Wind,
Wind, and More Wind (+0
Miles)
November 4, 2010: Migration Day 26
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Photo:
Operation Migration
This photo is not from today, but
from the 2008 migration. What do you see on the
ground
that
shows WIND
is a big player in this landscape? |
Liz
sends today's no-fly verdict from the camp: "The nice cold temperature
and the wind direction are positives. The wind strength is the party
pooper: 10 mph on the ground and 30-35 mph
aloft." Today will be
down-day #3 in Livingston County, IL for the Eastern flock's Class
of 2010. Increasing winds are forecast all morning. But keep reading!
Extraordinary Comeback for the Western Flock
Meanwhile,
thrilling news comes from the central flyway: Record numbers of
wild Whooping cranes
will complete
migration
to Texas
over the
next few
weeks! As many as 290
cranes are expected from their nesting grounds in Canada.
This extraordinary comeback is just two years after the deadliest winter
on record for this critically
endangered species. How did they do it? The cranes had plenty of water
in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park, where they breed. Luckily,
the Texas drought has ended. The cranes should find what they need
for survival on the wintering grounds at Aransas NWR. “If
you want Whooping cranes to do well, just add water,” said
Tom Stehn,
Whooping crane coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS). Go cranes!
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In
the Classroom: Journal or
Discussion
-
(a) Whooping
cranes are endangered, and the
Eastern flock was started in
2001 to help add more whoopers
to the world. Some make their
first migration from Wisconsin
to Florida with ultralight planes
leading the
way. But other
youngsters will migrate with
their parents and still others
with older wild cranes who already
know the way. Meet
the Flock: Class of 2010 shows
you these three groups. Take
a look,
then
fill in the
blanks: This fall, ___ young
cranes in
this
flock
will make their first migration
with an ultralight plane leading
the
way; ___ will learn the route
by following older
whooper
and sandhill cranes; _____ wild-hatched
chicks will follow their own
mom and dad.
-
(b-for-bonus):
This year the pilots noticed
an increase of wind
turbines here. Pilot
Brooke compared
them
to pinwheel armies that seemed
to march
across
the landscape, reminding
us that they too are farmers.
They harvest the wind for kilowatts
of electricity that give us light
and heat and energy in a way
that's natural,
renewable and pollution-free.
"Still, I’d feel
a lot more comfortable about
them
if they
were painted John Deere Green."
Why do you think Brooke
wishes the tall turbines
were painted
John Deere Green?
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Journey
North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in
cooperation with the Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).
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