The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership
is responsible for conducting this reintroduction. Learn more about the unique partnership and the other founding members.

Notes: At 6am it was too windy to fly so the crew milled about in the home of our Boone Co. hosts waiting for a high pressure system, visible on the weather maps to move into our area and push out the clouds. 

At 8am Paula Lounsbury contacted the local weather briefing office and was told that the system would soon be upon us -- hurray up and wait. At 9am we were again assured that the low clouds would be on their way out of this area by 9:30am. We waited but one look at the sky told a different tale. Each hour, on the hour until 1pm Paula called and each time she was told conditions "should" improve shortly...

It's now 2:30pm and there is still low cloud cover over our heads making a flight today unsafe for the cranes and pilots. I guess we'll just hurray up and wait for a better day.

It was exactly one year ago today that we departed from this same stopover.

Paula Lounsbury's perspective: It’s another “Stand-Down Day” on migration. Our pre-dawn checks usually begin with a look at an online weather site, when Internet access is available, followed by a phone call to a local Flight Service Station weather briefer. This morning’s sky looked ominous but nevertheless the usual routine was carried out with cautious optimism. Heavy low clouds hung over the trikes and bird pen and a light but blustery wind rustled the tops of the trees. Although the weather outside said “NO GO,” the briefer painted a pretty picture of the developing weather. The clouds were to part and the sun to shine before noon, we were told. The slow, improving trend could begin by mid-morning accompanied by a light northwesterly flow. Perfect! We could be winging our way south in excellent conditions and even have breakfast before we go.

The morning passed pleasantly with seconds on coffee while eyes were glued to the Weather Channel’s radar picture. Over and over we watched heavy rain inundate Texas and Louisiana and snow fall in the northeast, while outside the skies remained stubbornly gray.

Notes: We're right around the area where we cross back and forth over the invisible line that separates the central time zone from the eastern zone. Though most of us hail from Ontario, Canada in the eastern zone, we began the journey in Wisconsin in the central time zone. Then, just for added confusion, the clocks were turned back an hour last weekend. For the past three days my base has been situated in central and the crew and the cranes in eastern. This makes for many confusing moments when planning dinners or departures -- one almost needs a calculator to figure it out.

This morning at 7:43 am eastern the flight crew lifted off with Joe initially in the lead aircraft, Brooke flying chase and Richard and Bill circling overhead, ready to move into position in needed. As Joe gained altitude and made a slow sweeping turn to bring the cranes on course, 15 of them broke away and Brooke moved in to lead this large group, while Joe carried on with the 1 bird that had stuck to him like glue.

Another single bird dropped off from Brooke's group leaving him with 14 birds and Richard maneuvered his aircraft, quickly getting into position in front of the drop out and providing it with lift, which is generated by the wake of air as it rolls off the large wing of the ultralight.

Brooke continued with his 14, flying at a slightly lower altitude than Joe but as they approached the lead trike, all of Brooke's birds decided to veer right and climb to re-join the single crane off Joe's right wingtip, which meant that Brooke was again back in his chase position. 

Once everyone was eventually on course they were rewarded with smooth as glass air conditions and 1 hour and 13 minutes later the pilots and all 16 cranes arrived in Boone County, Indiana, 48 miles further south and still in the eastern time... I think.

Notes: Click on the link above and you'll see why we're still here in Benton Co., Indiana -- West winds at 10-15 mph continue and our goal is to take these cranes to Florida, not the Chesapeake Bay region.

The birds are safe in their travel enclosure but they get excited by the winds blowing through the open panels and are as anxious to get airborne as the pilots are. We will all have to be patient for at least another day...

Notes: So far we have covered 287.2 miles, and it has taken us 20 days. Those of us depressed by our dismal progress, spend the hours of downtime recounting these numbers and the results don't help the mood. We have traveled just 14 miles per day or averaged slightly more than one-half mph. Despite our large volunteer contingent, migration is the most expensive portion of the field season and averages just under $1,000.00 per day or roughly $100.00 per mile. At this tortoise pace, we could have crawled faster. If this option were really available we may yet consider it, but that kind of thinking comes from the "glass is half empty" point of view.

