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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/2015_zpsxsnfjrwo.jpg) (http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/operationmigration_175x1311_zpseb6edaa9.jpg)
Whooping Cranes, Operation Migration
Meet the Class of 2015 Whooping Cranes!
OM - Operation Migration, Princeton in NE Wisconsin
The chicks learn to follow a 'trike' - essentially a flying lawn mower lol
OM trains chicks to follow a lite aircraft then in September leads them to Florida
7 whooping crane chicks - 6 girls and a boy
July 3, 2015 - The birds arrived.
July 3 the training
The July 3 training the babies were joined by 2 adult cranes
The grown cranes from previous years return to check out the chicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HzZ-bQXEP8&feature=youtu.be
July 4 OM should post more info on July 3 training and the wb - adults
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
July 2, 2015 - The birds arrived in Wisconsin
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/03/theyre-here
July 2 - The birds arrived at pen site
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5O39CgkH0o
OM Daily blog
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
http://operationmigration.org
migration timeslines
http://operationmigration.org/migration-timeslines.asp
Jun. 19, 2015 Class of 2015
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/06/19/9118
PHOTOS of returnees from previous years
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/06/18/right-place-at-the-right-time-2
Goodies
cranes - Potential Pair?
June 26, 2015 - Female #3 2014 and male #4 2012 are still in Green Lake County, Wisconsin
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/06/25/potential-pair
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IMG_1418.jpg
OM Whooping Cranes 2015
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/ftopic4464-162.php
OM Whooping Cranes 2013 2014 2015
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about4464.html
2 crane cams
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/migratingcranes/pop-out
wild earth cranecam some like better
http://www.wildearth.tv/cam/operation-migration
info on bands, etc
http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=11a4cbb353183651db108a7c1&id=6c100cd1d9&e=d993e87dd7
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/flag/US1.gif) July 4, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
Today's chick - aircraft training
Dont you wonder who trains who? ;D
https://youtu.be/g_fcbpV87Yk
Did I mention ...
They train the chicks shortly after
6 am
:o
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/flag/eagle1.gif) July 5, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
5.30 am The whooper chicks are in their wet pen, one gives his great wings a flap
6.15 am The tumes (people wearing costumes) try to get chicks out for training, but they resist
6.30 am The chix are supposed to run-flap after the trike but after a lot of resisance (are chix on strike?),
- the pilot walks - then they follow
6.39 They get the idea and flap
Tumes feed chix grapes or smelt (fish) to coax them
7 am training wrapped up - get chix back into pen
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July 5 - more
7 am training ends
[attachment deleted by admin]
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July 6, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
wind, RAIN coming
5.30 am The whooper chicks are in their wet pen, one gives his great wings a flap
6.15 am The tumes (people wearing costumes) try to get chicks out for training
6.45 Meet n greet as the 2015 chix meet the trike with the wing
2 adult whoopers join them, tumes try to chase them off
They all parade, trike, chix behind tumes, led by adult cranes
There is too much wind with coming rain for training
Whoophill
In addition to the chicks above we have had the unexpected addition of the only known whoophill chick in Wisconsin. 16-11 (M) is currently paired with a sandhill female and their chick ?Whoopsie? is the first chick to be successfully hatched and reared at Horicon. Read more about Whoopsie
http://www.savingcranes.org/whats-new/2015/06/whoopsie-the-whooping-sandhill-crane-chick
WCEP Whooping Crane June Update
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/06/wceps-whooping-crane-update-for-june
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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The 2 young OM grads who showed up are 3-14 and 4-12
from 2014 and 2012
Video July 6 training - well .. sort of
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nuBO-C0KLUk
https://youtu.be/g_fcbpV87Yk
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July 7, 2015 Tuesday Shepnotes
you never know what you might see at dawn
6.30 am training cancelled, too windy
OM blog and pictures
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/07/training-update-8
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July 8, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
Richard was the pilot today, 4 chicks came out of the pen.
There were supposed to be 7 OM chicks 2015 but one was sent elsewhere so we only have 6
The 2012 and 2014 cranes showed up again today and were pests
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Hi Shep. Thanks for the OM updates and pics. :) I usually follow OM at the OM site and see their pics/vids/daily reports, calendars, etc there, but I haven't gotten to it yet this year, so it's nice to get some of that from you here.
You said one of the 2015 chicks was sent elsewhere this year, leaving 6 for OM training this year. Where was it sent, and why? LOL... inquiring minds... lol. ;) :D
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July 9, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
Richard was the pilot again today, all 6 chicks came out of the pen.
The 2012 and 2014 cranes showed up again today and were pests,
today one of the 2015 chicks chased them away from the group! Ahahaha!
I got a sweet pic of the WHOLE GANG! Pilot, trike, tumes, chicks -
and the naughty adults they call wb for white birds
baz! I am glad to see you here!
I know OM has their forum but there is so much they dont report
Chick #7 went to LA to expand the genetic diversity of that group
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Chick #7 went to LA to expand the genetic diversity of that group
Oh, that's good to know, Shep! I was hoping it wasn't due to illness or injury. That's a long way to go - hope the chick arrives safe sound there.
