Searching
for #733
Joe Duff, November 26, 2007
Always
on the Lookout
Everywhere we drive, we run with antennas attached
and receivers tuned. Every trip, even if only to get gas, is regularly
interrupted by detours to check on suspicious beeps. The WECP Tracking
Team has been informed and they have added 733's frequency
to the list. They will include her in the scan as they follow the
migration [of the older Whooping Cranes in the Eastern flock].
Today's Plan
We focused most our search in the area where the bird was last seen
and we have back-tracked at least four stops of the route. Now we
will look ahead in case she found some Sandhill cranes and followed
them to Hiwassee [a good wildlife refuge and crane stopover in Tennessee].
The Big Question
If
we #733 at Hiwassee, the question becomes, do we bring her back
here and make her
fly
the
route again,
or do we leave
her
there
until we arrive at that stopover with the other 2007 cranes?
That would depend on how long it takes us to get to Hiawassee.
Leaving
#733
in the
company
of
Sandhill cranes
might
make
it difficult to retrieve her, and retrieving her is our ultimate
goal.
Pros
and Cons
We have too much invested in this bird to risk a direct release (leaving
her in hopes she'll join other cranes to find her way south).
If she is repatriated (brought back) we know we can get her to
the
Chassahowitzka
pen
in Florida.
If
she becomes
a
direct
release,
we can’t
be sure where she will winter. Also, long-term association
with Sandhill cranes
at this stage in life may cause problems when she reaches breeding
age.
Looking
Ahead
If 733 can't be found and recovered, she will automatically
become a direct release bird, which does not mean she will
be a complete
loss. But she dropped out a few times already and there are
gaps in her knowledge of the route. Her chances of getting
back to Necedah and being a viable member of the population are
better with
her flock
mates in the Class of 2007, than alone in the wild or with
Sandhill cranes.
We could pen her there if we had staff to monitor her, but
leaving her with the wild Sandhills is likely not the answer.
The Big Question if #733 is found at Hiwassee State Wildlife Area: Bring her back to the group? OR Leave her with the wild birds? |
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| Pro | Con |
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Journey
North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in
cooperation with the Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.
