November 21, 2005 Migration Day 39   Photo Operation Migration Skipping a Stop to Reach TENNESSEE! +116.3 Miles All RIGHT! At 7:47 AM the cranes launched from Washington County, Kentucky with a great tailwind. At 8:40 AM Joe was leading 17 birds, and Richard had #523 and #505. With the tailwind pushing the cranes south, the pilots decided at about 9:20 AM to skip the final Kentucky stop. They headed straight for TENNESSEE! Go Cranes! After flying in rain the last 15 miles, they landed at 10:11 in Cumberland County. This stop is just north of the mountainous Cumberland Ridge—a BIG challenge. They know they'll have to climb high and fly well to cross it. But Tennessee also brings the halfway point at lovely Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Today the cranes and planes landed way ahead of the ground crew. This meant the pilots had to stay in costume and silently "entertain" the birds—in pouring rain. They had to keep the birds out of sight of the ground crew's arrival and the pen set-up. It was four hours of misery in pouring rain. They had plenty of time to think about what's next: Walden Ridge. You'll see why they call it "The Beast." Help the Cranes and Planes Reach Florida! Track the Migration Use our map or make your own with this migration data. (Click map to enlarge.) Keep a Migration Journal • Today's Question: Think about the coming week in Tennessee. What do you think the team is excited about? Nervous about? When have you had both good and bad feelings about something that's coming soon? • Migration Math: They flew 115 miles in 2 hours and 24 minutes. What was their average speed in mph? What made it so much better than yesterday's rate? How far have they come? • History: Get set for Tennessee. Read about the previous crossings of Walden Ridge: 2001, 2002, 2003 (when they started trying on Nov. 21), and 2004. • Record Keeping: Today's flight brought some great stuff for your journal and Migration Comparison Chart. • Make a Prediction: When do you think they'll reach Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, the halfway point?   Migration Journal Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in cooperation with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Copyright 2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form.