From Bev Paulan:
Brooke and I spent all day yesterday driving around looking for #11-12. We drove up to the Georgia border and listened at every boat launch and at every lake between the border and the coast. All with no beeps.
Lots of the lakes and wetlands looked promising; habitat wise, but no wayward Whooper chick. On the plus side, we also didn’t see any Sandhills, so perhaps she joined one of the many flocks that has already flown north. Brooke has been constantly checking the traps set out for the bobcat and they have always been empty. Also negative on the trail camera photos.
Today, we are heading west down the coast to continue the search.
Last week, Brooke was taken up in a plane by a local Panacea pilot (thanks to Steve Fults for providing the plane and Steve Fults, Jr. for piloting and the folks at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab for making the introduction) and searched to the east and northeast of here, as well as the Lake Talquin area to the northwest. All searching for naught.
Reminder: The public is urged to report their Whooping Crane sightings and to report them as promptly as possible. If #11-12 has headed north already, it will likely be through the WCEP public reporting network that she is located.
I wonder if flying low in the ultralite with the brood call playing would help find #11-12 ….some thing familar
Fantastic idea, Veronica! I say Joe should go for it! He wants to get back up in the air so badly.
Like most ‘teenagers’ #11-12 would have very little, if any, interest in the aircraft at this stage of her life.
I so hope that you get good news about #11-12. There has been way too much sadness about all of the whooping cranes this year:-( I have had the wonderful opportunity to view and photograph #11-09 and #15-09 for the second straight year at their winter territory near Tallahassee. On Valentine’s Day morning, I viewed them with their two friends who are sandhills:-)
Ditto, deegs comment!
Thank you so much for this update~
I’m in Iowa and today the air is so fresh and spring-like. (Supposedly best day of the week – snow, snow, snow coming). BUT I’m going with the idea that the chick took off with the Sandhills on their way back. It’s not all that early for them to begin the journey. Besides, she knows the way..
Good luck Bev and Brooke with your search for #11-12
Thanks for the update! We are all watching for Whooping Cranes. You can count on that. Godspeed #11 Keep up the great work OM and everyone.
Thank you for continuing these updates, we will all be hoping for the best outcome