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November
8, 2004
Migration Day 30
More Progress Today
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Photo
Operation Migration |
Another good flying day! The cranes and planes took off at 8 a.m. with the second air pick-up for this migration. Helped by winds from the NNE at 8 mph, they flew for an hour and 15 minutes. They knocked off another 47 miles of their journey, for a total of 443.7 miles gone.
It took
an additional ten minutes to convince the cranes to land in the very
wet fields of
Muscatatuck
NWR (Jennings, County, IN). Because of the soggy field, the pilots performed
the cranes' first air-drop. They swoop in low, just
like they're going to land. When
the birds near
the
ground and start to land, the pilots pull up sharply and zoom away.
It's
like
tricking the birds into landing. Can you see why it took 10 minutes to convince
the birds to come down?
Today Joe had 13 young cranes and #402 launched with Richard.
Today #419 dropped
down about 17 miles from departure, and Brooke picked her up. (She's one
of the "little
girls," remember?) So, it's the THIRD time all 14 cranes have made the
entire flight---providing a nice break for the ground crew. Last
year on
this date, the migration departed this site (Muscatatuck NWR) and crossed
into Kentucky. Tomorrow's
weather looks good for leaving Indiana and entering Kentucky, and we're ALL
invited to watch. The main gate of the refuge is located east of Interstate
65 (Exit 50A) on Hwy
50.
Gates
will open at 7:15 a.m. and visitors should continue 4-miles down the main
road of the refuge until they see Refuge staff members, who will tell visitors
where to park. As always, Mother Nature will have the last word.
Dress warmly!
Exciting
News of #418 AND the Experienced Ultralcranes!
As of
today, 17 of the thirty-five eastern Whooping cranes are still occupying
their summer
habitats--but thanks to
a large cold push coming out of Canada, 18 of the previous years' ultracranes
departed
their summer areas! All
but three left yesterday. To our immense joy and relief, they
included this year's little "unfit-feathers misfit," #418! This
young male decided to travel yesterday with yearling #307. The
two landed
to
roost in west-central Indiana. Unfortunately, last year's crane #307
flew about 60-miles farther than novice #418. We will have to wait to
see what happens
with the
youngster who was left behind because of feather problems when the
utralights and his flockmates took off from Necedah. Cross your fingers
that #418
is
well
on his way
and keeps heading south. How will he find his way, unless he hooks up
with an older ultracrane who already knows the route?
More exciting
news:
The four
hatch year 2003 cranes
that stayed in Michigan instead of returning to Necedah this
summer also began their first unaided southward migration. Cranes #301,
305, 309 and 318 moved
south into Ohio late yesterday. They appear to be retracing their spring
path, when they became stymied by getting around Lake Michigan and
back to Wisconsin.
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| Last Fall |
This Fall |
| Map
the Migration |
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This morning's temp at take off was a chilly 32 degrees. Can you imagine how cold it was for the pilots aloft? Why is it colder at high altitudes, which are closer to the sun?
- What do you predict will happen to #418? What do you predict will happen with the HY03 cranes who are migrating from Michigan back to Florida? Make a note in your journal today and follow it up with news as we report it.
Journey North is pleased to feature this educational
adventure made possible by the
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).
Copyright
2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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