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Since OM is so concerned with DNA - I wondere how they feel about Whoopsie-
the chick of a Whooper and a Sandhill
WHOOPS
;D
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Since OM is so concerned with DNA - I wondere how they feel about Whoopsie-
the chick of a Whooper and a Sandhill
WHOOPS
;D
Yeah, that's a strange one, isn't it? But it happened naturally, so what can you do? They met, they liked (a lot), and they produced a chick. :D I wonder if the Whoopsie is a sterile hybrid? If so, there wouldn't be any impact on the gene pool, except that the Whooper and Sandhill crane parents wouldn't otherwise be contributing to the gene pools of their own kind. But if the Whoopsie is capable of successful natural reproduction when paired with another Whooper, or Sandhill, then I guess that would fall to natural selection to determine how that goes over time. But it's such a rare thing, I can't imagine it having any impact really. Nature does have its oddities.
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July 10, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
7 am trike flew in - fog delay - lotta honking from WBs greets Richard the pilot
2 chicks eager to go, 2 more strolled out, finally the last 2 were lured outta their wet pen
The chicks are 5 girls and a boy
#1 green
#2 black they called him Forest cuz he wanders into the bush
#6 yellow is aggressive - da B- of the group
#8 light blue
#10 white is chicken
#11 dark blue band is the only MALE in the group (cohort)
I dont know at what age they call the chicks - colts
pic - Chicks are training the pilot
Trikes n tumes n cranes - O MY!
July 8, 2015 training
adult cranes, sandhill cranes
https://youtu.be/EEWvL71Pjgw
July 9, 2015 training
https://youtu.be/lByVazI2vJs
Keith posts the training videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/QhQnmS
Whoopsie
Everything you wanna know - almost - for now
hybrid of a male Whooping Crane and a female Sandhill Crane
http://www.savingcranes.org/whats-new/2015/06/whoopsie-the-whooping-sandhill-crane-chick
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Whoopsie
Everything you wanna know - almost - for now
hybrid of a male Whooping Crane and a female Sandhill Crane
http://www.savingcranes.org/whats-new/2015/06/whoopsie-the-whooping-sandhill-crane-chick
Excellent article! on Whoopsie, the Whoophill - the hybrid offspring of a Whooping Crane and a Sandhill Crane.
Thanks, Shep.
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July 11, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
7.10 am trike flew in - fog delay - Richard is the pilot
7.15 am Training begins
All 6 stayed with trike nicely, all are spreading their wings
Its neat to see them running with, behind, or ahead of the trike with open wings
July 11 training session
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwrOI0e__Yw
July 10 evening flying birds, buck deer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln_9WQUMWYY
pheasant visit 07 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aMO9gTs2Y
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July 12, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
7.40 am trike flew in - fog delay - Richard is the pilot
7.45 am Training
Keith posts the training videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/QhQnmS
FACTOID
Chicks eat Purina crane chow - and their feeders are sterilized weekly
July 7 update of current trends of chicks by Heather
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/07/training-update-8
Meet the Class of 2015 Whooping Cranes June 2015
This has their individual photos and a brief description of their personalities
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/06/19/9118
Some nice crane pics by Colleen
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/page/2/?n=field-journal-operationmigration
I have titled today's 2 pics - follow grapes - because thats what their training is.
Drive trike 10 feet, stop, give chicks grapes, smelt, mealworms, or whatever treat
FOLLOW ME is the most important lesson OM teaches.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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July 13, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
Lots of rain, no train, dont complain ;D
If Only We Were Fluent in Whooping Crane 8)
Good article by pilot Joe Duff and great photos
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/13/if-only-we-were-fluent-in-whooping-crane
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2d0nt4l.jpg)
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July 15, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
6.30 am training, RVH pilot (Richard)
WB (adult whoopers) mixed em up. WB get along well with the chix, not aggressive,
but do interfere with training.
There was no training July 14 - too windy
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LOL Shep. :) It's fun watching the chicks and learning about their individual personalities. Too funny sometimes. Thanks for the pics and updates. The adult Whoopers just came back to get their certification renewal training and sign-offs and to encourage the new class by showing how paying attention pays off. :D ;) :D
(Pssst... today is Wednesday all day, in the USA ;) :D )
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LOL Shep. :) It's fun watching the chicks and learning about their individual personalities. Too funny sometimes. Thanks for the pics and updates. The adult Whoopers just came back to get their certification renewal training and sign-offs and to encourage the new class by showing how paying attention pays off. :D ;) :D
(Pssst... today is Wednesday all day, in the USA ;) :D )
LOL!!! thanks ahahaha
Yes its fun to see each chick has its personalitiy
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LOL Shep. :) It's fun watching the chicks and learning about their individual personalities. Too funny sometimes. Thanks for the pics and updates. The adult Whoopers just came back to get their certification renewal training and sign-offs and to encourage the new class by showing how paying attention pays off. :D ;) :D
(Pssst... today is Wednesday all day, in the USA ;) :D )
LOL!!! thanks ahahaha
Yes its fun to see each chick has its personalitiy
Ha ha. I see you updated your post above. ;) :D Glad we're on the same calendar page again. ;) (I sometimes think it's a different day of the week if I look at last year's calendar by mistake in my checkbook. :D )
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July 16, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
6.30 am RVH pilot (Richard) arrived - soon after, training began, wb in attendance
White birds - adults - calling before trike arrived - we are calling the wb the royal couple
#1 green preens the trike OM calls YM - yellow mama
#6 yellow is aggressive - she gets over the fence into the weeds
After training ended and trike flew off, the wb grazed on the runway and the young deer joined them.
