The Cohort Two chicks enter the dry section of their enclosure
after spending the night roosting in the wet section.
Both sections are covered with a top-net, which keeps predators
out, and the cranes inside until the field team arrives early each
morning.
The youngsters love spending time in the wet section foraging and
roosting, and at times are reluctant to come out.
Patuxent's Robert Doyle spends time with the crane-kids out on the
grass training area in front of their pen. From the tell tale cumulus
clouds present, I'd bet today was a no-fly day due to high winds.
OM Pilot Brooke Pennypacker makes sure the top-net at the East
Training site is secured prior to the arrival of the final cohort of
young chicks scheduled to arrive late this week.
Robert, Brooke, and Richard van Heuvelen work on the solar panels used
to power the water pump at the East site.