From the other perspective we do have a number of things for which to be thankful: Despite our sporadic progress the birds are becoming accustomed to the routine of migration and the team is learning as we go, how to get them all out of the pen at one time. This is no easy feat as many of the more eager birds will charge out and take flight almost immediately leaving the others behind. The handlers must try to contain the more aggressive, while encouraging the more reluctant. The pilot must judge the take-off roll so the leaders do not get ahead of him, yet delay it long enough for the slower birds to have a chance. The start is critical and if the last birds out are too far from the aircraft they are often discouraged and turn back. Practice makes perfect for pilots, birds and ground crew and yesterday was a textbook example of how it should be done.

Our travel pen consists of several interlocking panels, each 6 feet tall and 10 feet long. Dan Sprague and Mark Nipper swung out two of them creating a funnel shaped opening 20 feet wide that channeled the birds out in the direction of the departing aircraft. Before he left the ground, Richard Van Heuvelen had all sixteen birds flying in a tight but jumbled formation directly behind him. As we turned on course they began to take advantage of the wake created by the wing and started to form a long thin line. We climbed to 800 feet, into glass smooth air and eight birds surfed on each wingtip while the other three aircraft followed behind with no other function than to stare in awe.

Despite our best efforts we are at the mercy of the weather yet thankfully our hard work has paid off. These birds are better prepared for this long and arduous trip than any we have raised in the past. We are also thankful for all the supporters we have met along the way. They have opened their homes and their hearts to us in unbounded hospitality. They provide isolation for the birds and power for our trailers, dinners for the crew or just a place to hang out on rainy, windy days. Although we are the recipient of their generosity we must remember that we are not the reason. Not to question the sterling personalities of each and every team member, myself excluded, many of the people we meet are kind to us because they support the work we are doing. It is their way of helping the cause; of contributing to the survival of a creature older than mankind and their consideration comes at a time when it makes all the difference.

Notes: The team stood around this morning waiting for a system which brought light rain to move out of the area and at 8:30 am we were rewarded with ideal migration conditions to carry the flight entourage into Indiana.

Anticipating the better weather, the team was ready to move and at 8:40 am Richard van Heuvelen led all 16 young cranes out of the grass strip, leading them in flight, away from Kankakee county and the home of Steve and Carolyn who arranged a great neighborhood dinner for the crew last night in their hangar. (Extra points for the BBQ'd pork chops and baked apples!)

With the temperature reading 5.1 Celsius in the air and a 4mph tailwind out of the northwest, the pilots and cranes had a smooth flight, which lasted 1:07 and covered 43.3 miles. Bill Lishman commented that he, Brooke and Joe could have stayed in bed because from the moment of lift-off the birds stayed on Richard's lead trike, with eight off each wingtip for the duration of the entire flight to Benton County, Indiana. It's all south from this point on.... 

FLORIDA or BUST!
Click to see Halloween - Migration style...

Notes: People often ask; what is the best part of what you are doing? 

Without discounting the pleasure and sheer joy experienced each day we have the privilege of seeing these awe-inspiring cranes flying toward their new winter habitat, the very best part is actually two parts combined -- It's the method we are traveling, shared with the fantastic and genuine people we join at each of our stopover locations.

At some stops we are reuniting with old friends we've met over the past two fall flights, and at others we are meeting new friends, which we hope will become old friends. We are traveling through the midwest and eastern portions of the U.S. in a way that allows us to veer from urban areas and experience the character and charm of the many small towns that dot our flight path.

Three days ago we had the pleasure of meeting Vicky. When we arrived in LaSalle County on Sunday, Vicky was a new friend who invited the entire crew to her home. This amazing woman tirelessly kept our crew of twelve fed over the past three days while we waited out the weather. She opened her home and her heart to all of us, allowing us to sleep in her home, do our laundry, shower, use her computer, her television and enjoy her never-ending hospitality. By this morning when it was time to move on, Vicky had become an old friend and she was right there beside Scott Flaherty and me as we watched our 16 marvelous feathered flyers take to the air following four small yellow ultralights. 