I kinda wonder if that spread wings - male in front of female - was male's way of tellimg OM - LQQKEE what I got - meaning a mate
lingreenhalgh screen pic, used with her permission
The Royal Couple Joins Training by Jo-Anne Bellemer
The Royal Couple are the wb - white adult birds - #4 MALE from 2012 and #3 FEMALE from 2014
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/16/the-royal-couple-joins-training
Yes baz thanks to you I corrected my date.
I sometimes am unsure what day it is!
Today I have lots of pictures!
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more pics after training
Royal Couple strut the runway
deer joins in
During training #6 with the YELLOW band got across the fence
evidently she can fly a bit
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Shep, thanks for all the pics and update from the training today. LOL on the Royal Couple. I think #6 yellow is precocious. LOL. Hope she doesn't have a mishap with her adventurous and independent ways.
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July 18, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
no training - Tstorm
Storm put cam out, here is video of storm
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/67936814/pop-out
Cam was back when I checked at 10 am
pen looks fine
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July 19 and 20, 2015 Shepnotes
no training - wind
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July 21, 2015 Tuesday Shepnotes
6.30 am Trike arrives - birds out - and took off down the runway without Brooke!
- and a couple FLEW -
- one chick flew up up and away! - the WRONG way! BEAUTIFUL!
It flew in a BIG circle and back to runway! AMAZING!
6.45 am FINALLY Brooke was able to get the chix to FOLLOW him instead of LEAD him!
He had to go faster - they ALL FLEW!
7.10 am END training
You gotta see the video - LOL
https://youtu.be/BFzf97TY720
CHIX FLY - you see all 6 chicks
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Shep, Awwww. And, LOLOLOL. Every class is different, but there's always one who charts his/her own course. LOL. Loved that they ALL FLEW! Did you ever get to find out which chick did the big "wrong way flight/circle?" Just curious if maybe it was #6 Yellow. Thanks for the play-by-play, pics, and vid. :)
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July 22, 2015 Wednesday Shepnotes
6.07 am Trike arrives - birds out - eager to fly but not follow
chicks MUST learn - FOLLOW - they are NOT getting the msg!
#6 flew into the weeds
#6 and 10 flew to the unfenced pond, one got a frog
WB came and 2 chicks chased them - I think #1 was one of them
Not only do 6 and 10 fly off course, they coax #8 away too
#6, 10 and 8 all went to unfenced pond - bad chicks!
cam goes OFF from time to time
baz - My guess was #6 also, but
Heather said probably #2
[attachment deleted by admin]
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July 22 - see previous page for more pics of today
cam quit before training ended
apparantly the chix are trying to train the pilot- Brooke today
On the runway the WB - white birds interrupted -
and 2 chicks chased the adults! then challenged each other
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Tee hee. I can't help it - I love their escapades. ;) :D :D :D
But I do know they are going to need to "reel it in" because of the importance of their schedule - to train successfully and have a successful "follow me and my trike" first migration to get to their wintering grounds in time. I just love everything about the Operation Migration Project! :)
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July 22 Wed video
I had to get this off video - hard to get good snips in real time
O baz yes I enjoy their rebellions!
But I'd never have the patience OM has teaching them -
FOLLOW!
can you count how many bird rebels are where they shudnt be?
hahaa
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July 23, 2015 [/b] Thursday Shepnotes
Trike arrives before 6 am - birds out - eager to fly but not follow
chicks MUST learn - FOLLOW - and they ARENT
#6 headed for pond 2 right away - and stayed there, she wandered also around the back outside of her wetpen,
but she refused to join training - BEHIND trike
The WB (adults) came with the trike but werent too much interruption
#8 chases WB
very hard to tell lite blue from white band
The LAST runway lap, 5 chicks did follow the trike
Brooke had a time coaxing #6 back INside pen
It almost seemed to me the 2 adults think they are guardians of chix.
HeatherRayOM - they (adults) really are good role models and reinforce to the colts that they are indeed whooping cranes
Keith posts videos
https://youtube.com/user/QhQnmS
July 23 video
https://youtu.be/elem1g2wINY
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Thanks for the updates from this morning, Shep. :) They are making progress. :D It takes time to learn the desired routines and skills. Just as happened last year, if one or two colts don't follow their lead along with the others, the OM folks will find an alternate way to handle them successfully. I'm glad to hear OM likes the adult Whoopers being around the chicks and that the adults are a positive influence on the colts and their imprinting as Whoopers. Yay! :) :-* :-* :D
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baz, I intentionally posted what Heather'd said because she is THE authority.
Here is excerpts from FJ
Adult Whooping Cranes Stop by
July 23, 2015 Heather Ray
This morning?s training session was joined by adult cranes 3-14 & 4-12, which have been dubbed the ?Royal couple.' Several of the crane colts attempted to chase them away numerous times and there was a good amount of displaying going on. While they can be disruptive, this pair has actually been rather respectful and we hope, are being good role models for the young cranes.
Whooping crane #6-15 spent most of her time foraging and exploring the second pond and behind the wetpen. It seems all of the young colts are now flying in ground effect the entire length of the runway and a couple are getting a decent height for their age, which is how #6-15 ended up near the second pond. It?ll take some time and practice for them to learn how to controls those large wings now that they?ve discovered them.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/23/two-adult-whooping-cranes-stop-by
They need to keep the Whooper DNA clean.
