Naming
System
Each bird that follows the ultralight on its first migration has a
3-digit number that becomes its "name" for its whole life.
The number tells something about the bird. This year, the first digit
(9) stands
for the hatch year (2009). The last two digits stand for the order
in
which these chicks hatched. So, #903 hatched third of all the
eggs. Gaps in the number system happen when a chick
dies, if a chick is kept and raised as a breeding bird due to its
valuable genetics, or for other reasons.
Birth
Place
The chicks hatched in Maryland at Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center (PWRC). This
is a special place where rare birds are bred and raised in captivity.
The valuable eggs hatched in the care of experts. They were watched
and cared for very closely.
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Security
gate to PWRC captive breeding center |
Eggs
from captive whooping cranes |
Costumed
trainers use crane puppets to help train the new chicks . |
Summer
Home and "Flight School"
Before
they know how to fly, an airplane carries the little chicks to Wisconsin
for "flight school." They live at a wildlife refuge with
many acres of wetlands. The name of the refuge is Necedah
(say: Nuh SEE duh) National Wildlife Refuge.
They
are released in special pens where they'll be safe as they learn to
fly. During training the chicks learn to follow the ultralight
planes that will teach them where to go when it's time for their very
first migration.
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A
private plane flies the chicks from Maryland to Wisconsin. |
Each
chick travels in its own tall box. |
Chicks
are released in a safe pen at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. |
Winter
Homes
In October
these chicks will follow ultralight planes
to learn their migration route. They will leave Wisconsin
and fly to warmer Florida, with the ultralight
planes
leading
the
way.
(Chicks
hatched
in the wild learn the route the natural way: by following their parents.) When
they reach Florida, half of the Class of 2009 will land at
St. Marks National
Widlife
Refuge. The other half will keep going until they reach Chassahowitzka
NWR. Like other members of the new Eastern flock, the youngest crane-kids
will migrate back to Wisconsin each spring, and to Florida each fall.
(They may disperse to a wider range as they get older.)
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The
Eastern flock's Two Winter Homes
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Leg-band
Codes
Every
crane in the new Eastern flock wears leg bands on each leg. Like
names for humans, color-coded bands identify each crane for life. Detailed
histories are kept on each of these endangered birds, and the banding
codes help scientists tell the birds apart. ICF's
Sara Zimorski explains
the colors: "Red, white, and green are the three brightest and most
contrasting colors. They show up, are easy
to tell apart, and are not easily confused with other colors. That's
why Richard
Urbanek chose
them for our color scheme. As a bonus, each bird has all three colors
so if we ever see a bird with only 2 colors
we will immediately know a band was lost. (Only one bird has lost a band
since the start of this project in 2001.)"
Legbands
also hold the battery-powered radio transmitter. A few of the
birds will get yet another band and transmitter (PTT)
for
satellite tracking. For more information, see Tracking
Cranes.
The
permanent bands with color codes are attached to the birds'
legs at the health checks after they arrive in Florida and before
the top net is removed from the pen for their final release.
Journey North is pleased to feature this educational
adventure made possible by the
Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).