At 7am central time, Joe took-off into the wind, heading west with 15 cranes. As he turned south, on course to our next location in Kankakee county, 14 cranes spotted the enclosure and veered toward it, breaking away from the aircraft. Brooke moved in to intercept and picked up the line of birds. Crane #1 was a bit late exiting the enclosure, until Dan, in costume quickly moved behind her and herded her out the gate.  This oldest of the flock peeped excitedly as she was airborne and once freed from the confines and confusion of the 30 other flapping wings, she quickly caught up with Richard as he passed close by to lend her his large wing.

Joe continued with crane #18, our youngest and the only one of the original group that didn't break from his aircraft. Brooke guided the main flock of 14 birds about a half mile back from Joe and Richard followed up the pack with #1, who after sitting out the last two flight days was eager to follow.

Bill Lishman watched from above as he zigzagged back and forth, higher and further back keeping an eye out for any drop out cranes, but today, for only the second time, all 16 birds flew the entire leg, which is the longest to date. The group covered 56.3 miles this morning and were airborne for 1 hour and 47 minutes, much longer than the 52 minute departure day flight from the Necedah NWR on Oct. 13th.

Shortly after arriving the cranes were led to their already set-up enclosure which they eagerly entered, anticipating fresh water and chow after the long flight and the ground crew and pilots were greeted warmly by three time hosts and old friends Carolyn and Steve.

It is a great day indeed.... With a bit of luck tomorrow we'll see Indiana.

Notes: Today brought more east winds... and just for a bit of variety, rain. The feathered youngsters are doing just fine and because they did not get a chance to fly yesterday, the handlers will allow them some free flight time this afternoon to exercise their wings.

Notes: Winds out of the east early this morning prevented a flight today. We'll be standing down and see what tomorrow brings.

Notes: After waiting so long to leave Wisconsin it seemed only fair that the weather would provide back-to-back migration days, allowing us to advance even further south into Illinois.

Take-off from Ogle County, IL got underway an hour ahead of our last four flight days because of the one hour "fall-back" and at 6:45 am, Richard left the remote grass strip followed by a long line of stark white cranes, who this morning appeared very eager to fly as they fell into a waving line off his left wing. As he led them out of the field they appeared as a long banner, slowly displaying a message that required no text. 

As it turns out, two youngsters turned back to the pen right after launching and another lagged behind, still in the pen. Dan managed to encourage the pair back into the air by temporarily disguising himself as the "swamp monster," but by the time the pilots realized they did not have all 16 youngsters with them it was too late to turn back and attempt to pick them up.

Richard continued south and slightly east with the group, still in one long line as Brooke and Joe flew behind, followed by Peter above. Members of the ground crew followed below and caught the occasional glimpse as our paths crossed.

After getting my "complimentary" 3am wake up call because not one but two eager hotel desk clerks turned back the clocks making my 5am request arrive two hours ahead of schedule, I failed to remember that the sun would actually rise an hour earlier -- duh -- and I was running late. But hey, I did make it (barely) in time to see this near perfect take-off.

Still feeling like I was a bit behind schedule (like we actually have a schedule?) my wide awake right foot was apparently a wee bit too aggressive on the accelerator, according to the State Trooper whom I had to pleasure of meeting this morning. As luck would have it, just as I was explaining the project to him, four ultralights appeared overhead, sounding like large mosquito's. He had to look up, and as he saw the 13 birds pass over behind the lead trike, his grin spread... He watched until they disappeared out of view then quietly said "you'd better slow it down a bit ma'am" and walked back to his car. I'll bet it's the first time he'd heard (and seen) that excuse...

Total flight time 1:20 with slightly overcast skies and a cold 34 degrees. The flight was assisted by a 3-4 mph tailwind and the pilots were encouraged by the eagerness of the flock today. Maybe the birds are finally switching into migration mode. 

Notes: At first light this morning it appeared that we would be forced to wait out the wind for one more day but by 7:30 am, the winds had calmed so Joe took-off to test the air. He reported back that conditions were fine and we had better get going while we had a small window of opportunity.

Everyone sprang into action, bidding a fond farewell to our very generous and warm hosts of the last five days who provided an equal number of fantastic dinners. The four trikes were airborne and covered the short distance to the pen location in minutes. Joe and Brooke would fly the lead positions and Richard, joined today by pilot Peter Cheney, flew higher, circling overhead and ready to give chase.  Peter is a friend of OM's who is a well qualified trike pilot and agreed to fill in for Bill Lishman until Bill returns to join our flock on Monday. Little did Peter know that he'd have to sit out five days of weather before getting the chance to fly with the cranes.