I wondered what they'd do with WHOOPSIE!
Hybrid Whoophill Captured
July 22, 2015 Heather Ray
The WCEP staff captured hybrid crane chick referred to as a ?Whoophill,? in eastern Wisconsin and will place the chick in captivity. Whoophills are a result of a successful pairing between a Whooping crane and a Sandhill crane. This young hybrid crane was sent to the Milwaukee County Zoo temporarily.
To increase the chance that the male whooping crane will help build his own species? population, WCEP will attempt to break up the pair. It may involve the male being captured and temporarily placed in captivity near other free-ranging Whooping cranes. WCEP will place a new radio transmitter on the male to monitor him.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/22/hybrid-whoophill-captured
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/22/what-are-the-odds
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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They need to keep the Whooper DNA clean.
I wondered what they'd do with WHOOPSIE!
Hybrid Whoophill Captured
July 22, 2015 Heather Ray
The WCEP staff captured hybrid crane chick referred to as a ?Whoophill,? in eastern Wisconsin and will place the chick in captivity. Whoophills are a result of a successful pairing between a Whooping crane and a Sandhill crane. This young hybrid crane was sent to the Milwaukee County Zoo temporarily.
To increase the chance that the male whooping crane will help build his own species? population, WCEP will attempt to break up the pair. It may involve the male being captured and temporarily placed in captivity near other free-ranging Whooping cranes. WCEP will place a new radio transmitter on the male to monitor him.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/22/hybrid-whoophill-captured
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/22/what-are-the-odds
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
I am very sad to read this news!!
This seems like it's interfering with the "natural order" of things. This is not the first hybrid of this type, nor will it be the last. Hybrids happen in many populations. If they are successful, then so be it. There is nothing "wrong" with the hybrid offspring, and it doesn't need to be "culled" from the population. The Whoopsie is a natural result of the mixing of the populations of two different, but often intermingled, species. This happens in many, many, many bird species/populations, and among species of other types of animals, too. I understand the reasons it is being done, but it just doesn't feel like the right decision to me. Just my opinion. Not trying to start an argument. LOL. Everyone has an opinion, and that's mine.
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July 24, 2015 [/b] Flyday Shepnotes
Trike arrives - birds out - today they followed. amazing
WB crouched down after trike left
Heather said it was a crouch threat
http://www.christyyuncker.com/Craneattackdisplays.html
July 24 video
https://youtu.be/21KillXS95o
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Thanks, Shep. Yay! They all get an A+ for their trike training this morning! :D
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July 25, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
Both the WB adults and 2 sandhill cranes stand waiting on runway
Trike arrives, pilot Joe - birds out - today they flew every which way
To everyone's SHOCK, Joe flew! Perhaps the only way he could get, keep all 6 chix attention.
Todays video is a MUST SEE!
Who da boss - or - Duff gets gruff - to get the adults off the runway
A whooper makes a great hood ornament for the trike!
The adults WHOOPED a protest!
The adults seem to take almost a parenting role. Nice for chicks to have them.
Adorable to see all the chicks running out of the pen!
At least 4 are flying, that were on cam, but they are LEADING, not following
The other 2 flew right to pond 2 - NOT what they are sposed to do!
July 25 video - MUST SEE! FULL SCREEN!
4 of the 6 colts stayed with Joe to the other end of the runway
Joe surprised EVERYONE! by taking off
https://youtu.be/Sztsd2ce0d0
WB crouched down after trike left
July 24 Heather said it was a crouch threat
http://www.christyyuncker.com/Craneattackdisplays.html
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snips off video
What a SHOCK to ALL!
Pilot Joe Duff took off! And all 6 chicks followed him -
up up up around - and 4 follwed to the other end of runway!
:o :o :o :o :o
8) 8) 8)
;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
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WOO HOOO!! THE BAY-BEEZ ALL FLEW BEHIND JOE TODAY!! WOO-HOOO!!! :) :) :-* :-*
They did just great! Exciting!
Thanks, Shep. :) The video was fab! Thanks for your snips, too. :)
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:o :o Shep and baz; Every time I open the door to the forum...I learn something NEW and ;D ;D Exciting and since the only place that I have seen Whooping Cranes has been on TV, I am thrilled (as I am everyday) to read your posts; photos and funny videos. ;D I have been told for three years that I would learn so much in the forum and now that I am here; I am doing, just that!!! :o There is just one problem tho; this is where I am most of the day.( especially when our temps are averaging 102 daily) :o :o
Thanks Shep for the great lessons and if you don't mind, I will be returning to your classes :D :D
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:o :o Shep and baz; Every time I open the door to the forum...I learn something NEW and ;D ;D Exciting and since the only place that I have seen Whooping Cranes has been on TV, I am thrilled (as I am everyday) to read your posts; photos and funny videos. ;D I have been told for three years that I would learn so much in the forum and now that I am here; I am doing, just that!!! :o There is just one problem tho; this is where I am most of the day.( especially when our temps are averaging 102 daily) :o :o
Thanks Shep for the great lessons and if you don't mind, I will be returning to your classes :D :D
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Hi Oma! Fancy meeting you here! ;) ;) :D Glad you found this thread!
Although I get the great highlights on OM from Shep here, I have been following this "story" ever since I saw the movie, "Fly Away Home" - in the mid-to-latter 90's.
If you haven't already, I urge you to go to the Operation Migration main web page to learn about the history of this project.
