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Journey North News will be posted on Tuesdays: Feb. 26, Mar. 12, 26, Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, May 7 Journey North News Whooping Crane Migration Update: February 26, 2002 Welcome to the first-ever northward migration for the world's second flock of migratory whoopers: the young Eastern flock now wintering in Florida after ultralight airplanes "taught" them the 1227-mile migration route last fall. When will they leave? WILL they leave? Find out what the flock's been up to, and decide which two of the five cranes YOU would chose for satellite tracking devices. Whooping Crane Migration Update: March 12, 2002 The farthest the young Eastern cranes traveled from their pen in the past month is about 1/3 mile, but they're really learning to fish! Climb into the blind and view video of these highly prized birds. They're flying a lot but going nowhere. Will they be ready for migration? Cranes at Aransas are still wintering too. We tell you about the recent Whoop It Up Festival at Aransas. Find out what project Tom Stehn wishes YOU'D been there to help with. We share Tom's comments about migration dangers, and Rachel Jepson Wolf offers a helpful discussion of why the Eastern flock is "nonessential experimental." Whooping Crane Migration Update: March 26, 2002 Migration is underway for ONE Aransas whooper, confirmed with sandhill cranes in Nebraska on 3/19! All the rest, including the Florida Five, are still staying put. Tom Stehn expects several dozen whooping cranes will be flying north by the end of March. Will the whooping cranes in Florida and those in Texas all migrate about the same time? Stay tuned! In fast-growing Texas, can humans meet their own needs AND those of Whooping Cranes? Read more about water rights and possible new laws in this Texas debate. Whooping Crane Migration Update: April 2, 2002 Four adult whooping crane pairs left Aransas this week, likely on March 24th with tailwinds so strong that they could have flown 60 mph. That means crossing almost all of Texas and flying 400+ miles in a single day! The remaining 185 Aransas whoopers and the Florida Five are still eating blue crabs and "hanging out." All along their migration route, the whoopers that winter in Aransas wait for favorable winds to fly. Will the Florida flock know this, and take off on a day with favorable weather conditions? Meanwhile, explore wind maps and test your own biological clock. Whooping Crane Migration Update: April 9, 2002 Through thousands of years of trial and error, whooping cranes have learned not to leave too early. An estimated 25 cranes have started the migration out of the wintering flock of 174 whooping cranes at Aransas, but every year most cranes depart a few days before or after April 10 --the date of Tom Stehn's next survey flight. In Florida, the five young whoopers were soaring together and calling to each other as this report was written. The Florida winds are right; Could they be ready to leave? What makes them leave? Find out why high density TV is bad news for cranes. News Flash! Florida Whoopers Heading North! THEY DID IT! At 10 a.m. on April 9, the Florida Five were up, up and away--and in Georgia before the day was over. At 7 a.m. Eastern Time April 10, satellite data showed they were near a pond in southeastern Wilcox County, GA. It's time to whoop it up: their first journey north is underway! Whooping Crane Migration Update: April 16, 2002 They're off! Wasting no time but standing down 3 days to wait for better weather, the Florida Five crossed the Tennessee State line at 4pm on April 14! Crane #7 has peeled off on her own. At Aransas, 56 have are gone, with some probably sightings in North Dakota. Tom Stehn predicts another 50+ will depart before you read this on April 16. Consider Costume-raised Harry Whooper and Wild-bred Hermione Whoop to discover some differences and similarities between what the Eastern and Western flocks faced through the winter and spring. News Flash! Four Whoopers Home at Necedah! Touch Down AND Home Run! Four of the migrating whooping cranes from the Florida Five landed at Necedah at 6:37 Friday evening, April 19. They completed their journey north from Chassahowitzka NWR in 11 days, and their historic arrival is worthy of a celebration in your classroom today! Loner Crane #7 is somewhere in Wisconsin, with trackers trying to pinpoint her whereabouts. She's close! Whooping Crane Migration Update: April 23, 2002 We're whooping with joy at the return of four of the five whoopers to Necedah! How did they do it? Hear audio clips of Joe Duff's ideas. With last week's good migration weather, Tom Stehn estimates fewer than 25 whoopers at Aransas. But the crane that most refuge visitors got to see on visits to Aransas will be seen no more; she was found dead in Comanche County west of Waco, Texas. Locate the confirmed sightings of the rest of this flock, and play our match game to see how you'd do the things done so easily by a crane. News Flash! Migration Complete With Crane #7 at Necedah! Crane #7, the solo flyer of the migrating whooping cranes from the Florida Five landed at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Friday, May 3. She spent the last two weeks in Wisconsin wetlands, but was in no hurry to get home. With #7's return, the first human-assisted migration of an endangered species is now complete. HOORAY for the Florida Five! FINAL Whooping Crane Migration Update: May 7, 2002 With all five Eastern whooping cranes home at Necedah after their first journey north, we celebrate the end of a historic and successful migration! The 173-bird Western flock is gone from Aransas, but it's still wintry at Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park. Brian Johns said May 3, "If the cranes are thinking about migrating today, they will be looking at going south." Check your knowledge of this historic season with our T or F quiz, and get a peek at newly-hatched chicks for next fall's ultralight-led journey south. Hear audio clips from Joe Duff and Kelly Maguire, and wish the world's TWO migratory whooping crane flocks a safe summer until you join us for the next journey south! Copyright 2002 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form