The take-off was scattered, partly because of the location of the pen. Situated in a valley, with powerlines running the west side and trees to the east, there is only one way out and convincing the cranes to climb so soon after their release from the pen was not as easy task. Joe departed at 7:53am and made it out of the valley with six birds -- the remaining ten scattered. Brooke radioed to Joe to continue on course and he would turn back to attempt a second take-off with the reluctant birds.

At 8:08 am Brooke was climbing out of the valley, on course with a second group of six cranes and radioed back to Dan that the four birds that had returned to the enclosure should be transported by crate to our first stop in Illinois.

Total flight time: 1 hour, 4 minutes.  The twelve cranes that made the entire leg, did so without dropping out and handled the flight beautifully.

On a sadder note: The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership health team announced today that crane #10, the juvenile whooping crane that had sustained injuries when it collided with the lead ultralight aircraft during the departure flight from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, was humanely euthanized on October 25th.

The October 13th lift-off from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin at 7:55 a.m. (Central) went beautifully but halfway into the anticipated 39-minute flight, winds shifted to the west, becoming increasingly unstable. The deteriorating weather conditions caused a bird to come into contact with the wing of the lead aircraft and pilot, Joe Duff, landed at the first available opportunity in a recently harvested soy bean field.

Crane #10 was transported to the International Crane Foundation where it was examined and received treatment from Director of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Barry Hartup.

"Over the subsequent days, the bird was diagnosed with severe exertional myopathy," Hartup said, "which causes physical and metabolic derangements to muscle tissue and despite improved attitude and healing of his visible wounds, the bird never regained his mobility, nor its appetite."

Health care staff worked hard to rehabilitate crane #10 yet despite these efforts, the bird never responded to 12 days of care aimed at regaining limb function and the health team believe his prognosis for recovery was very poor.

While the loss of this whooping crane is unfortunate, project leaders point out it has always been expected that birds may be lost during the study and that such losses would not impede the continuation of the study.

"It is always unfortunate to lose one of our study birds," said Beth Goodman, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Whooping Crane Coordinator and project Bird Team Leader. "The Partnership has taken extraordinary measures to minimize such losses. The project members constantly evaluate our protocols and processes with risk reduction management in mind. However, risks are part of any scientific study."

Notes: Same story -- different day... Rain, low cloud cover and cold. Standing down.  I think I'll move to a new hotel just for a change in scenery...

Notes: Rain, mixed with snow will prevent a flight today.

Notes: Today's weather is an exact replica of yesterday's -- winds out of the NE at 10-15 mph. Some have asked "Wouldn't this provide a tailwind for the cranes and planes"? The easy answer is yes, however, if the wind at ground level is blowing at 10-15 mph, the winds aloft would be stronger -- too strong to attempt a flight with our precious cargo.

Brooke joked this morning that if we stay at our current location for much longer the county officials may begin charging us property taxes...

Notes: It was exactly one year ago today that we arrived at our current location with the 2001 Whooping cranes -- it was day five of the fifty-day journey.  We are already at day ten of the 2002 southward migration and will be staying put, at least until tomorrow morning, to see what the weather has in store for us.

During our extended stay in Green Co., WI last year, October 24th was a day that does not hold positive memories for the team as it was the day that brought the wind storm, which partially collapsed the travel enclosure and allowed the cranes to escape into the dark night. As a result of the storm, one special flyer, crane #3 collided with a nearby power line and died instantly. If anything positive can be taken from this loss it is awareness of how power lines and communication towers affect migrating birds in the wild everyday.

Notes: With SE winds blowing at 10-15 mph this morning we are forced to stand down but considering that the crew didn't have a chance to regroup until after 9pm last night, it's probably a good thing.

Yesterday was another less than perfect flight with several young cranes dropping out for variety of reasons. To start with, the take-off was hindered by three birds who seemed reluctant to exit the doors of the enclosure because there was a small stand of trees that they would have to walk next to before they could join the waiting aircraft on the grass strip. Once the entire group was out, some birds were already airborne and as the three trikes lifted off, three other birds decided to turn back and join the two costumed handlers who had not had time to hide inside the pen because they were trying to ensure all of the cranes made it out of the pen.