It is at http://operationmigration.org/
I have followed the Whooping Crane ultralight-led migrations online for more years than I can count now - maybe almost 15 years now? - at least 10+ years for sure. Close to that I think... from back when so little of it was available to "see" online - mostly just the logs of the yearly ultralight-led migrations of the colts for their first trip to their wintering grounds, with update reports on the migration progress. It was always packed with surprises, ups and downs, some sadness, and also elation when they made it... and then when some of those first young Whoopers made their very first return trips back on their own to their "home" areas. It was astounding and ecstatic news!! Talk about Happy Dance! :D Now of course, with the advances in internet and the "growing up" of web development, along with the growth of this Operation Migration project, we can see all the details all along the way.
I urge you to explore that Operation Migration (OM) web site! You will see a row of tabs across the top of that page to get you to different points of interest about the project.
There is a tab there for the Live Cam, too. Don't get fooled by any large ads that cover the whole live cam screen - just "x" out of them to get to the live cam stream. :) There is also a chat box there which you can read without signing in. But you will need to sign in if you want to post - you know about that. :) Of course, if you go to that cam page, you can scroll down below the live cam video screen to get more info about the cam view there. :)
There are a couple of ways to get to the Live Cam, and they are a little different look on the pages.
The ustream Live Cam page is at http://www.ustream.tv/migratingcranes
Or click on the "Live Camera" tab on the OM home page, and you will get a little bit different look and feel, and also a link on that page to the "Flight Cam" which, if you click on that link, will tell you that it is only live during certain events.
Tool around the site. You're going to fall in love with it! At least I did! :) You discovered it at just the right time to see some of the most exciting parts of training of these young Whoopers before they start out on their migration - and THAT is a whole different cliffhanger of a story to follow!
Have fun! :)
I usually don't start watching Live Cam every year till it gets closer to time for the migration to start. Thanks to Shep, I can stop by this thread when I am in Forum to get the lowdown on what's happening these days. ;) :D After you have clicked on everything there just about that you can, then make sure and bookmark it.
Also bookmark its related "Field Journal" page, where you can scroll through a journal, so to speak, of the daily activities and highlights, with links to videos and photos. Some of these pages can take a bit of extra time to load, so be patient - it's worth it!
The Field Journal is at http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/?n=field-journal-operationmigration - and you can scroll down to see the current past entries, too.
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Welcome oma! :D
Thank you baz for all that information.
It never hurts to re-post urls on other pages!
I am up before the sun naturally so dont get up 'specially' for the 6 am or so training!
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Tina, isn't it fun to watch the young Whoopers? They each have their own individual personalities, too, of course, which you will discover the more you watch it. A word of warning... LOL... Addiction to following the Whoopers can be rapid. :D :D
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;D ;D baz; thanks for the wonderful info and links. I watched "Fly Away Home" many times and was mesmerized by the amount of time and patience it takes from point A to home and back. Now I have watched every video :o and copied the web sites down and after two hours here I need a nap like you do ;D Lots of great info and I really appreciate your assistance :D :D
.....and thanks again to Shep. for starting this thread :D :D
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July 27, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
Chat is not working, cam is very iffy, I quit trying
Joe Duff was pilot again
Great to have you aboard oma, tina and baz :)
July 27, 2015 video
Joe flew a couple circles - ONE chick followed
https://youtu.be/yFO4SeNTuio
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So sorry to hear Bob Anderson passed away!
In memory of Bob Anderson
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2049.0.html
wind beneath our wings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jorJh8DTMVM
Under His wings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZMnPN5QdLk
Amy, may the LORD be with you and yours during this time.
:'(
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July 28, 2015 [/b] Tuesday Shepnotes
Too windy to fly so the 3 tumes take chix on a walkbout
Will the chix walk? Will they fly? Will they mind? Stay tuned - As the Trike Flies
Chix come eagerly out of the gate! fly to the end of the runway as if waiting for the trike - which isnt there. haha
Its cute to see the chix gather around the 2 men in costumes
VIDEOS
Operation Migration National Geographic 2008
https://youtu.be/Prd57DTzqoA
July 27 the kids had a hike in the marsh as OM mowed the runway - it was gettin bumpy!
Video of the colts taking their field trip
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQO5e5RFKZs
Beautiful OM photos
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/24/blind-date-anyone
Did I read that right?
24 chicks hatched this year from 37 nests. Only three chicks have survived to mid-July.
Whooping crane hatching season produces hope and concern.
Endangered whooping cranes are slowly gaining a foothold in the state as another breeding season rears a few more wild chicks in their new Wisconsin home. Challenged by pests and inexperience, the cranes have struggled to reproduce successfully in the wild.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/28/in-case-you-missed-it-5
continue reading here
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/whooping-crane-hatching-season-produces-hope-and-concern-b99541545z1-318595461.html
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WHOOPSIE
Hybrid whoophill crane update
The hybrid crane colt captured last week is safe at the Milwaukee County Zoo, where it will be housed together with their lone Sandhill crane. The colt captured is a whoophill, the result of a successful pairing between a whooping crane and a sandhill crane. This chick was noticed at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in May.
The good news here is we have learned #16 from 2011, the male whooping crane, is a vigilant male that has helped his sandhill mate raise a chick and protect it from predation. Since this male appears to have good parenting skills, we hope he can use these in the future with a whooping crane mate.
