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| Before the cranes leave the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and board the plane that will transport them to their summer home and future breeding grounds they must undergo a final health check to ensure they are disease free and have not ingested any foreign objects. Here Dan Sprague gently restrains a crane colt across his lap, providing support for the awkward young crane while Glenn Olsen DVM prepares to examine the bird. | |
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| All procedures are done in complete silence and in costume, so as not to expose the isolation reared cranes to humans. This youngster is temporarily hooded so that a blood sample can be drawn safely. | |
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| Blood is taken from the young crane and tested for toxins and potential parasites. | |
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| Each crane is then individually crated and placed on board the Windway Capitol Corp. jet, which has been provided to the project, at no cost. This is the only time the cranes will fly as "passengers" because from now on, they will be conditioned to fly alongside the ultralight aircraft. | |
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Photos taken by: Dan Sprague |
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