No Go: Racing Headwinds (+0 Miles)
December 15, 2011: Migration Day 68

Two Whooping cranes among sandhill cranes at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee.

Image: Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

Camp is rocking in winds racing out of the south at 20 mph on the surface and twice that speed at flight altitude. As a result, it's down-day 4 in Franklin County, Alabama. Meanwhile, tracking crew chief Eva sends news on the rest of the birds in the new Eastern flock: "As far as we know, all the birds have left their summering grounds. Quite a few are currently in Indiana and Illinois. On a December 13 tracking flight by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, only seven had been found in Florida: #3-10, #9-10, #17-10, #10-10, #2-11, and #101 with #914." She told us where the young DAR birds are, too! See their updated bio pages, and see today's questions, too:

In the Classroom: Journal or Discussion

(a) What is the latest exciting news on female #2-11, who "escaped" from the pilots and her flock early in this migration? (Scroll to the bottom of her bio page.)

(b-for-bonus): Eva said this about the older cranes in the flock: "It seems as though they may be taking their time heading to their wintering locations this year! Maybe more of them will spend winter farther north this year...we'll have to wait and see!" Why do you think Eva said this? Before you answer, look at some bio pages for older birds, such as the oldest bird in the flock, and see what kind of history they have for other fall migrations.

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