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Photo WCEP
Eager
to Fly
By
now the birds know the drill. Helpers walk to the pen as the trike
taxis or flies low past the gate. The trike's speaker plays the contact
call to say “Follow me. Let’s go!” The doors
to the pen are flung open. The cranes race out in a blur of white feathers
and black wingtips. They jump and flap, eager to go. The pilots rev
up their engines. Next they’re airborne with a line of trusting
birds behind.
The birds wear new radio-tracking transmitters on their legs.
They
have worked
out
their flying order. Daily flying has built up their endurance. Are they ready
to start
the long journey south?