The
Eastern Flock's 2003-2004 Winter
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The
Refuge is 65 miles north of St Petersburg, FL. It has marshlands,
swamps, shallow bays and tidal streams. |
These photos
give a snapshot of the winter for the new Eastern flock of whooping cranes.
In its third year of existence, the little flock now numbers 36. The youngest
birds were just hatched in spring 2003. They were raised in captivity,
imprinted on an ultralight airplane, and led on the eastern migration
route by costumed humans in ultralight planes in the fall of 2003. These
16 are the third group of "ultra whoopers." They join the original
five "ultra-whoopers"—the five pioneers—from hatch
year 2001. and the 15 survivors from hatch year 2002. Will the newest
youngsters know when and where to return in the spring? Stay tuned!
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Sixteen
whoopers arrived Dec. 6, 2003 after a 52-day, 1191-mile journey led
by ultralight airplanes from Wisconsin, where the cranes had learned
to fly and will return on their own each spring for the rest of their
lives. |
For
the winter, all of these magnificent juveniles will freely come and
go from their predator-proof enclosure at Chassahowitzka National
Wildlife Refuge, learning about tides and catching blue crabs. |
The
cranes had medical exams and got permanent leg bands upon arrival.
Doctors first put hoods over the crane's heads and worked in silence.
The birds must not see human faces or hear human voices. |
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All
the cranes wear radio tracking bands on one leg, and three cranes
were now fitted with PTTs
(satellite tracking devices). |
The
open-topped pen is made of 8-foot high fencing. The cranes can come
and go as they like. The bottom of the pen is alligator-proofed with
heavy wire screening, and electric fenc wire discourages other predators. |
A monitoring team of two made the long airboat ride to the crane's
island each day. They ensured the safety of the birds by setting live
traps for bobcats. They kept notes on the cranes' behaviors. They
travel in airboats like these. Photo ICF |
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The
crane caretakers can hide in this blind to watch the cranes. They
come twice a day to the island. A solar-powered video monitoring system
helps keep watch when the humans aren't there. |
A
feeding station inside the pen provides a constant supply of high
protein crane chow and fresh water. A small roofed structure covers
the hanging feeders and keeps rain out of their food supply. Hanging
the feeders from the structure also helps to keep ground moisture
out of the food. To make up for the fluctuating tide, workers built
an artificial roosting area, made from oyster shells. Now it doesn't
matter how high the tide gets. The cranes can always find a spot on
the "oyster bar" to roost at night.
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See
the crane decoy hanging over the cranes? This decoy has been present
at all times since the cranes hatched at the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center in Maryland. Because it's familiar to them, the young birds
are less nervous by their new surroundings. The cranes
never see a human form without the baggy white costume. Caretakers
try to minimize time with the cranes. These birds must remain wild
to have the best chances for survival. |
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Guess
who arrived at the Florida pen first? Yearling Crane #7, the independent
female came on November 22, 2002. Yearlings #1 and #2 arrived on Nov.
26. Yearling #6 stayed in Tennessee, and didn't get to Florida until
January 4, 2003! The photo shows yearling #5 arriving on Nov. 28.
Crane #5 stayed with the new chicks in the pen all winter. Sometimes
he was aggressive to the youngsters. |
A
bold youngster challenges the costume by displaying its impressive
wingspan.
Cranes enjoy leaping and jumping so the top net is high enough to
allow them to still enjoy one of their favorite actions. |
Look
for the 2003 juveniles on the right and the four *older birds
on the left, near feed station and fence. (Note: #214 is on the
other side of fence, and #105 has mud on his chest from crouch threats
as he lays in wait to chase #214!) See the banding
codes to identify individual 2003 cranes in the foreground.
*Older
"ultracranes" #105, #204 and #218 were already sharing
the pen site with the 2003 chicks when latecomer #214 came on Feb.
7.
Photos
OM. |
Try
This! Journaling Question
To
keep them as wild as possible and not dependent on humans, the cranes
were raised by very strict rules. You can read more about the rules,
or protocol, by which these "ultra- whoopers" were raised.
The same rules will apply to all the chicks hatched and raised to join
the new Eastern Flock for the next two or more years. By then, the oldest
cranes may begin laying egg and hatching chicks. They will teach their
young the migration route and the ways of wild cranes.
- Do you
think the tiny flock can be called truly wild? Explain your answer.
Do you think that will change?
- Are you
surprised to see a few of the older cranes return to the pen site instead
of finding a new area in the vicinity? What are some pros and cons of
older whoopers returning to the pen site?
Journey
North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by
the Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).
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