Four weeks from today, 13 young Whooping crane chicks born in May will take off on the longest journey of their young lives: a 1250-mile migration to a winter home in Florida. They are training in two separate groups, but that will soon change. Get to know the quirky 4-month-old crane-kids in Crane Quiz #1 and see slideshow, "Whooping Crane Comeback."

Today's Report Includes:

• Welcome: What's Ahead

• Chick Chat: Two Groups Training

• Meet the Flock: Crane Quiz #1

• Journal Question: New Numbers

• Slideshow/Booklet: "Whooping Crane Comeback"

• Countdown to Migration: Posted Fridays

Right now the 13 chicks are living and training in two separate age groups called cohorts. They’ve been able to fly since they were 60-70 days old. The younger group is getting better at staying together in a group as they fly with the ultralight plane. Fewer birds drop out as they get stronger and discover the fun of flying. It’s best if they can practice flying every day, but Wisconsin’s late summer weather has been calm and clear (good for flying) only every three or four days. Team helper Barb is saddened by the looks of disappointment on their little faces when she checks the chicks on days they can’t fly! The next big step will be joining the two groups into one. We’ll hear about that next week!

Will any of this year's chicks remind you of people you know? Find out when you click on each photo to find the chick's "Baby Book" and life story, or bio page:

• Meet the Hatch Year 2010 Chicks

Now dig in, detectives! Search the bio pages for answers to four fun questions in Crane Quiz #1:

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

Each chick in the new Eastern Flock has a number as a lifelong name. The first part of the number tells the order in which the chick hatched last spring. It is followed by a dash and the number 10, which means their birth year of 2010. Here’s the first question to answer in your personal Journey South Journal:

“What does the number #1-10 tell you about a crane? Why might scientists use numbers instead of names?”

Teachers: Choose “Responding to Journal Questions” from our collection of Journey South journal pages.

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.

Weekly Summaries are posted (by email) to registered participants on FRIDAYS: Sep 3, 10, 17, 24; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19— or until this year's newest "ultra-chicks" reach their winter home 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!