As the group made their way toward the treed ridge to the south, two birds that were flying at a low altitude actually clipped some tree branches and dropped out, landing in the forest below them. Dan Sprague, of USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Kelly Maguire, of the International Crane Foundation were able to track and capture these two after approximately two hours and once in custody it was apparent that crane #1 had sustained a laceration on the inside of her thigh, no doubt caused by a tree branch.  #1 was taken to project veterinarian Dr. Barry Hartup at ICF for treatment and received stitches to close her wound, as well as an order of two days rest and antibiotics, as a preventative measure. Once the the doctors visit was completed crane #1 was transported to join her cohort, here in Green County, where Dan had already delivered the other reluctant youngsters to.

Joe waited with the penned group while Brian Clauss went out to retrieve the bird that was not willing to follow Joe the entire leg. Eventually all 16 birds were in the travel pen -- probably discussing among themselves the great lengths these large, billowing white figures go to to make sure each of them arrive at at the same location... If they only knew.

Notes: It seems odd that we were at such a beautiful location in Sauk County, Wisconsin, with such wonderful people hosting us and yet the only thing on our collective mind was leaving... This morning, after spending 4 nights and 3 days at one of the best stops along our route we bid a fond and hasty farewell to our hosts -- Nancy, Dick, Jane, Mr. Boo and Thatch, we'll miss you and your beautiful property.

The weather finally cooperated, allowing us to move onward and at 7:31 am Dan and Kelly released the cranes from their overnight enclosure. They were eager to fly and it almost appeared as if they were not planning to wait for the aircraft as they made a long and slow pass over our location before finally returning to join the slower to take-off aircraft, still idling on the grass strip adjacent the pen.

Joe radioed to Brooke and Richard and within seconds the three trikes were airborne amid 16 eager whooping cranes as we watched enviously from below. Brooke took the lead this morning with Richard and Joe flying chase -- They began a slow climb, gaining the necessary altitude to make it over the ridge which lay just to the south of our location. Brooke led the young birds on a course parallel to the ridge and as he turned to make another pass to gain more altitude, three cranes decided to head back to the pen site. Joe gave chase but was not able to catch up to them before they were on the ground next to Dan. The decision was made to transport these reluctant flyers to the next location in the crane taxi.

As Brooke was just about to crest the ridge, two others decided they too preferred not to fly and dropped out on the top of the large hill, next to a lake. ICF intern, Lara Fondow was on the case and ready to gather these two up. 

Brooke and Richard carried on with the group of 11 cranes as Joe and Bill followed close behind. Some of the group were lagging behind so Joe moved in to pick these up.

At 47-miles, this morning's flight was longer than the first two legs combined so it came as no surprise that some of the younger birds did not quite have the endurance of their older flock mates. At 38-miles into the flight another of Joe's birds dropped out so he decided to land and allow the cranes to rest in the hopes that they might be able complete the trip, but this wasn't to be and after another 2 miles he was forced to land with his remaining birds.  Paula radioed the coordinates of the single drop out to me and I relayed them to Lara and the pickup team, giving her road directions which would take her to the tired bird.

Brooke and Richard made it to the destination with a total of 6 cranes and passed them off to Brian Clauss, who was already at the location with the enclosure ready to house the birds. Once they were in the pen, the two pilots left to go back and see what had become of Joe and his group of birds. They had little difficulty finding him, thanks to Paula directing them to his exact location. After allowing these cranes to rest for approximately 40 minutes they were off again to complete the 8-miles remaining in the leg.

All 16 cranes are now safely ensconced at the Green County location and the pilots are all safe and on the ground.

Notes: One need only take a look at the windsock in this photo to see why we're grounded once again -- Winds are out of the WNW at 10-15 mph and temps have dropped to 10-15 degrees below the normal average for this time of year.

