Today's Report Includes:

• Chick Chat: A Slow Week in Camp

• Video Clip: A Closer Look

• Meet the Flock: Crane Quiz #4

• Booklet: "Life at Camp O.M."

• Change4Cranes: Fun Fundraiser

• Training Timeline: Red-letter Dates

• Countdown to Migration: Posted Fridays

Fall is here. The weather is changing. After training for 19 straight days, the chicks have not flown since Crane Fest on Sep. 19. (See photos >>) "Cohorts 2 and 3 spent the night together for the first time Sep. 20," reports Bev, "and all came through beautifully." That means 924 left 919 alone and 914 did not hassle 925. Good!

When the team let the birds out Sep. 16 for some exercise, the 12 younger birds "flew and flew, even disappearing from sight at one point," said Bev. "The 9 older birds in cohort one were too busy playing to bother flying much." When will they all combine? Stay tuned!

This slow-motion video shows crane chicks in flight. Observe their wings and the primary feathers. What do you notice? Look up primary feathers in our glossary. Click on the photo at the very top of this page to read more about the feathers.

What have you discovered that you didn't know before? Share it with friends or family.

The chicks grow and change each week, and our bio pages are freshly updated as the Team shares new stories and facts. Here's the latest:

• Meet the Hatch Year 2009 Chicks >>

While you're on these bio pages, look for answers to our fourth Crane Quiz on the Class of 2009. How will you do?

CRANE QUIZ #4 >>
(The quiz page includes a link to answers.)

Photo Bev Paulan, Operation Migration

Two weeks remain until migration! What important lessons are the chicks learning in flight school at Wisconsin's Camp O.M.? (O.M. stands for Operation Migration and the team of experts who lead these cranes south.) Do the chicks get report cards for their lessons? They are now old enough to be called something other than chicks. What is it?

Find answers in the fourth booklet of our pre-migration series of six titles. View each booklet as a Web slide show or choose.pdf format ready to ready to download, print, fold, and enjoy.

The folks at Operation Migration, who conduct the chicks' fall ultralight-led migration that we share on Journey North, still have some Change4Cranes kits for you. The coins you collect go to O.M. to help pay the costs of this historic migration. Get your kit before they're gone: >>

Free Operation Migration Change4Cranes Kit >>

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 (expected October 10), 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!