Whooping Crane
 

No Go: Winds Keep Them Down (+0 Miles)
 October 29, 2009: Migration Day 14

Photo Heather Ray Operation Migration



Gusty winds aloft mean they won't leave South Juneau County today and add to their 22 miles. But maybe you can see the crane-kids by clicking the link to the CraneCam. See those 20 birds in the travel pen and you'll understand why Operation Migration's field journal today carried a plea for donations of pumpkins. Why? The cranes might say: "When we have pumpkins to play with and to eat we're not so bored being stuck here in the pen waiting until we can fly. The costumes call it enrichment, but we just call it having fun. Please, can we have pumpkins...please please, please?" Meanwhile, YOU can have some fun with today's journal challenges, below.

The world's first CraneCam and TrikeCam give us a bird's eye view of this migration. Take a look!

 

 

In the Classroom

  • Today's Journal Question: (a) What do you do when you feel bored? What ideas do you have for the crane-kids on no-fly days? (b-for-bonus) On their last flight, the birds and trikes climbed to 3,000 feet — by far the highest these birds have ever been. Pilot Joe said, "The interstate is just north of our destination and we stayed high so the traffic wouldn’t scatter the birds." Think about the lives the cranes have led so far. Why do you think Joe said what he did? What sights or sounds scare YOU?
  • Migration Math: On their last flight, Joe said, "We were flying through the air at 40 miles per hour, but because of the headwind we were covering ground at only 28 mph." What speed was the headwind? At 3,000 feet their ground speed was up to 32 mph. What does this tell you about the air at the higher altitude?

 

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

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