Whooping Crane First Journey North for the HY2003 Chicks Spring 2004 Migration Group/Date Field Notes   For bird histories and further updates, see Meet the Flock 2003.     #303, 312, 316 July 28, 2004 Cranes 303, 312 & 316 arrived together at Necedah NWR! #307 June 2, 2004 #307 arrived at Necedah NWR. #302 May 19 #302 showed up 28 miles from Neceda NWR after being missing for 33 days! All other cranes from the Southern Groups are now in Wisconsin except for #307, still missing. Michigan Groups May 18-- The WCEP leaders decided to leave the two Michigan groups alone. Will they stay in MI, or attempt to return to Wisconsin? They are together, safe, and occupying good crane habitat. The group of five includes both the oldest (301) and the youngest (319) from the 2003 cohort, as well as #305, 309 & 318. After traveling north to Manistee County last week, the five have since reversed direction and ventured south to the west-central portion of the State. Cranes 303, 312 & 316 remain together in Allegan County, MI.     Northern Groups (Both in Michigan) May 7--May 15 The group of 5 in in west-central Ohio moved north into Michigan on May 7th. They moved farther north again May 8, and are currently in an area boasting excellent crane habitat very near to the slimmest section of Lake Michigan. (It's approximately 57 miles across, and less than 200 miles almost due east of the Necedah refuge.) they moved on May 10 and again May 11, when PTT data indicated #301 and #309 (and likely the others) roosted in Muskegon Cty, MI. Cranes 303, 312 & 316 have remained in the crane-suitable area they selected April 25 in southwestern Michigan. Southern Groups May 7-15 No change until May 3, when #306 and 317 were found on aerial survey in a wetland in Wisconsin's Trempealeau Cty. and were back at Necedah May 12. #310 and 313 circled over Necedah NWR for an hour on May 3 before returning to their favorite location in Wood County, and #304 returned to Necedah May 15 from his location in LaCrosse County, WI. Cranes #302 and #307 were last recorded in Illinois April 16.      Northern Groups April 24-May 6 No change for the group of 5 in in west-central Ohio. On April 24, cranes #303, 312 & 316 departed the place in west-central area of Ohio where they've been since April 9th and headed north. On April 25th they continued northwest and encountered Lake Michigan at exactly the same point that the group of five (above) had two weeks ago! Like their five former flockmates did two weeks earlier, the group of 3 roosted nearby overnight on April 25 and 26. Crane #312 was injured by a soda can top that was lodged around her bill. It was removed by Richard Urbanek (in costume) as soon as he discovered it through his spotting scope. He quickly captured, helped, and released #312. She recovered fine. Southern Groups April 24-May 6 Locations of five of the second group of 8 to leave Chassahowitzka are unknown. #304, 306 and 317 have not been located since leaving Houston County in Minnesota April 23, but they were seen nearby in late April flying along the Mississippi River. Cranes #302 and #307 were last recorded in Illinois April 16. The yearlings in Wisconsin (310, 313 and 311) remain in the counties near Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, using excellent habitat for feeding and roosting.     Northern Groups April 19-23 #301, 305, 309, 218, 219 and 303, 312, 316 are still in same two Ohio locations. Southern Groups April 19-23 #311 moved onto Necedah NWR Apr. 19. #304, 306 and 317 remained in SE Minnesota until April 23, when they left and have not been located. #307 and 302 were last recorded (April 17!) migrating in Illinois.     Northern Groups April 17-18 No changes for the eight Ohio cranes. Five (301, 305, 309, 218, 219) are still in west-central area of the state. The other three (303, 312 and 316) remain at their selected Ohio location, approximately 25 miles farther south. Southern Groups April 17-18 #311 flies from Dane Cty, WI to Juneau County, WI--just a few miles from Necedah NWR, and is declared the FIRST to arrive. On the 17th, #310 and 313 took off at 8:42 a.m. and landed at a small pond in Winneshiek County, Iowa just after 7 p.m. On the 18th, these two landed briefly at mid-morning in La Crosse County, Wisconsin and then took off again to complete their first unassisted spring migration to Juneau County, Wisconsin. At approximately 3:15pm they landed the eastern part of Meadow Valley Flowage, Necedah NWR. #304, 306 and 317 were airborne at 9:40am. Flying for almost 11 hours and well after darkness fell, they landed in southeastern Minnesota, approximately 65 miles southwest of the Necedah NWR reintroduction site. They stayed in their MN location again on the 18th. No signals were detected from #302 or #307, last seen in northern Illinois.     