Four
Join 16 at Stopover #7
November 21, 2009: Migration Day 37
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Captured from Operation Migration's TrikeCam |
Last
night #903, 906, 907 and 924 must have wondered where their 16 flockmates
were. This morning they were eager to burst out and fly. Chris's
test flight showed today's
conditons would have been impossible for flying 20 birds, but
with four crane-kids left in LaSalle County (see
yesterday's surprising
afternoon events) they scrambled into action after a one-hour
wait for fog to burn off. Today's lead pilot Chris wrote in
the field
journal:
"With only 4 birds and the ability to climb well, I
stayed
under 1000 feet, below the stronger
headwind aloft and above the inevitable thermals that would be lurking
below as the flight continued. We passed interstates, wind farms,
freight trains, passing aircraft, and a power plant with steam rising
off the still waters of a huge
cooling pond. The birds reacted to all of this, jostling around
for positions, flying ahead and above me, as we encountered these
manmade hazards that obviously alarmed them a bit.
"The birds
flew wonderfully despite the headwind and the occasional scary distraction,
and I was able to push them along at a 43mph airspeed. As we neared
the Livingston site, I made contact with Bev, who was awaiting us
in costume, ready to help lure
the birds in. I descended down into the thermals with the four
on my wing, making a low pass over Bev and the rest of the birds
before applying full
throttle and climbing. They briefly tried to follow me,
but soon turned back and landed at the pen. We three pilots
escaped to land at our hosts' private airfield. We will
once again have the safety of a hangar for our aircraft, which
is quite a relief for us."
Ahhhhhh. No surprises and a 54.5-mile flight for four young cranes
to rejoin their group. Their mile total is now 239.9 miles gone.
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CraneCam is
LIVE each day from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m. and again from 3:30 to 4:30
in the afternoon, just before sunset. The TrikeCam is
LIVE during flights.
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