Many of you have inquired about the five yearling cranes that made the unassisted return flight to Wisconsin last April. These cranes will be tracked south, once they initiate their fall flight, by Richard Urbanek, USFWS and two ICF interns; Lara Fondow and Colleen Satyshur. Approximately two weeks ago Dan and Lara observed two of the yearlings, #1 & 2 exhibiting pre-migratory behaviour when they were seen thermaling with a small flock of Sandhill cranes. The next day the four birds that have been staying at the Necedah refuge for most of the summer departed and headed south. Richard and crew gathered their equipment and set off after cranes 1, 2, 5 & 6 but they didn't make it very far. Seems they just wanted to take a day trip and flew approximately 20-miles before roosting for the night near a location they had frequented shortly after they returned in the spring.  The next day the cranes returned to the Necedah refuge. Crane #7 continues to stay where she has been for the majority of the summer approximately 80 miles SE of her fledging grounds at Necedah.

Notes: A second system moved into the area overnight providing another delay for the migration team and cranes. Winds are currently out of the south at 10 mph and rain continues to fall.

The weekend forecast looks promising and hopefully the "clear and dry" conditions they are predicting will materialize allowing us to make a bit of progress toward Illinois.

In Tennessee, walk-a-thon organizers report: "122.9 miles down and only 16.1 to go -- It's sunny and cool - beats wet and cold. No snow here!" 
Photos' from the walk-a-thon

Notes: The only thing that flew this morning were snowflakes over Sauk Co., and other areas in central Wisconsin. Once the sun came up these flakes quickly turned into drizzle which continued for most of the morning. More later -- it's laundry day (yippee)

Notes: After sitting for two days in south Juneau County, stalled first by mechanical problems and then poor weather, the migration team progressed early this morning, flying to Sauk Co., Wisconsin. 

After clearing thick frost from aircraft wings, the flight team of Bill Lishman, Joe Duff, Brooke Pennypacker and Richard van Heuvelen lifted off in their yellow trikes, while Paula Lounsbury circled overhead, keeping a watchful eye on the events about to unfold below her. It was 7:58am CDT and the temperature on the ground was a very cold 27F. The sun shone brightly, highlighting brilliant autumn colours against the early morning violet sky. 

There was a flurry of flapping wings and leaps as the 16 juvenile Whooping cranes exited their pen and flew to line-up with Richard's aircraft while he waited to ensure all of the birds had exited and their were no stragglers. There were two late cranes today and while Richard waited for them to reach him, the group of 14 birds spotted Joe's airborne trike as it passed to the east. Seconds later they were pumping their large wings trying to catch up to Joe, while Richard was finally able to take-off with his two charges. 

shortly after, the two youngsters dropped off Richard's wing so Brooke moved in and successfully picked them up. The group continued south, toward Sauk county with Joe and Richard guiding 14 birds and Brooke and Bill slightly behind with the two others.

Bill described this morning's flight as "picture perfect." Joe said "it was one of those flights where everything is going so well, you don't want to risk anything by pushing buttons or even picking up the video camera to capture any footage." Total flight time this morning 44 minutes - the longest the cranes have ever experienced.

Notes: The wind continues to blow here in central Wisconsin and at 6am CDT, was was blowing out of the north at 15-20 knots, preventing us from progressing further south today. 

The walk-a-thon currently taking place in Tennessee is progressing and more than 60-miles have been covered. This morning I received the following email from a wonderful gentleman in TN that is worth sharing:

"Dear Operation Migration folks-- Good luck on the flight today. I understand that the weather has been even more of a hindrance there than it has been here in Tennessee, but perhaps we are headed for a stretch of cool, clear days in the weeks ahead.

We were among the volunteers who walked a 6-mile stretch of the flight route on Sunday afternoon. Our group seemed richly symbolic of the cause itself.

My mom, who is 76, was hours from death when she underwent surgery for colon cancer this spring -- back from the brink of extinction and stronger than ever. A group of students from Austin Peay University extended their walk and joined us for part of the way. A young woman among the students told us that she was walking to get back in shape because she had just had a baby, 3 weeks ago -- birth and new life. We walked through the chilly drizzle across the Cumberland Plateau at a brisk 5 mph pace, even running across the narrow bridges to avoid traffic delays -- determination.

Tennesseans support and applaud the work Operation Migration is doing. And a special thanks goes out to Jerry and Sandy Ulrikson for their tremendous organizational skill, creativity, and tireless work in raising money and awareness for this effort.