Northern Groups April 16 Both groups still at their same Ohio locations. The two sites are about 25 miles apart. Southern Groups April 16 Landing in Dane County, #311 reaches Wisconsin--ahead of all the other 2003 chicks! close behind, in Illinois, are #310 and 313 landed in DeKalb County, Illinois, shortly after 6pm. 304, 306, and 317 roosted on the Rock River, west of Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois. A signal from #302 inflight was also detected in central Illinois. #307 left his roost, near Shelby County, Illinois, at 8:42 a.m. Several visual sightings of the bird in flight were made. The last visual was just before 2pm, south of Pontiac, Illinois. The last radio signal detected, at roughly 6 p.m, indicated that he may have landed in north-central Illinois.     Northern Groups April 15 Both groups of chicks (301, 305, 309, 318 & 319 and the other group with 303, 312 & 316) stayed at their two Ohio locations. Southern Groups April 15 All eight were continuing their northbound migration, and all were on the correct migration route. Crane #307 left his April 14 roost and later signals indicated that he may have landed to roost in southern Illinois. #311 was observed in flight near Bedford, Indiana, at noon. He apparently landed to roost in northeastern or north-central Illinois. Cranes 310 & 313 were observed in flight at 2:30pm in Smith County, TN. #302 was in flight over the Cumberland River northwest of Nashville, TN, at approximately 3pm. Cranes #304, 306 & 317 were detected in flight in west-central Kentucky shortly after 1pm. They landed to roost along a river in east-central Illinois at approximately 6pm.      Northern Groups April 12-13-14 Ohio. No location changes due to stalled weather systems. On April 14 the sky was clear, but the wind was strong out of the N so they didn't attempt to fly. Southern Groups April 14  #307 detected in flight during the late morning over Tullahoma, TN. At 6:30 p.m. he landed to roost in Humphreys County, TN. At 2:07 #311 was detected flying northwest near London, KY, but was not tracked further. Signals for #304, 306, and 317 were briefly detected around noon in south-central TN, but then disappeared. No signals were detected for #302, 310, or 313.     Southern Groups April 12-13 Tracking efforts for these eight birds were stalled again today due to bad weather in the southern Appalachians     Northern Groups April 11  At 8:37am the group of five (301, 305, 309, 318 & 319) departed from a large marsh along the Paw Paw River in Berrien County, Michigan. Realizing they were on the wrong side of Lake Michigan, they flew southward, crossing the Indiana state line south of Galien, Michigan, at 11a.m. Winds had shifted, becoming N at 3-5mph in the afternoon. The cranes proceeded southeastward and shortly after 3pm landed in a grassy field near a flooding along the Wabash River in Adams County, Indiana. They didn't stay long, however; they took off and then landed in similar habitat 1.5 miles east. They again stayed only a short time. They took off and crossed the Ohio state line at 5pm, landing in a cornfield/grassy area near a large pond in west-central Ohio. They would probably have roosted at this site, but the landowners approached them on 4-wheelers, apparently thinking they might be escaped turkeys. The cranes flushed and eventually landed to roost in a smaller pond farther to the east. Cranes 303, 312 & 316 were observed feeding in a cornfield near the area in west-central Ohio where PTT readings have indicated they have been roosting for the past 3 nights.     Southern Groups April 11 Tracking efforts for these eight HY2003 cranes were stalled because of bad weather in the southern Appalachians.     Northern Groups April 10 At 8:50a.m. cranes 301, 305, 309, 318 & 319 departed from along the Prairie River in, St. Joseph County, Michigan under clear skies. After some lingering when they came to Lake Michigan, they turned south, following the shoreline of the lake for more than an hour before settling to roost in a large marsh in the southwest area of the state. PTT readings for #312 indicate that she may have roosted, hopefully with #303 & 316 at the same location for the past two nights in the west-central area of Ohio, approximately 15-20-miles south of their previous location in Auglaize County. No staff are available to check this new location, and no reports of sightings have been received. #311 left his Friday evening roost in Gwinnett County, Georgia, at 8:55a.m. and landed to roost in east-central Tennessee at 3:45p.m.     