Countdown to Migration: September 24, 2010 | |||
With two weeks to go, nine birds have now flown together. The rest are making progress in keeping up, but #11's wheezing is a worry. Life at "Camp. O.M." means tricks, treats, water roosting and even report cards for the cranes. A new slideshow reveals why wild chick W1-10's mom is ready to attack in this photo as migration prep continues. Today's Report Includes:
|
Why is wild chick W1-10's mom ready to attack? Orientation & Welcome to New Participants |
||
Latest Chick Chat: Flying Together | |||
Good news! Two days of good flying weather meant the young colts have now launched together as a group — well, sort of. Wheezy young #11 wasn’t included because the pilots wanted to fly him alone to see how he did. Three others decided to stay back with Brooke and #11-10 on the runway. No matter: It’s still progress for blending two cohorts into one group. Click on the photos for more about this week’s flights. As departure day gets closer, more flying will build the young birds' endurance. Hope for good weather! Meanwhile,
in the central flyway a few of their wild whooper cousins from
Canada have crossed the border on their way to the Texas Gulf Coast.
The frist
confirmed
Whooping
crane sighting
in North Dakota came this week. "The first cranes could be about
three weeks away from reaching Aransas NWR," says biologist Tom Stehn
from the flock's winter home. Migration is calling, and the new Eastern
Flock is getting ready. |
|||
Journal: A Hard Decision | Print Journey South Journals | ||
"When it comes
time to fly, it is hard to know what will happen with a young chick with
a slight wheeze. The team took a chance sending him to Wisconsin and
we are still hoping it was the right choice," says pilot Joe Duff.
Despite a number of attempts, this week chick #11-10 only flew far enough
to land in the marsh next to the pen. Before this week is over, he will
see doctors in Madison, WI for an exam. “By
then,” continues
Joe, “we should
be able to evaluate his condition and know better if he will be able to
join us or end up as a display bird at a zoo.” |
|
||
Compare
Your Thoughts |
|||
Meet the Flock: Crane Quiz #4 | Print the Quiz | ||
Are you discovering that the chicks are a lot like us? Click on each photo to find the chick's "Baby Book" and life story (bio page): While you're on the bio pages, take this week's Crane Quiz challenge:
|
Answer
this week's quiz question #1 and you'll see who "the
Champ" is. |
||
Slideshow/Booklet: "Life at Camp O.M." | Teacher Guide | ||
About two weeks remain until migration starts! 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.) You already know the chicks get report cards for their performance and behavior. They are now old enough to be called something other than chicks. What is the other name for them? What makes them safer from predators? For answers, view this week's selection as a Web slideshow or click on the matching booklet to print, fold, and take home to share.
|
|
||
Report Cards: Give Cranes a Grade | Lesson: Report Cards for Cranes | ||
Before
most of us are back in school, these chicks are already getting report
cards! Like us,
they get graded on the important skills needed to
face some of their big challenges in life. What kinds of grades do the
cranes get? How do they get scored? What does a crane "report card" look
like? Find out, and then and use the team’s recent records to grade
cranes #10 and #11. You can use the information to help you with the journal
question above. |
|||
Migration Mile-a-Thon: Fitness and Fun | |||
Can
you and your friends beat the cranes to their migration finish line in
Florida
by walking the same distance of 1285 miles? Can you go the distance
before the cranes do? The Crane Class of 2010 and the folks at Operation
Migration (who conduct the chicks' fall ultralight-led migration) challenge
you to try! Each class or school completing the 1,285 miles will receive
a Wildlife Hero Certificate, and each student participant will receive
a special memento autographed by one of OM’s migration team members.
Find tips to get started,
and more. |
|||
Countdown to Migration: Posted Fridays | Bookmark the Whooping Crane Home Page | ||
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! |
|||
We'll be back with more news next Friday: October 1, 2010. | |||
More
Whooping Crane Lessons
and Teaching Ideas! |
|||
|