little cranky when he gets hungry!) 707 and 708 are the cutest. They are like two peas in a pod and train well together with no aggression. Today we introduced 709 and 710 for the first time and there was quite a lot of bill pecking with 709 finally coming out on top after their twenty minute walk. 712, 713, and 714 are all still to young to even be allowed outdoors yet, let alone be walked, and 715, well, that's quite a few days off yet. So, the end of another hectic day and the possibility of 716 joining very soon. Gosh, I love this job! View the photo here in the 2007 Spring photo journal. Date: May 16, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Eastern Migratory Population Update Location: Virginia Note: Apologies for the long time away from the Field Journal folks. Joe and I have been on the road since this past Sunday morning working our way north from Florida and stopping to do presentations along the way. Seems we haven't been able to make our available 'work time' coincide with the availability of an internet connection. This update was compiled from data provided by Stacy Kerley (ICF), and Richard Urbanek (USF&WS). Thanks to Glenn Klingler and Heather Keough (USDA Forest Service) for tracking assistance and to Windway Aviation and pilot Mike Frakes, and Sara Zimorski (ICF) for retrieval of DAR627. In the highlights below, * = female; DAR = direct autumn release; NFT = non functional transmitter. Estimated size of the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) is 57 individuals, 32 males and 25 females. Michigan - 318 remained in Mason County early in the week but was not found during a check on May 14. - DAR533* remained in Van Buren or Cass Counties but was not found when these areas were checked on May 14. New York - 309* moved to at least three different locations in Lewis County during the week. On May 14 she roosted near Fenaghvale, Ontario in Canada. Location Unknown - 516 began migration from Marion County, FL April 21-29 and no subsequent reports have been received. - 202* was last recorded with her mate, 101, on March 13 as the pair entered southern Georgia on the first day of spring migration. (mortality suspected) - 524 was last observed with his associate, 523 in Levy County, FL February16. (mortality suspected) - A Whooping crane believed to be 415* (NFT) was last observed February 19th with a small number of Sandhills in Madison County, FL. No subsequent reports have been received, but Dr. Urbanek says he expects she is back in WI. Wisconsin Notes Until May 14th when 303* and 317 re-nested and began incubating there had been no nesting activity. A passing cold front on May 15th produced a flurry of nest building with three additional pairs (two of then re-nesting) observed building nests. The nest builders were pairs: 201* and 306; 213 and 218*; and First Family parents, 211 and 217*. (310 and 501* were observed in rudimental nest-building on May 6.) Wild601* remained in Columbia County during the week. She associated and foraged with 510* and 511 when they were in the area. DAR627 was retrieved from Michigan, transported back to Wisconsin and released on Necedah NWR. Date: May 12, 2007 - Entry 2 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: IMBD at DAK a HIT! Location: Florida International Migratory Bird Day at Walt Disney World's ANIMAL KINGDOM was a hit! Joe and I have had an action packed but wonderful three days at Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Thursday, we were hosted by Dr. Beth Stevens, VP of Disney Animal Kingdom and Joe did a presentation to the management staff. Thanks Dr. Beth! Friday, we went to Windermere, FL for a presentation to a terrific group of Grade 5 students – 9 classes of them! The kids at this school raised $1,113 for Whooping cranes last fall. They treated us to their version of a Whooping crane call - and that was really special. What a great bunch of kids. Thanks to science teacher Lynn Tidmus! Early yesterday morning, we set up our event display booth and Joe's ultralight in front of Conservation Station at Animal Kingdom. We spent an amazing day talking to adults and kids about Whooping cranes, and answering their many questions about the project. It was marvelous to be able to reach out to so many people – especially the hundreds of youngsters. It was great fun and ever so rewarding to watch many turn into Craniacs right in front of our eyes! Thanks to Scott Tidmus and Alex McMichael for all their efforts to make this day happen! We will post more detail about these three events as soon as we can, but Joe and I are back on the road this morning and headed for Jacksonville, FL where we will be doing a presentation at the Zoo later today. Thanks to Billy Brooks, (USF&WS Jacksonville) for all his work in setting this event up for us! Photo taken just before we finished tearing down and packing up at