MULTIPLE MATE MALES (Im a lil confused here too)
While some whooping cranes have strong mate fidelity, there are many pairs that swap mates frequently. We are hopeful this will be the case for this pair, to help increase the chance this male whooping crane will help build his species? population in the future.
It is never easy to take steps to remove an animal from the wild, but we are guided by the scientific expertise of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership and the hope that our efforts will ensure that whooping cranes continue to be a part of our landscape.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/07/27/hybrid-crane-update
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:o :oShep; I have been reading everything I could find about these beautiful birds but I have a couple of QQ's please. 1. Where is Baraboo? and 2. Why are they scattered all around the states? Is there no way that some could be moved to one State for training. oops I will google Baraboo ::)-- thank you, oma
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Oma, I cant answer ALL the questions, but these links may be of help.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/crane/index.html
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
http://operationmigration.org
The reason they wear those white sheet costumes is so the chicks will remain wild, not habituated to humans. Frankly I cringe when they call them 'wild.' They want to bring back the species from near extinction.
You can email - [email protected]
I have tracked them for a couple years in my own forum.
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about4464.html
This is misc crane info and links not specific to OM
Whooping Cranes, events, mortalities
I hated to include their deaths, but their survival rate is so low
animals get them, so do electric lines - or an illegal shooter
DONT blame guns. gun doesnt kill, people do
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about4561.html
Wisconsin whooping cranes have 2 flocks -
The groups OM raises and takes to Florida behind the trike,
and a wild group than allows the parents to raise their own chicks.
There are other groups in other states
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:) :) shep; many thanks. I have all the links and I shall do more homework :o I really appreciate your time. I will be back after I study more ;D
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:) We can enjoy watching what is going on with the young Whoopers, and follow their progress and development via OM this year. No studying is required to do that. (whew! :D ;) ) :) Come back anytime, Oma. Shep, thanks for your updates and links to additional info for those who choose to read more.
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July 30, 2015 Thursday Shepnotes
No training - again - winds aloft too strong for trike
The birds lasting fly - training was Monday July 27th.
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Thanks for your updates here, Shep. :)
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July 31, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
BEAUTIFUL full moon greeted the marsh dawn
6+ am Pilot Joe flew in - and took all 6 birdies up up and around
#2 kept following a couple more circles
Joe took the birds up twice - once at each end of runway
Birds flew very well along runway, one flew over pond 2 but circled and didnt land. GOOD BIRD
5:54 am Bird flies by moon, pic by lingreenhalgh
https://flic.kr/p/wrFqAe
Keith posts videos a couple hours after training is over
https://youtube.com/user/QhQnmS
LIVE CAM - best link
http://operationmigration.org/cranecam.asp
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Awww Shep, Thanks. Great training this morning! Yay! Loved the pics you posted, too - especially of the beautiful golden yellow, but official Blue Moon! :D ;) And thanks for the links.
(I love it when there is a Blue Moon - which is when there are two full moons in the same month. Today is the second full moon in July, making it a Blue Moon! :) )
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/sky/blum.jpg)
You are RIGHT bout a blue moon baz
allow me to share a pic from my files
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:o :o shep; great videos and such patience from Joe :D :D
I loved the beautiful moon photos; especially a REAL blue moon.
Many thanks for all above.
[/i]
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Hi Oma!
Shep, pretty cool Blue Moon pic.
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August 1, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
BEAUTIFUL full moon greeted the marsh dawn
6.24 am the chicks hear the trike landing and PREEP! loudly, gather, eager to be free!
6.24 am Pilot Joe flew in - and took off - today birdies scattered, 2 stayed with trike, 4 landed on runway
6.38 WB show up
6.43 - Flight #2 had 4 chix stay with trike in a figure 8
Aug 1 training video
https://youtu.be/PmicAVbEIFM
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Hi Shep! LOL on the training runs this morning. Oh well, it's Saturday. Maybe the chicks just wanted more "play time" today. :D
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August 2, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
I'll have to get video - the cam and chat kept kicking me out, I couldnt stay connected and gave up
Aug 2 training video, pilot Joe Duff
https://youtu.be/jJwXyeOSPYY
WILD CHILD!
OK - got video. This is hilarious! Joe goes LEFT, 2 go RIGHT,
they turn back to Joe - but wander into weeds - followed by 2 more - who circle back - to the other weeds
This would NOT be funny to pilot but sure is funny to me! Wild kids loving FREEDOM!
Only one snip - but - you look at the video! Its great.
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Shep. Funny training report.
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:o :o Shep: Pilot Joe's video is wonderful!! It was so funny when they all seemed to go in every direction at first, but NOT funny to Joe. Also, very nice to see into their pen and "pool". The meticulous way they feed them treats is also fascinating. :D :D Terrific video, and the WB's gave him a piece of their mind loudly too.... Many thanks for photos and video. ;D I learned lots more today ;D
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August 3, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
No training - windy - tumes did let the chix out to play tho
Only pics I got for you is a great blue heron eating in pond 2
* So glad you ladies enjoy! ;)
EXTRA CREDIT
Adult cranes eat blue crabs in Florida
I saw this link off facebook from osprey-falcon link - ches-con
By February in the lower Chesapeake Bay, mature female blue crabs are buried in the sediment, waiting for the arrival of summer to hatch their eggs and continue a life cycle that takes about two years to complete.
diagrams blue crab mating
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/the-ebb-and-flow-of-blue-crabs/1593
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:o :o shep and baz; ::) what a great afternoon I had; followed all links and went to OM website. I will need to go back because my little "whooper" notebook is almost full. ???I told you both that I would do my homework and will not ask anymore QQ's until I feel more secure.