Pete - Oak Ridge, TN"

Thank YOU Pete, for your efforts and your insight and our very best wishes to your mom and all of the other walkers for raising awareness of and funds for the Whooping cranes -- One step at a time...

Notes: Today was spent making aircraft repairs and just generally regrouping after yesterday's less than perfect flight. We have not yet given up hope that crane #10 may be able to re-join the flock at a later date. Should he require a lengthy convalescence period and is not able to fly with the group, the possibility remains that we could transport him the same way that last year's crane #4 made the trip -- in an approved carrying crate. 

This would mean that he would be moved from each stopover in the heated/air-conditioned minivan, (donated to the Wisconsin DNR by the Natural Resources Foundation) and released to forage and roost with his flockmates at each new location. He would learn not only the geography of the stops but also develop into a yearling with his cohorts, on their new wintering site.

Crane #10 is a large, dominant male in the social structure of the group and while it is likely he might initially lose some ranking, it is also likely he could quickly gain back his position within the flock if allowed to return. Our primaries are crossed for him. 

Tomorrow is another day...

6:45pm: No sooner had I clicked the send button to publish this morning's update when my cell phone came to life signaling a call, telling me that the pilots were on their way to the hangar and the migration was about to begin.

I drove the 15 miles from Mauston, WI back to the Necedah refuge just in time to watch the young cranes embark on the first leg of their first flight south to their new winter habitat in Florida. Today's flight would take the young cranes past the main interstate that last year gave the flight crew such a difficult time. The course has been altered slightly this year so that the birds would cross the noisy highway at a higher altitude. Lift-off took place at 7:55am from site four and from the lawn of refuge headquarters we witnessed four tiny, ultralight aircraft shepherding 17 juvenile cranes across the expanse of wetlands alive with other migrating birds.

One crane decided to turn back almost immediately. Richard gave chase and succeeded in picking up the reluctant bird, only to have it turn back a second and final time. Joe and Brooke continued with their 16 charges, heading south toward the first of many stopovers between central Wisconsin and the Chassahowitzka refuge in Crystal River, Florida.

The 21.6-mile flight was expected to last 39-minutes so when we heard Paula Lounsbury, at 25-minutes out,  say "Halfway point" we knew the winds must have shifted. When the team departed there was a slight crosswind but 25 minutes into the flight, if they turned around to return to the refuge they would have had a headwind to deal with. 

Shortly past the halfway point the wind speed picked up, jostling the young birds to the point where they began to break up and drop out of the flight. As they landed Bill jotted down coordinates, which would allow the ground team to pick up the cranes. Brooke proceeded to stop #1 with seven cranes and Joe was further back with two others when he felt a bump on the wing overhead. Fearing that one of the two had come into contact with the wing, he began to look for a suitable landing site amongst the many cornfields below. Finally he spotted a harvested soybean field and put the aircraft down as smoothly as possible given the current weather conditions. The two cranes also landed and it was evident that crane #10 would require medical attention as it appeared to have sustained an injury to its toe as well as a laceration to the top of its wing. 

Dan and Kelly arrived with a crate, which is used to transport sick or injured birds and while Kelly accompanied the patient as it was delivered to Dr. Barry Hartup at the International Crane Foundation for assessment and treatment, Dan continued on rounding up other's that had dropped out of the flight because of the deteriorating weather. Dr. Hartup reports that while the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening they will require more treatment than can reasonably be given during the migration journey. Team leaders made the decision to remove this crane from the reintroduction and will place him in an approved facility once his injury heals.

The ground crew went into action plugging coordinates into GPS units and gathering the six wayward cranes who were unable to make the full flight and by 1pm all of the cranes were reunited in the travel enclosure at our first of many stops. Tomorrow will be spent regrouping and making minor mechanical adjustments to Brooke and Joe's aircraft and by Tuesday we'll be ready to roll again -- with 16 young cranes.

7:30am: As soon as I stepped outside I knew we wouldn't be migrating today. The slight breeze that was supposed to be coming out of the north and which would have provided a tailwind for the planes and cranes had materialized into a wind blowing out of the west-northwest, grounding us for another day.