Southern Groups April 9 #307 left Friday the April 9 roost in Henry County, Georgia, at 9:29a.m. and was not tracked. #302 left the April 9 roost at an undetermined location in Upson County, Georgia, at 9:46 a.m. and was not tracked. Cranes 310 and 313 were not tracked. Cranes #304, 306 & 317 were last detected inflight in northwestern Georgia or northeastern Alabama in late afternoon. April 9 Windway pilot Mike Frakes and ICF tracker Denise Maidens detected the radio signals of the three missing birds, each now traveling alone. Each managed to gain about another 100 miles. One roosted east-northeast of Atlanta, another due south of Atlanta, and the third lone crane south-southwest of State capital. Cranes 310 & 313 continue to retrace their fall route rather closely. They flew to an area in Coweta Co after leaving their Colquitt County roost location. #304, 306 & 317, apparently still together, were detected in flight northwest of Dawson, Georgia.     Group 1 Splits April 9 Group 1 (301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 316, 318 & 319) flew westward and separated south of Celina, Ohio, at 12:25. Birds 303, 312 & 16 retreated eastward, toward the location they had just left. They continued past the Auglaize County site, heading northeast. Tracking of these three birds was discontinued at 1:20 p.m. so that Richard Urbanek could concentrate on tracking the larger group of five. Cranes 301, 305, 309, 318, and 319 landed at 5:30 p.m. to roost in a marsh in southwest Michigan.   Group 1 April 8 Remained at their roost location in Auglaize County, Ohio.     Group 2 Splits April 8 After the group of 8 left their roost in the cow pasture, they encountered thunderstorms northeast of Thomasville, GA. All 8 signals were last detected together at 2:18. The flock of 8 split into 5 separate ones. Cranes #204, 206 and 217 continued flying, but retreated southward and landed in a large wetland complex in Florida. Cranes #310 and 313 were later located in a cow pasture in southern Georgia. Cranes #302, 307 and 311 were not located.     Group 1 April 7 8 Chicks: The birds remained in Auglaize County, Ohio. In the early afternoon, all except #303 took off and begain spiralling up. Crane #303 remained on the ground, feeding. After a short while, the 7 birds returned. Then #303 joined them in a short, low flight before all 8 landed again. All 8 roosted there again for the night.     Group 2 Begins April 7 Chicks #202, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 213, and 217 began their migration at 9:10 a.m., tracked by Lara in the Windway plane and ICF intern Denise Maidens on the ground from a truck. the birds ran into rain and landed in Jefferson County, Florida at 3:35 in the afternoon. They remained there to roost.     Group 1 April 6 The birds left the field in Clermont County, Ohio at 9:31 a.m. They flew a little ways north to a harvested cornfield where they foraged until resuming migration at 10:56. Skies were clear and the wind was SSW at 5-10mph in the morning. Westerly winds became stronger in the afternoon, and the birds landed at 4:12 near a pond on a private estate in Auglaize County, Ohio for the night.       Group 1 April 5 The Windway plane arrived from FL with Lara to search the mountainous NC area from the air. PTT data received later in the day helped locate the birds after dark in a farm field in Clermont County, Ohio.     Group 1 April 4 Unknown. It is impossible to radio-track from a truck in the mountainous terrain, and no usable PTT data was received.     Group 1 April 3 The 8 birds remained on the ground in Macon County, NC until 5:05 when they were flushed from the area by approaching people. One bird hit a powerline as they were flying up, but remained in the air.The birds spiralled up and circled the area for 1.5 hours before all 8 of them headed northward as darkness fell.     Group 1 April 2 The birds remained on the ground in Macon County, NC due to north winds, overcast sky, and light rain throughout the day.     Group 1 April 1 The 8 birds left early, before 8:00. The NW wind increased throughout the morning. That combined with low clouds and light rain and forced the birds to land in Macon County, NC. They probably landed at midday, but their exact location wasn't found until after PTT data was received in the evening.     Group 1 March 31 The 8 birds left early, probably around 7:30. Migration conditions deteriorated during the day with strong west winds and rain by the afternoon. The birds landed in Wilkes County, GA at 6:15.     Group 1 March 30 They're off! Chicks #301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 316, 318, and 319 left the Chassahowitzka release pen at 9:33 on day one of their migration! They landed at 4:25 in Lowndes County, GA for the night.   Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved.