Welcome!
Here's How to Participate September, 2010 |
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Tip: Bookmark the Whooping Crane Home Page |
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Year Ten: Journey South with Endangered Whooping Cranes Led by Ultralights | |||||||
Welcome! Year ten in the historic conservation effort to reintroduce Whooping Cranes to eastern North America is nearing takeoff! As of mid August, 13 hatch-year 2010 chicks had taken wing in "Flight School" at Wisconsin's Necedah (say Nuh SEE duh) National Wildlife Refuge. In just weeks they must be ready for their thrilling but risky first migration. They'll depart in early October behind ultralight airplane "parents" that will show them the way on their first southward migration to Florida. An additional 11 young whooper chicks are being costume-reared for a different flight plan. Hatched for year six in the Direct Autumn Release (DAR) program, these crane-kids will be released in the company of older cranes from whom they will learn the migration route. This
fall brings the added thrill of the first wild-hatched chicks since
2006 to survive the summer and follow their parents on their first
journey south! We're glad you're here for the newest chapter in this conservation story about an endangered species! |
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Where
Are They Now? Meet the Cranes and See Egg-to-Sky Timeline |
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Because this year's story really began during the summer, now's the time to meet the new "ultra-chicks" and catch up on their progress. We've kept track of the "Class of 2010" since they hatched last spring. Read about their personalities and you'll see why many students enjoy "adopting" a crane to follow throughout fall's journey south and spring's return journey north. Our timeline of key events will help you follow the flock's milestones so far. Use the information to start a school or classroom timeline now; add to your timeline when the daily migration Updates start in October. |
See the chicks LIVE on the Operation Migration CraneCam! TEACHERS: You may wish to block your computer's pop-up ads before clicking to Crane Cam. |
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BEFORE
Migration Build Background with Slideshows/Downloadable Booklets for Kids |
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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 main events of the young cranes' development and training. Companion Teacher Guides help make the most of each booklet and list coordinating lessons on the Web. All booklets are also available on the Web in slideshow format. |
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DURING Migration: How to Track Migration in the Classroom | |||||||
Follow
Daily Migration Updates Map
the Migration Keep
Migration Journals Predict
and Compare |
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Fall Lessons and Activities | |||||||
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: |
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E-mail News Summaries on Fridays | |||||||
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. E-mail
Summaries are posted to registered participants on FRIDAYS: |
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Thank you for joining us in this exciting migration. Now the fun begins!
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