The folks in Tennessee, currently participating in a walk for the whoopers have completed the first 55 miles of their migration route, which will see them walk the length of their state (from North to South) raising awareness and funds for the Whooping crane reintroduction. At this rate they will have finished walking the 140 or so miles before we even get airborne. At least some are progressing south... Go walkers go! We're with you in spirit ;-)

Notes: Another day, another rainy system passing through. Chuck Underwood, USFWS Jacksonville Field Office says if it starts to snow, he'll meet up with us in Florida. 

Paula Lounsbury, our top-cover pilot checked the satellite maps for tomorrow and Monday and is almost positive that the Canadian cold front expected to pass through the area later tonight will push the unstable mass out of here and allow us to begin tomorrow morning. Thank you Canada - and a very happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends back home! We'll be thinking of you...

New photos in Photo Journal

Notes: Everyone was in position and ready to go early this morning. Once airborne it became clear to the pilots that today would not be the start of the migration as winds were blowing at 20 knots out of the south according to Paula Lounsbury. 

Because the cranes have not flown with the trike since Tuesday they were released from the pen for a local flight with the four aircraft over Rynearson pond, which delighted the media that had turned out for a second time to witness our departure.  So here we are, another day at the Necedah refuge, which is a lovely place - its just that its time to head south!  

We'll try again tomorrow...

Meanwhile in Tennessee a great group of volunteers are taking part in a walk-a-thon to raise funds and awareness for the Whooping crane reintroduction project. Walkers are traveling the same route that the pilots will lead the cranes over later this month, beginning at the KY border and continuing through TN to the GA border. The week-long event will wrap up with the Chattanooga Whooping Crane Festival at the Tennessee River Park on Amnicola Highway, in Chattanooga.  The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2002.  Admission to the Festival is free.

Notes: Great start... It began raining very hard at about 3am and didn't let up until 7:30am. We haven't even left yet and we're in a holding pattern already.

Notes: After frost was scraped from windshields early this morning, the pilots made the short drive to the hangar and flew the trikes to the north site where Dan Sprague, Mark Nipper and Kelly MacGuire waited with the cranes. I was positioned on the observation tower with binoculars, digital camera and the two film crews who were hoping to capture some footage of the training flight.

The conditions were ideal; bright blue sky, cold and no wind. Joe was crane leader today, Brooke took the chase position and Richard circled overhead. On cue the birds were released and after some exited leaps and flapping of wings, all seventeen cranes were airborne alongside Joe. 

It was as if the cranes sense this is the week they will begin the journey to their new winter habitat in Florida. Seventeen young cranes lined up in perfect formation -- nine on Joe's right wing; the remaining eight off the left wingtip and headed southwest toward the tower. Within minutes they passed directly overhead, giving the film crews a fantastic opportunity to get that perfect shot. One cameraman exclaimed "nobody can argue that those Whooping cranes aren't following that airplane."

The three pilots continued south for 2 or 3 miles before beginning the long, slow turn, which would return the cranes to the north site. At approximately a half mile out from their destination, two of the returned yearling cranes, numbers 1 and 2 joined the flock, a short distance back from the main group so that when Joe landed the aircraft he was accompanied by nineteen Whooping cranes!

Today's flight was the best one to date and gave us all cause to feel a bit better about our departure this Thursday. All we need now is continued good weather and a couple more flights like today's. It's getting cold here and it is definitely time to fly south!

Notes: Rain and high winds prevented a training flight this morning so after releasing the cranes for an exercise flight, the crew spent a good portion of the day finishing the second travel pen, which will house the young cranes each night during the journey south. After a wonderful send-off lunch of roasted ham with all the trimmings, prepared and served by Jayne & Mike Belsky, the travel enclosure was erected at site 4, aka the north site to ensure that it was stable.

With film crews from the BBC in Great Britain and Canadian Geographic from our home country on hand, a great deal of time was spent working with them and Joe worked on repairing and rewiring the communication equipment on the three aircraft at the hangar. With no electricity in the hangar and daylight fading fast, he was forced to pull the Dodge truck into the entrance of the building to provide enough light to complete the task. Once this was complete Joe and I spent the remainder of the evening cutting and sewing wing slings for the aircraft trailer and canvas covers for the new trikes while the rest of the crew worked on ensuring the equipment and supplies that will be needed for the journey are in order.