Next month, 10 young Whooping cranes, now called colts, will take off on the longest journey of their young lives: a migration of more than 1,200 miles to Florida. Get to know these quirky crane-kids in Craniac Quiz #1 and explore the story in our slideshow/booklet, "Whooping Crane Comeback."

Today's Report Includes:

• Welcome: What's Ahead

• Chick Chat: Learning to Follow

• Meet the Flock: Craniac Quiz #1

• Journal Question: Number Names

• Slideshow/Booklet: "Whooping Crane Comeback"

• Countdown to Migration: Friday Updates

The 10 chicks born in April, May and June are living and training in one group at their new Wisconsin summer home on White River Marsh. Progress of this year's group is behind compared to groups in previous years; they don't yet fly as long or as far. This week's highlight came when one of the ultralight planes had five colts launch and stay with the plane for several airborne minutes. Like you, they're learning that practice makes perfect.

Do any of this year's chicks remind you of people you know? Find out when you click on each photo to read the chick's bio page:

• Meet the Hatch Year 2011 Chicks

Now dig in, detectives! Search the bio pages for answers to four fun questions:

• CRANIAC QUIZ #1
  (The quiz page includes a link to answers.)

Each chick in the new Eastern Flock has a number as a lifelong name. The first part of the number tells the order in which the chick hatched this spring. It is followed by a dash and the number 11, which stands for their birth year (2011).

Journal Question:
“What does the number #10-11 tell you about a crane? Why do you think scientists use numbers instead of names?”

Teachers: Choose “Responding to Journal Questions” from our collection of Journey South journal pages.

It's been a busy week at the Wisconsin wildlife refuge where the chicks attend "flight school." Who are these gangly and special young birds? What is that funny-looking flying machine? Who's inside those baggy white outfits?

Find answers in the first of six pre-migration slideshow/booklets, a series starting this week. Expect a new story each week to build background for the upcoming migration.

• Slideshow version (for web viewing)
• Booklet .pdf version (printable )

Weekly Summaries are emailed to registered participants on FRIDAYS: Sep 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18—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 provides updates, fun quiz questions, and the next slideshow/booklet.

During migration: When migration begins in October, new reports, maps, and fun facts are posted DAILY on the web. The Friday e-mails are quick summaries of the reports from that week. Stay with us for year 11 of this exciting conservation story!