Whooping Crane
 

Warm Winds Still Against Them (+0 Miles)
November 10, 2010: Migration Day 32


Photo Operation Migration

Well, the unusually warm weather in Piatt County stalls the migration for the fourth day. The warm air arrives on winds out of the south. They're blowing at 10-15 mph on the ground and 20-30 mph aloft. There's no way the cranes and planes can migrate in those conditions! But here's the good news: Last year (2009) the team didn't even arrive here until November 27. The year before that (2008) it was November 21. We'll wait it out.

A Contest! You can help the team win a grant for $25,000 to continue helping the cranes! Visit the Pepsi Refresh Challenge website to vote for Operation Migration today. Vote every day until Dec. 31!

In the Classroom: Journal or Discussion

  • (a) Size up the migration: How is it doing when you compare it to 2009 and 2008? As of today, what is the ratio of fly days to no-fly days? Click on "News" on the navigation bar at the top of this page for a link that will help you answer.
  • (b-for-bonus): Yesterday's question asked you to check out the bands for the Direct Autumn Release (DAR) chicks. Did you discover that the Class of 2010 DAR birds includes one male with a PTT? Eva, who is the tracking supervisor, said PTT's are normally put on females but the DAR female that did not get a PTT this year was small. Since they always try to do what is best for the bird, they didn't put a PTT on her. The reason? Two transmitters with antennae interfere more than only one, so if a bird will not get both if she is exceptionally small. Dr. Richard Urbanek measures the leg between the hock and the foot to determine whether the bird is big enough to carry two transmitters. Which female was too small this year to carry two transmitters?

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

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