November 30, 2001 Day 45 No Fly Day--But Ready for Arrival   Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Crystal River, FL Strong winds from the south mean another day in Gilchrist County, FL---still with 77.8 miles to go. The team hopes to reach Levy County on the weekend, and now say the earliest arrival at Chassahowitzka will be Monday, Dec. 3. (Does this change YOUR prediction?) The cranes' arrival at their new winter home will mark the first time in over a century that a flock of wild migrating cranes have lived here. You can imagine the excitement! The arrival will be celebrated with an educational program, public flyover, and press conference at Crystal River Mall. If you are lucky enough to live near enough to attend, call the hotline for details: 352 564 0326. Besides the excitement, there's also the responsibility for the cranes' safety and well being. The staff and volunteers at nearby Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge have prepared the temporary pen that the cranes will be housed in for the winter. The pen has a top net, and is important because these birds are semi-wild and still need to be protected from predators. Try This! Journaling Questions Look at the map on this page (click to enlarge). What do you notice about the location of Chassahowitzka NWR that makes it a good place for the cranes? What crane predators can you can think of in Florida? List them, then listen again to Jennifer's audio clip to refresh your memory about predators lurking in both Wisconsin and Florida, and efforts to keep the cranes safe. Audio Clip (.aif Format, 821 K / .wav Format, 821 K) Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form