After watching our Decorah Eagles for 3 years; this site is fairly new to me. I am somewhat :o surprised that my very OLD head can learn so much here but it is fascinating and I am sticking around. Many thanks for all the links; photos and videos :-* :-*
I can handle spelling, but I wish there was a punctuation check,.;'etc.
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August 4, 2015 Tuesday Shepnotes
6.11 am Brooke arrives, pilot today
Brooke took chicks up right away, and circled around and all 6 followed!
He took them up twice - rested by walking the runway slowly -
then took them up again. 4 followed, 2 landed
You gotta see the video!
As he circled to land, he had 4 behind him - the 2 on the runway flew up to meet him in front of him -
and - the 2 adult birds could be seen flying in off his right wing as he circled
WOW
Aug 4 training, Brooke pilot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhflW3ddN98
Excellent article by Joe Duff, pilot
Funny description of crane adults who visit!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/04/welcome-to-the-new-guy
crane Tshirt
http://teespring.com/cranewhoop
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Colleen and Keith!
oma - glad you are learning!
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;D shep; once again I thank you for your updates. :o I love the video from earlier today because they all looked eager to fly with Brook. When they took off into the sunrise...oh, what a beautiful site!!!
:o The second time was funny while the three standoff's waited for a snack :D :D
I read Joe's blog "welcome new guy" and found it quite fascinating that all of the OM staff have such interesting backgrounds.....very, very interesting, but when I tried to post (after signing in) I kept getting bounced off. I am not tech save at all but each time I typed a comment....it ignored me :o :o
Thanks again Shep for all that you bring to us :-* :-*
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Oma - I see your reply just fine on the OM Blog page! ;D
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I do too, Oma! :) ... under the "Welcome to the New Guy" article by Joe Duff (which was very good):
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/04/welcome-to-the-new-guy/
Hi Glo! :)
Thanks for the morning training update and links and s'caps, Shep! :)
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Oma - I see your reply just fine on the OM Blog page! ;D
glog and baz..........thank you very much; I was getting frustrated because I wanted him to know I appreciated the blog :-* :-* :-*
now I am trying to open this /www.dazzlejunction.com/ because TSK -Sue was helping me to post thingy's like happy birthday, etc :o :o I just cannot open it :( :(
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Oma, try taking off the slash before and after that dazzle url - just start with the www and end with the .com - no slash. It worked for me like that.
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Oma, try taking off the slash before and after that dazzle url - just start with the www and end with the .com - no slash. It worked for me like that.
:o baz; thank you: I will certainly try it again in the a.m...
:-* :-*I am a new great grandmother...hooray, another precious little girl :-* :-*
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Awww Oma. That's wonderful! A new great granddaughter for you! :)
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Awww Oma. That's wonderful! A new great granddaughter for you! :)
Thank you baz; this makes 4..all girls ;D ;D
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August 5, 2015 Wensday Shepnotes
Joe is pilot today
5 followed nicely, one didnt
Today #2 flew to pond 2 on the 3rd run
Beginning of video we see the great blue heron dancing in pond 2 - probly a young one
I took only one shot today of trike with cranes off his wing - in the mist
Aug 5 video
https://youtu.be/zlqCGzbXW6Q
Another article by Joe Duff, pilot
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/05/patience
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August 6, 2015 Thursday Shepnotes
No trike today - engine not running well
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August 6, 2015 Thursday Shepnotes
No trike today - engine not running well
Maybe the WBs can stand in for Joe and the Trike for a training spin or two? :D ;) :D
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August 7, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
No training, raining - trike fixed and Heather found her keyes
Eeeewww!!!
Whooper chick eats a - sssssssnake!!!
http://wildearth.tv/videomark/snake-wranglers
BAZ - love your idea! And the adults do appear to act like parents to the chicks
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Thanks for the update, Shep!
Glad the trike is fixed. (The mechanic should take the first flight in it... just saying... ;) :D ;D )
I like the WBs being around - especially since they seem to be of some "parental" help. Maybe they are a "positive" in terms of imprinting implications... just a guess on my part about that of course. At least maybe they give the chicks some "perspective" on what adult Whoopers really look like... LOL.
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YES baz that is exactly correct.
OM Heather who I call Captain Heather has said the adults are a good influence.
They are never aggressive to chicks - thankfully!
The pilots have more than enuf on their minds than dealing with aggressive adults!
(like keep the trike engine running - lol ;D )
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August 8, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
6.17 am pilot is here and the tumes release the chix - and - they're OFF - without the trike! lol
The pilot did not take off into the air - but the chicks did - total loss of control as cranes fly every direction
6.35 already over. I wonder if something was wrong
Aug 8 video begins with a cute sandpiper bathing
See how eager these cranes are to fly and be free after 2 days penned up
Joe didnt fly with them today - I dont know why
https://youtu.be/SYQGvcctjr4
REMEMBER Bob Anderson today - memorial this afternoon
In memory of Bob Anderson
Raptor resource Bob Anderson passed away July 27, 2015
Of all raptors, peregrin falcons was his passion - 8 pages - so far
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2049.0.html
Bob's "Celebration of Life" video
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/70328347
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SPECIAL SNIP
BABY TURKEYS!