Disney's Animal Kingdom yesterday. Starting in the back row from the left are: Craniacs Peggy and Mark Chenoweth who made the day's photography (free pics of kids in our ultralight) possible); Joe, Chuck Underwood, from the Jacksonville office of WCEP partner US Fish & Wildlife Service. Front row left to right: Liz; Alec McMichael, Manager of Special Events and Media at Disney; Scott Tidmus, Zoological Manager, Disney’s Animal Kingdom; and Event Coordinator Erica Anderson, who was instrumental in pulling things together. We can’t thank everyone enough for the opportunities they provided us to reach out to so many people, and, for all their behind the scenes efforts on Operation Migration's behalf. Each contributed to making this trip to Florida an extraordinary experience – and without doubt, a tremendous success. Date: May 12, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Movie script on eBay Location: Florida Just two weeks left for OM’s auctions on eBay. There has already been a number of wonderful items on the auction block, and there are more to come. Over the May 12/13th weekend we have a special item being auctioned - the original production/shooting storyboard for the Columbia Picture's movie 'Fly Away Home'. This is a unique item for any Craniac, but also a neat gift for Hollywood buffs or fans of the movie. There will also be some interesting art, books, and more. To see all our current eBay listings click here. ......and - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! Date: May 11, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Liz Condie Subject: Happy International Migratory Bird Day Location: Florida We wish you an especially happy day Saturday, May 12th. It is International Migratory Bird Day - one of our favorite celebrations. International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) reminds us to give some thought to what a precious gift these wonderful creatures are to our world. According to the American Bird Conservancy, more than one third of the 650 bird species that breed in the U.S. now have declining populations, are restricted to small ranges, or face serious threats. Each year, an estimated 2.5 billion birds are killed inadvertently in the U.S. due to human activities. Causes of the bird mortalities include collisions with lighted buildings and communication towers, pesticide poisoning, and free-roaming cat predation. Two million acres of bird habitat are lost to development annually, and the potential impacts of climate change also raise serious concern. The combination of mass mortality and serious habitat loss poses a grave risk to many bird species across all regions and habitats. We all need to do everything we can today to preserve and protect them so we can be sure the marvel of migratory birds is around for future generations. International Migratory Bird Day 2007 highlights the threat posed to birds by climate change. Other initiatives aimed at conserving birds include the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in Flight, and the Bird Conservation Alliance. These programs and partnerships are building capacity among both public and private organizations to protect birds across the entire U.S. landscape. Date: May 10, 2007 - Entry 1 Reporter: Bev Paulan Subject: Class of 2007 Stats Location: PWRC There are many different aspects to my job. On any given day I'm not sure quite what I will be doing, other than taking care of the birds of course. I've been feeding, cleaning, examining, walking, training, swimming and feeding even more. Yesterday was one of those days that I can look back on and just say "Wow, am I ever lucky to have this job!" My first treat of the day was hearing that 702's little Sandhill buddy has been accepted at a zoo. We weren't quite sure what was going to happen to him; the poor species-confused creature that he now is. Because of this, we have to expose him to people. This means walking him sans costume, being able to talk to him, touch him, hand feed him. Lucky me, I got to do it first. This is all of our fantasies; being able to fondle one of our charges. They are just so darn cute! And this one has a very easy disposition, so he wasn't spooked in the least when I removed my hood for the first time (okay, okay, I've already heard it from everyone else!). The second treat of the day was getting to walk 702 and 703 on their first socialization walk. It was truly fun. Little 703 tried as mightily as it could to be taller than 702 -a very comical sight. 702 is, surprisingly, the submissive of the two, in spite of the size advantage. There were no aggressive moves other than posturing, and peace reigned o'er the farm pond. Lastly, at the end of the day, Dr. Glenn Olsen came into the prop building and asked for help with an assisted hatch. Since I was the only one around at that moment, I got drafted. My duty w