Whooping Crane
 

Still Stalled by Weather (+ 0 Miles )
 November 5, 2008: Migration Day 20

Team leader Joe Duff took this photo on the birds' exercise day yesterday. See "Coming Down Safely" in our lesson on How Birds Fly to see why one crane's legs are hanging down while the other birds have outstretched legs.
Photo Joe Duff, Operation Migration

Can you believe it? "The system stalled over us continues to give us unusually warm temps and headwinds. Aloft the winds out of the SW are blowing 30 - 40 mph," reports Liz from Stopover #4 in Green County—just one flight from the first Illinois stopover. When will they get to fly? It's up to the weather. Thanks for hanging in there with the team!

In the Classroom

  • Today's Journal Questions:
    (a) Bev said, "It is difficult to keep track of the days when we are not flying. The only way I can do this is to remember that every 3 down-days, we let the birds out for exercise." The birds exercised on Day 19 (yesterday), so when will be their next exercise day if the migration is still stalled?
  • (b-for-bonus) Bev said, "Part of our protocol when all the birds are let out to fly is that a minimum of three handlers to be present." Why do you think the team has this rule?
Try this! The young cranes have a wingspan of 7 feet. Hold your arms out to the sides and have a partner measure your armspan. How does it compare with the wingspan of a Whooping crane?

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

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