November 25, 2005 Migration Day 43   Operation Migration Over the Mountains to Hiwassee NWR! +47.7 Miles (updated figure) Whoopee! They tackled the Appalachian Mountains and all 19 birds flew the distance to Hiwassee National Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee! You know from our journaling questions that in past years, the cranes have had trouble flying over the Cumberland Ridge--their first exposure to mountains. Today's story is no exception, but with a happy ending! Pilot Joe Duff led with 9 cranes. Brooke Pennypacker flew with 2, and Richard was between them with 8. They started a slow climb and watched the ridge loom ahead. One of Richard's birds kept dropping. He feared he'd lose too much altitude to clear the ridge. He let the bird go and called Mark to track it. In the meantime, one bird had dropped from Joe's wing--unbeknownst to Joe! The birds climbed high enough to clear the ridge, with only 300-400 feet to spare. Once over the initial ridge, they crossed a wide plateau. The air was smooth with a 20 mile per hour tailwind and a cool 13 degrees--which freezes the pilots but makes better flying for both the birds and the planes. But where were the two missing birds? The pilots landed in turn, and from out of somewhere (?) the two missing birds appeared again! Joe said, "All nineteen birds were safely on the ground. This means one had followed us at tree-top level for the last 10 miles but the other crossed the ridge and kept us in sight for better than 30 miles before joining us as we circled down." Crane #506 was one of them, but which one? "Our fingers were numb and our lips were blue as we flew to the hangar, but we took pride in our accomplishment. We had taken our birds to 3,000 feet and crossed the biggest obstacle we have to face and arrived with every single one of them." CONGRATULATIONS TO A WONDERFUL TEAM AND THEIR FABULOUS BIRDS! The "Beast" 2005 is history! Today's flight took place without pilot Chris Gullikson. Chris had trouble with the throttle on his aircraft and made an emergency landing. He caught up with the team at Hiwassee after making repairs. 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: Why do you think cool air makes better flying conditions than warm air? (See Joe's answer tomorrow.) • History: On this date last year (2004) the birds and crew were on day SEVEN at Hiwassee NWR. Winds and rain kept them there until Nov. 26. What airborne whooping crane predator did they encounter as they approached their next stopover site? What other difficulties do you think they face in Tennessee and Georgia that were not present in the flatter, more open areas of Illinois and Indiana? •Migration Math: Joe said of toay's flight: "This year, like last, we stopped the birds at a site 12 miles north of the ridge, allowing us that distance to slowly climb 2500 feet with them." The birds can climb at about 100 feet per minute (fpm), while the planes can climb at 750 to 1000 fpm (see Vertical Speed Indicator). Make up a math problem using these facts and test a partner.         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.