Whooping Crane
 

Hello, GEORGIA! (+ 116 Miles)
 January 13, 2009: Migration Day 78

Photo Heather Ray, Operation Migration

EXCITEMENT!!! At 7:10 a.m. they were in the air and planning to overfly a stop and continue to Decatur County, Georgia! As usual, #827 lagged behind in the pen, but Bev and Heather hustled him out to take off with Brooke and the others. They landed two hours and 25 minutes later, with all 14 birds (yes, even 827) still with Brooke! During this flight, Brooke's altimeter reached 3,800 feet, the highest it has been on this migration. Total miles gone: 1042. What a day!

After a difficult flight yesterday (see new photo and information) we are thrilled that today added another 116 miles. It's now only one stop to the staging area in Jefferson County. Will it be tomorrow? GO CRANES!

In the Classroom:

  • Today's Journal Questions:
    (a) What's the soonest day the group going to St. Marks could complete migration if the good flying weather continues? (See Data link under the map at the right.) When could the Chass group finish?
  • (b-for-bonus) With yesterday's late start, Joe said, "We knew that the sun would soon burn off the fog and begin to heat the earth's surface. At that low altitude the thermals would start to work quickly and we would be in for a bumpy ride.. .I reached 3000 feet, but never got over a ground speed of 34 miles per hour even though I was pushing the birds at well over 40." What things compare to that 3,000-foot altitude? See our chart >> for help.

 

Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in cooperation with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).

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