Whooping Crane
 

Down: Too Much Good Wind! (+ 0 Miles )
 November 20, 2008: Migration Day 35

Last week tracker Eva used color-coded leg bands to identify 16 cranes still at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin: #810, 709, 710, 716, 717, 722, 724, 726, 511, 512, 412, 211, 217, DAR 37-07, DAR 46-07, DAR 37-08. The smaller gray cranes in the back are Sandhill cranes (not endangered).

Photo Eva Szyszkoski, ICF Tracking Field Manager


The good news: Today the winds are from the right direction, out of the north and northwest. The bad news: These winds are much too powerful for the young cranes and planes to handle. It's down day #2 in LaSalle County, Illinois.

Meanwhile, many adult whoopers in the new Eastern flock began migration Nov. 15, 16, and 17. But still in Wisconsin are at least 16 Whooping cranes. They include DAR (Direct Autumn Release) chick #37-08 and #810 (who was kicked out of the ultralight-led cohort). These two youngsters are with older cranes in the new Eastern flock.

See Directions to Flyover Viewing Opportunity when they leave LaSalle County! Will it be tomorrow? >>

 

In the Classroom

  • Today's Journal Questions:
    (a) Which two cranes are the youngest in the photo above? (HINT:Their numbers are clues to their ages.)
  • (b-for-bonus) Tracker Eva said they are all thrilled that the two 2008 crane chicks in the photo above are staying near the older Whooping cranes. Why is this such good news? What might be some reasons why these 16 Whooping cranes have not yet started migration? (For example, consider their experience with previous migrations, their food supply, and the weather.) Write a paragraph with sentences that expand on this main idea: At least sixteen cranes have not yet left Wisconsin on migration.
  • Record Keeping: Have you updated your migration comparison chart? TIP: Click on "News" on the navigation bar at the top of this page (or below) to see a list of all reports so you can easily count how many No-Fly Days. You can also count the fly days, or you can refer to the chart in the Nov. 18 Journal Question.

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

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