Whooping Crane The Eastern Flock's 2003-2004 Winter 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!   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. 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 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. 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. 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). Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.