November 10, 2002 Day 29 Same Story Which crane is this? See Banding Codes. Photo OM, WCEP The southwest winds continue, and heavy rain fell overnight. The migration is still stalled in two locations, Hendricks and Morgan Counties, IN, and more eager than ever to get flying and join together again. Meanwhile, their wild cousins in the main flock are still arriving at their winter home on the Texas Gulf Coast. Aransas NWR biologist Tom Stehn, who is also a leader of the new Eastern flock reintroduction team, gave us the latest count: An aerial census of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas made November 06, 2002 estimated the number of whooping cranes present at 78 adults + 8 young = 86 total. After the summer breeding season, August surveys found 17 chicks surviving after 33 chicks hatched. This makes 173 birds in the flock. If you live in North or South Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska or Texas, you may be lucky enough to see wild migrating Whooping cranes. You can help keep track of their progress by reporting any sightings to your nearest U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) office or Aransas NWR at 512.286.3559. And if you live in Hendricks or Morgan Counties in Indiana, hope for better flying conditions tomorrow so you might be able to see the cranes overhead! The five yearling cranes from last year's ultralight-led migration are still in Wisconsin. The monitoring team of Richard Urbanek and two ICF interns, Lara Fondow and Colleen Satyshr, are keeping watch. When the yearlings decide to start their first migration south on their own (no ultralight for them this year), the trackers will follow along by ground and air. They will keep notes on the cranes' movements and the habitat they choose. Last Fall This Fall Map the Migration Make your own map using the latest migration data Try This! Journaling Question What might be some reasons why the Whooping Crane population is slow to increase its numbers? (Click on the frog button for help in answering this question.) Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Copyright 2002-2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form