It has been another busy year for Operation Migration. While many things stand out, the speedy (57 day) migration, a return to ‘days of yore’, has to be marked as one of the most significant events of the year.
Each year we are at our proudest when we successfully deliver the newest cohort of young Whooping cranes to their wintering grounds, our legacy to generations to come. We are honored to be the workhorses that help to plow and sow in order that one day, the world can reap the ultimate crop; a self-sustaining population of Whooping cranes.
Some other noteworthy accomplishments:
- Expansion of the Visitors’ Blind for viewing flight training at White River Marsh State Wildlife Area
- Installation of one of our aircraft in Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- A successful and well received Whooping Crane Festival (to be repeated in 2013)
- The acquisition and launch of new Donor Management software
- Development of a new-look for our website Field Journal, including blogging capability
- Expanded CraneCam coverage
- Acquisition of new, additional migration stopover sites
- Purchase of a new (to us) tracking van thanks to the generosity of three donors
Also a huge part of fulfilling Operation Migration’s mission is engaging and communicating with people from across North America to encourage the conservation of Whooping cranes – indeed all wildlife. We hope our work, which we continuously document in writing and with still images and video, has left everyone with great memories and even greater hope for the future of the magnificent species for which we all care so deeply.
Thank you for being a friend of Operation Migration and Whooping cranes in 2012.
OM always gives us something to Whoop about and that’s wonderful! Happy New Year to the entire team and if the bird’s understand that it is a New Year…wishing them the best too!
It’s been a great year for all craniacs and we all thank OM soooo much. We’re hoping to come up with an even better Crane Festival for 2013 here in WI…so be prepared for more fun times ahead!
Ditto to M.L Walsh’s comments! Yes, which one of our “babies” is this photo of? Y’all have a great New Year in 2013! Will be checking on ya!
p.s. who is this beautiful whooping crane?
What a beautiful picture! Happy New Year everyone.