Whoopee! Touchdown! (+67.6 Miles) December 19, 2006: Migration Day 76 The longest-EVER migration is over! Joan called with the news of the landing, and we also spoke to today's lead pilot Chris, who reported a 20-minute rodeo to get the reluctant cranes to leave. But all 17 made it; 5 with Chris, 10 with Richard, and 2 with Brooke. Chris said, "It was pretty thrilling to fly over the Dunnellon Airport and see 1,000 people below us to celebrate the arrival." (See photos and audio clips by Brooke.) WELL DONE, you magnificent Operation Migration team (photo)! But where is the 18th bird? Airborne trackers are looking for #615 right now. The young male dropped out of yesterday's flight (with 614, 620 and 623) and wasn't found. We hope he had a safe roosting place and will soon be back with his flockmates. Meanwhile, Marie and Charlie are already at the pensite to assist the vets from Disney with the post-migration Health Checks and permanent color-codes & radio leg bands tomorrow. After that's done, the responsibility for the birds passes to the Winter Monitoring Team. Bev Paulan will be back after the holidays to be on that team. (Check #615's bio page for updates.) In the Classroom Today's Journal Question: The goal of this reintroduction is to build a flock of 125 birds by 2020. How old will you be then? Write a letter to the child you may someday have. Tell about this, the 6th ultralight-led migration. What were 3 highlights (or lowlights) for you? Why is this migration project important? Save your letter in a special place. Read in long in the future, or give it someday to a young person to share your memories of history-in-the making. For help choosing highlights, see daily reports and your Comparing Migrations Chart. Compare your chart with our completed chart, and remember to scroll down to see the NOTES section. Map the Migration: Use our map or make your own with this migration data. Migration Math: (a) On how many days of the 76-day journey did they fly? (b-for-bonus) What was the average daily distance covered? (See table.) Mrs. Black's students in Canada mark the finish in kilometres and get ready for their party! Help the Cranes and Planes Reach Florida! Map Daily News The Chicks The Team Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in cooperation with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Copyright 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form.