November 30, 2005 Migration Day 48 Imagine how hard it is to count the cranes upon take-off! Photo Operation Migration Onward to GEORGIA! +67.3 Miles Goodbye, Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge! The cranes and planes took off this morning into clear skies, and what seemed like favorable winds. It turned out to be "a bit of a crane rodeo." They tried for quite a long time to get the birds to leave. Finally they had to bring six of the birds back to the pen because they would NOT follow and kept breaking off. These six were crated to Gordon County to rejoin their flock mates. The other birds flew for 1 hour 20 minutes to reach stop 16 in Gordon County, Georgia. They climbed to 3300 feet to cross the ridges! With winds from the north, at times their ground speed was almost 70 mph. Thanks, tailwinds! There's more good news ahead: the weather looks right for a flight tomorrow! 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 Questions: 1. Yesterday DAR Chick #527 flew, but there's reason for concern. Read the details and then write throughts and a prediction in your journal. 2. What does it mean to have a "ground speed" of almost 70 mph? How does the pilot know this? (See Joe's cockpit instruments to help you answer.) • Migration Math: What's the migration progress so far? 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.