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| The cranes eagerly exit their enclosure; often flying out to meet the pilots when they hear the engine of the aircraft revved, signaling flight time. |
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| One crane is just out of site on the far side of the wing but this is the first time all sixteen cranes have formed up with their mechanical surrogate as one large group. |
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| Seven off the left, and nine off the right wingtip - just as if they've done this many times before, when in fact this is their first flight as a large group. Last year the first time we were able to lead all of the cranes in one group wasn't until Sept. 22nd. |
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Landing gear in the correct position, the cranes glide behind the aircraft before coming to a graceful stop. |
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| I wonder, if like our pilots, they discuss the flight and see if there is anyway to improve for the next flight? |
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August 26th - Second Group Flight |
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Sixteen cranes is difficult to fit into the frame of the camera lens, especially as they make such a long trail. Above Brooke leads eight birds, including male crane 101, the bird on the far left side of the photo. The inset shows his adult facial markings, and Joe was able to determine the colors on his leg bands as: G/W left and G/R/G right. |
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| In this photo crane 101 is at the top of the flock. |
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| And in this shot he is taking up the rear of the flight, which consisted of seventeen cranes - only sixteen of which were hatched this year. |
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