Whooping Crane

Arrival Flyover! One to Go, Later Today? (+60 Miles) January 19, 2010: Migration Day 88 Who is today's lead pilot? Check the wing color to find out. MORE photos of today's flight and celebration Photo: Heather Ray, Operation Migration EXCITEMENT! The cranes and planes waited out the fog, took off, and Richard landed them at the Halpata pen site — with about one gallon of fuel left in his tank! They flew over a huge welcoming crowd at Dunnellon airport, and the flyover celebration was LIVE on the CraneCam. Here's Richard telling about the flight. This morning's air was neutral: no headwinds, no tailwinds. If cranes fly at about 37 mph, how long did the 60-mile flight to Halpata take? SUSPENSE! Today's flights for the "Chass Ten" may not be over! With just one more flight and 26 miles to touchdown at their new winter pen, they are making hopeful plans to try it this afternoon. Please check back! VERDICT: 2:57 pm CST: A test flight (see short video clip of trikes returning) fought 12 mph headwinds, so they decided it was a no go for this afternoon. They will try tomorrow. See you then! CraneCam (ceremony) and TrikeCam (flight) (Map|Data|Animation) In the Classroom • (a) Only one adult whooper is currently at the Chass pen. Why would an adult crane return to the release pen when it has so much other Florida marsh to choose? Why is the team relieved that just ONE bird is there? Why don't they want any of the older birds there? For help, see our slide show: Eastern Cranes on the Florida Wintering Grounds. • (b) After yesterday's flight, pilot Chris wrote: "I began to circle, trying to coax the birds down who were following well but still higher than me, and enjoying the thermals that were giving them free lift. Joe landed on the field below us and had his vocalizer turned up to help coax the birds down. I kept circling the field hoping to lure them down but they must have caught some good thermal lift and began to spiral upwards. We had too many trikes causing a distraction in the sky so I elected to land with Joe and watch while Richard and Brooke tried to round up the spiraling cranes who seemed determined to keep flying. At one point they actually disappeared from view as they went up into a cloud, but then thankfully reappeared again. This went on for 20 minutes, but eventually Brooke and Richard got them convinced to land next to Joe and I." How do these actions show problem-solving by the team? How have you done problem solving with a team? • CLASSROOMS IN ACTION: 1. Last year Mrs. Harrison's class raised $1145.03. This year's class beat that amount by $33.18. How much did this year's class raise? Meet these second graders, check your answer, and see photos on Mrs. Harrison's "Classrooms in Action" page. 2. For the third year in a row, Mrs. Trubelhorn's students from Tampa Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, attended the flyover at Dunnellon, Florida. What did they see today? Click here to find out. 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). Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved.