• Year Nine! Journey South with Endangered Whooping Cranes Led by Ultralights
• Where Are They Now? Meet the Cranes and See Egg-to-Sky Timeline
• BEFORE Migration: Build Background with Downloadable Booklets for Kids
• DURING Migration: How to Track Migration in the Classroom
• Fall Lessons and Activities
• E-mail News Summaries

Tip: Bookmark the Whooping Crane Home Page

Welcome! Year NINE in the historic conservation project to reintroduce Whooping Cranes to the eastern part of North America is nearing takeoff with the largest number of chicks ever. As of early August, 23 hatch-year 2009 chicks were in "Flight School" at Wisconsin's Necedah (say Nuh SEE duh) National Wildlife Refuge. Just weeks from now they must be ready for their thrilling but risky first migration. They'll depart in October behind ultralight airplane "parents" that show the way. The new Eastern flock is growing!

An additional 10 young whooper chicks are being costume-reared for a different flight plan. After the ultralight planes depart with their chicks, these crane-kids will be released among the older adult Whooping cranes summering on the Wisconsin refuge. Experts hope they will follow the older cranes all the way to Florida, thus learning the lifelong migration route for the reintroduced Eastern flock. These 10 whooper chicks are part of the Direct Autumn Release (DAR) program. DAR is another step for adding young cranes to this growing new flock. This is the fifth year for the DAR program.

We wonder: Will the chicks all make the journey safely? How long will this year's ultralight-led migration take? What highlights and lowlights await on the nearly 1,285-mile journey (route changed in 2008) through seven states? You'll find out on Journey South this fall. Read on for directions to participate. We're glad you're here!

• Meet the New Cranes!

• Timeline of Key Events for Chicks of Hatch Year 2009

Photo Heather Ray

See the chicks LIVE on the NEW Operation Migration CraneCam!

TEACHERS: You may wish to block your computer's pop-up ads before clicking to Crane Cam.

Do you wonder what makes a chick think a tiny airplane is its mom? Why are they following a 350-pound airplane and not their own parents? What are those billowy white gowns about? Why is pecking order a big deal when raising these chicks? Our just-for-kids nonfiction booklets offer facts while building reading skills and supporting standards. Between now and the migration departure in October, a series of weekly downloadable nonfiction booklets (in a recommended chronological order) will cover the “Big Ideas” of the young cranes' development and training. A companion Teacher Guide helps make the most of each booklet and lists coordinating lessons on the Web. Booklets are also available on the Web in slideshow format.

Follow Daily Migration Updates
Come fly with the whoopers! See our daily Web postings with the latest news, maps, and photos starting on Day One of the migration. (Watch for early- to mid-October target depature date to be announced later.)

Map the Migration
This link tells you how to purchase a map or make your own so you can track the migration from Wisconsin all the way to Florida using information in our daily Web reports. We also suggest fun ways to handle students' real-life questions as they follow the map and daily narratives during migration.

How do cranes fly? Why do planes have to lead the birds? What's it like to fly an ultralight? Who's on the team to conduct the migration? Why are Whooping cranes endangered? How many cranes are alive today? How many chicks will survive their first migration and make it back to Wisconsin in the spring? We'll help you discover answers (and more questions!) as the exciting migration unfolds. To learn more about this historic study, see:

Pre-migration: Each Friday, a brief e-mail notice gives current newsy tidbits and the next title in our series of six downloadable booklets for building pre-migration background.

During migration: When migration begins, the Friday e-mails will summarize that week's Highlight Updates, which post DAILY (complete with latest maps, facts, photos, and fun) on the Web.

E-mail Summaries are posted to registered participants on FRIDAYS:
Sep. 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20. . .or until this year's newest Eastern Whooping Crane chicks reach their winter homes in Florida!