Today's Report Includes:

• Chick Chat: From Three Groups to Two

• Journal Question: Oldest Come Last

• Meet the Flock: Crane Quiz #1

• Booklet: "Whooping Crane Comeback"

• Training Timeline: Red-Letter Dates

• Change4Cranes: Fun Fundraiser

• Whooping Crane Festival: You're Invited!

• Countdown to Migration: Posted Fridays

Welcome to an exciting season! With 22 remaining young Whooper chicks in flight school in Wisconsin, this stands to be the largest ultralight-led migration yet. Today, Sep. 4, the crew mowed the grass runway at what is called the Canfield site and divided the pen of Cohort 3 into two parts. If weather and the birds in Cohort 2 (the middle group) cooperate tomorrow, Sep. 5, the pilots will fly them over to join the youngest group. Click on Operation Migration’s wonderful new Crane Cam around 7 a.m. and you may see it happen! It’s a big step in the countdown to migration. Later this month the oldest cohort will be added and slowly worked into the group, becoming one flock before migration. An adventure begins!

Will any of this year's chicks remind you of people you know? Find out when you read their life history pages. Click on these photos to meet each of the chicks:

• Meet the Hatch Year 2009 Chicks >>

While you're on the biography pages, look for some answers. See four fun questions at the link below in our first Crane Quiz to help you know the Class of 2009:

CRANE QUIZ #1 >>
(The quiz page includes a link to answers.)

Running and flapping are part of learning to fly. This shows #925 and #923 in August.

Meet the Flock! >>

It's been a busy week at the Wisconsin wildlife refuge where the chicks have "flight school." Who are these gangly and special young birds? What is that funny-looking flying machine? Who's inside those baggy white sacks?

Find answers in the first of six pre-migration booklets, a series starting this week. Plan on a different booklet each week to build background for the upcoming migration. Each booklet comes in a matching Web slide show as well as .pdf format ready to print, fold, and enjoy.

What are some milestones and key events for the newest members of the Eastern flock? See our timeline of events. It can help you start making your own timeline as you countdown and then follow this migration:

• Key Timeline Events: Hatch Year 2009 >>

The folks at Operation Migration, who conduct the chicks' fall ultralight-led migration we share on Journey North, have a fun project offer for teachers and kids. They’ll send you a Change4Cranes kit to collect people’s spare change. When sent to Operation Migration, the money raised goes to fund this historic migration. You'll know you helped make it happen. >>

Free Operation Migration Change4Cranes Kit >>

Are you lucky enough to live near central Wisconsin? If so, come to the Whooping Crane Festival on the grounds of Necedah Airport on September 19. This festive outdoor event is everyone's chance to see the ultralight planes and meet the 2009 migration team!

• Whooping Crane & Wildlife Festival, Necedah, Wisconsin
  

Weekly Summaries are posted (by email) to registered participants on FRIDAYS: Sep 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20— or until this year's newest Eastern flock chicks reach their winter homes in Florida!

Pre-migration: Each Friday before migration, a brief e-mail notice gives current newsy tidbits and announces a downloadable booklet for building background knowledge.
During migration: When migration begins in October, the Friday e-mails will summarize the DAILY Highlight Updates that were posted on the Web during the week. You'll want to go to the Web for the latest maps, facts, photos, and fun!