Countdown to Migration: September 15, 2006 Bookmark the Whooping Crane Home Page Chick Chat: Rainy Week Meet the Flock: Getting to Know the Cranes Crane Quiz #2 This Week's Booklet to Build Knowledge: "Who Am I? Imprinting" You're Invited: 5th Annual Whooping Crane Festival Countdown to Migration—Posted Every Friday Chick Chat: Rainy Week Since last Friday, several rainy and windy days slowed flight school in Central Wisconsin, so the chicks had little flying time with the ultralight airplanes. But the two new wild chicks (below) are both airborne! Find 2 chicks and 2 adults. Click the photo for more. Photo Chris Gullikson, Operation Migration Meanwhile, the team hopes to move cohort 1 (the oldest 8 birds) to the larger pen site where their 10 flock mates have already blended fairly peaceably. Blending the 3 training/age groups into one flock is an important step before migration. (Last year this step happened on September 17.) All birds are flying well and getting used to their new leg bands with radio transmitters. Target date for migration is just 17 days away! Meet the New Cranes! Photo Wayne Kryduba Meet the Flock: Getting to Know the Cranes How wide is the age span between the youngest and the oldest chicks this year? How do you suppose age difference affects the chicks' training and flying ability? You'll find each chick's birth date on its life history page. Click to see your favorite chick's birth date and biography here: Meet the Flock, Hatch Year 2006 Crane Quiz #2 While you're on the biography pages, look for some answers to three new questions at the link below. It's Crane Quiz #2 as you meet the flock: Crane Quiz #2 (Printer-friendly version with answer spaces) This Week's Booklet to Build Background Knowledge: "Who Am I? Imprinting" Why must everyone in eyesight of the baby cranes hide in baggy white sacks and always keep silent? How do these baby cranes know they are whooping cranes and not another kind of bird? Find out how experts help these baby cranes imprint correctly on their species as you think about how these cranes are being trained and raised. That's the topic of the second booklet of our pre-migration series of six titles. Plan on another booklet each week as a great way to build background for the coming migration. Each booklet comes in .pdf format, ready to print, fold, and enjoy.   "Who am I? Imprinting" (Printer-friendly, downloadable kids' booklet) Teacher Guide Web Version "Slide Show" for this booklet   You're Invited: 6th Annual Whooping Crane Festival September 16 Are you lucky enough to live anywhere near Tomah, Wisconsin? If so, come to the Whooping Crane Festival on the grounds of the nearby (17 miles away) Necedah Airport on September 16. It's your chance to see the ultralight planes and meet the migration team at the festive outdoor event! Necedah Whooping Crane Festival Countdown to Migration: Posted Every Friday E-mail Summaries are posted to registered participants on FRIDAYS: Sep 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Oct 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17. . .or until this year's newest Eastern whooper chicks reach their winter home in Florida! Pre-migration: Each Friday, a brief e-mail notice gives current newsy tidbits and announces a downloadable booklet for building background. During migration: When migration begins (target date is October 1), the Friday e-mails will summarize the DAILY Highlight Updates that were posted daily on the Web during the week. You'll want to go to the Web for the latest maps, facts, photos, and fun) Also on the Web: Orientation and Welcome to New Participants See You Next Friday, September 22! Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in cooperation with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Copyright 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form.