The First Journey North

They flew nearly 200 miles on their northward depature day, reaching Elmore County, Alabama. In the next three days the group passed through Tennessee and Kentucky, entering territory unfamiliar to them, but #5-12 knew the way. On April 6 they didn't depart from Calloway County, KY but on April 7 they gained 80 miles to Saline Cty, Illinois before being stopped by a storm. The weather remained windy and stormy, but on April 8 it appeared that #5-12 flew the coop and left the group, as no further signals were received from his radio transmitter. The five young cranes remained at least through April 9 as stormy weather continued in northern Illinois. Brooke and Colleen were still monitoring them from a safe distance so as not to spook them.

Map: Operation Migration