Whooping Crane Comparing Ultralight-Led Migrations Photo: Wayne Kryduba   Hatch Year of birds 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Target date for departure October 13 Oct. 7 and then Oct. 10 October 8 October 9 Oct 10 and then Oct. 14   Actual departure October 17 October 13 October 16 October 10 Oct. 14   Number of birds at takeoff 8 17 16 14 20   Number of planes 4: lead, chase, & scout ultralights and one top cover 5: four ultralights and one top cover 5: four ultralights and one top cover  5: four ultralights and one top cover 6 5: four ultralights and one top cover Journey's end Dec. 3 Nov. 30 Dec. 8 Dec. 12 Dec. 13   Number of birds reaching Florida Winter Pen 7 16 16 13 (see #406) 19 (see #526)   Total days en route 48 49 54 64 61   Number of no-fly days (grounded or turned back) 24 28 34 (includes 4 days when they turned back and made no progress) 43 39   Number of actual flight days (progress made) 24 21 20 21 22   Longest flight 2 hours 9 minutes 2 hours 15 minutes 3 hours 4 minutes (200 miles--covering most of GA. New record!) 2 hours 58 minutes (157 miles covered) 2 hours 14 minutes (116.3 miles)   Shortest flight 38 minutes 44 minutes 41 minutes   43 minutes 32 minutes   Total Miles South (*after OM's final adjustments) *1164.2 *1227.8 *1191 1204.4 1183.4   Number of birds surviving winter/returning to Wisconsin 5 16 16 survived; 12 returned to WI 13 returned to Wisconsin 19 survived; 16 returned to Wisconsin   Days on Wintering Grounds 126 121  117 days * 107 days** 106 days    NOTES:       * In 2003, 117 days is the average of two numbers (Group A - 113 days, Group B - 121 days). **In 2004, 107 days is the average of two numbers (11 cranes stayed 104 days and 1 crane stayed 110 days). Chick #418, who was not led by ultarlight but left alone to go south with older cranes, stayed 129 days. Read NOTES (scroll to bottom) on previous migrations here: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.