Five days to go! The chicks flew four days in a row this week, and this photo shows a way they're rewarded. Why give treats? The colts will be ready to go October 5, but will the weather? Will the team? See what must be done, and meet the team with new questions in this week's quiz.

Today's Report Includes:

• Latest Chick Chat: Ready, Set, Almost Time to Go
• Meet the Team: Crane Quiz #5
• Journal: Why is pecking order important?
• Slideshow/Booklet: "Countdown to Migration"

The birds flew four days in a row this week! They are building endurance, and just in time. Only five days remain until the target departure date of October 5.

The migration team has hustled to update two travel pens to hold the birds at night on migration, find supplies for both birds and people, grease wheel bearings, fill propane tanks, load bird feed and treats, pack personal gear, and more. Are they excited? Yes! (Meet the team, below, in this week's quiz.)

The migration covers about 1,285 miles in seven states. It's a grand adventure for birds only five months old. Will the migration depart in five days, as planned? The weather will decide. We’ll post a news flash and daily Web reports on Migration Day 1. Ready?

Adult Cranes Getting Restless
Pre-migration restlessness in wild birds shows that the birds know they will soon be leaving. They are feeding, fattening and fueling for the journey south ahead.

What are the flock's two new families doing? Click on the photos at right to find out!

Tracker Eva also reports that quite a few of the older birds have been moving around more recently. "Once the corn fields in the area get harvested, I would expect most of the birds to be using them. The sandhill cranes have started their fall staging; today I saw a very large flock standing on some cranberry property."

How many kids can say their dad flies with Whooping cranes? Whose dog gets to come along on migration? You'll find out when you meet the dedicated team that will lead the chicks on their first journey south. Meet the team and find answers to five questions in this week's crane quiz:

• Operation Migration Team 2010
• Meet the team: Crane Quiz #5
  (The quiz page includes a link to answers.)

Before they go, click to see the chicks LIVE on Operation Migration's CraneCam! You may also see costumed team members at work.

Cranes #16-10 and #17-10 caused a ruckus when the two cohorts mixed at first, but Geoff understands: "Imagine you and your brothers and sisters practically had a house all to yourself all summer long. You finally sorted out whose room is whose, and who’s the boss of whom. All of a sudden, strangers land, move into your house, and take up all your space. Then they tell you they’re the bosses of you! Wouldn’t YOU be a little peeved?"

This fall, the top chick seems to be #2-10. Chicks #1-10, #3-10 and #8-10 are keeping their higher ranks too. (See bio pages.) Why do you think some cranes work hard to be the boss, while others are satisfied not to?

This slideshow will help you respond to this week's discussion or journal question:

• "How do you think the instinctive behavior to fit into a pecking order helps Whooping cranes survive?"

How do you think cranes show they want to be boss?

View Slideshow

October 5 is the target date for the chicks' departure on the biggest adventure of their lives: their first journey south. The cranes just show up and fly, but the team has a lot to do! What’s on their job list right now? For the birds-in-training, finding the "sweet spot" is an important discovery. Why?

Find answers in “Countdown to Migration,” this week's nonfiction selection. View it as a Web slideshow or click on the booklet to print, fold, and take home to share.

Weekly Summaries are posted (by email) to registered participants on FRIDAYS: Sep 3, 10, 17, 24; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19 — or until this year's newest "ultra-chicks" reach their winter home in Florida!

Pre-migration: Each Friday before migration, a brief e-mail notice gives current newsy tidbits and announces a downloadable booklet for building background knowledge.
During migration: When migration begins (October 5 is revised target date), the Friday e-mails will summarize the DAILY Highlight Updates that were posted on the Web during the week. You'll want to go to the Web for the latest maps, facts, photos, and fun!