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[ :o :o shep: funny video of the cranes saying "hey, Joe...just watch our show" and poor Joe just watching until they settled down :-[ . Maybe it was an aerial tribute to Bob.
Cute photos of turkey with babies...Thanx for that.too :-* :-*
[/color][/font][/i]
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Thank you Shep and Oma for your posts and updates here today.
For those who may perch and visit this thread who may not have seen this info yet...
Please take a moment to remember Bob Anderson, the founder, inspiration and leader of the Raptor Resource Project, who died suddenly and unexpectedly on June 27th. He is loved, missed, and mourned by his worldwide "family," in addition to his personal family, friends, and RRP associates. Bob was memorialized and remembered today in Decorah, Iowa, in a special service for a Celebration of His Life. I encourage you to view the special slide show noted in the article below that was put together by RRP Forum Administrator and good friend of Bob, Amy Ries, and the story of some of Bob's boyhood life as told by his family, also noted with a link in the post below.
Copied below is a post today from the public RRP FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raptor-Resource-Project/103786266324668?fref=nf :
Raptor Resource Project
12 hrs - Edited
Today we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Bob Anderson.
Our sorrow has been tempered by the outpouring of love, kind messages, condolences, and memories shared by all of you recalling how Bob and the Raptor Resource Project has impacted your life, and we thank you all so much for your pledge to come together to bring Bob's dreams and goals to fruition.
Amy has created a beautiful slide show celebrating Bob's life at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/70328347
And in our blog link, there is a bit of Bob's boyhood history shared by his family in, "Our Brother Bob".
http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/2015/08/our-brother-bob-anderson.html
We hope that these will bring you comfort today as you are with us in spirit.
Please excuse the Facebook Team if we aren't as diligent about answering posts this weekend -- everyone has done an amazing job since the sudden loss of our dear friend and we will be taking our own private time to honor and remember him.
We will not be live streaming the Celebration of Life today, but Amy is still working out details to see if it will be videotaped and available later. Please be patient, and we will keep you posted if that is going to be possible or not.
Thank you!
ps .. Thanks to our RaptorResource Mod for creating this beautiful graphic.
** NOTE: The graphic referenced above is a lovely and touching one of Bob with one of his beloved Peregrine Falcons. It is copyrighted by RRP, but may be viewed at the public RRP FB page link noted above, or at:
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/11824993_890191641017456_5205738273344510081_n.jpg?oh=243a0e2b920e81b0f52d9a68752525ef&oe=56535BBA
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Thanks baz!
I read the memorial of Bob by his family dated Aug 7
http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/2015/08/our-brother-bob-anderson.html
I grew up in Minnesota!
I know all those spots they talk about! I may well have met Bob - but with a name as common as Anderson it jogs no memories. His family really took me into those spots in my imagination. Very well written! I never knew Bob personally. I wonder if Mr GSB the falcon cam man will quit his job and take over where Bob left off.
PHOTOS from Bob Anderson - Celebration of Life
August 8, 2015
https://www.flickr.com/photos/134615579@N04
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August 9, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
6.45 am trike arrives in the mist
They did great! All 6 flew following trike - as they need to do
burp in video - OM lost connection
Aug 9 training
Planes and cranes in the mist
https://youtu.be/zYTUrzX4Lek
Aug 9 osprey flew by!
DONT ask me how they cud tell what THAT was! LOL
https://youtu.be/LYMDe57wVIE
Momma Turkey and her babies Aug 8
Very late in the season for babies!
https://youtu.be/5u--_aP5o54
When OM gives the crane chix mellons, you just never know what they will DO with them, clever birds!
On migration to entertain the chix they are sometimes given punkins to peck n eat. Entertains us too!
pic: Does this bring out the GREEN in my eyes?
Aug 8 Article by pilot Joe Duff
The Wisconsin weather and a rough running aircraft engine and the result is that the birds are anxious to spread their wings. Saturday morning wasn?t great either. The ceilings were low, the humidity high and the winds were rolling over the trees causing turbulance just above the surface. (I thot Joe's training was awfully short - thats why he didnt go UP with the birds) 2015 chix can fly for 3 or 4 minutes at a time so we braved the bumpy hair and decided to at least give them a little more practice, even if the trike didn?t actually leave the ground. Read Joe's entire article.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/08/theres-a-hole-in-my-boat/
And of course that reminded me of a song!
https://youtu.be/KGsEBP3tpxM
haha! :)
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- shep and baz; thanks for all of the videos, slideshow and other tributes to Bob :) :) I can honestly say that I have viewed every one at least 2 or 3 times and I just cannot watch them anymore. :( :(
From what I have read today; it looks like John Howe is a great selection. He is young and my guess from his photo is that he is in his early 40's.
Our loss is Heaven's gain
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August 10, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
NO training - low ceiling
FOG by pilot Joe Duff
I didn?t expect the birds to perform well because much of what they were breathing was moisture. This usually drains their energy and leaves them open mouth breathing, but this morning they took off eagerly. We stayed low over the marsh and cut a large sweeping turn back to the pen.
We rested for a moment and ate grapes then dodged the two adult cranes on the runway for another chase. 3 times we took off, each flight extending farther from home and all 3 times the birds followed, even finding the wing in perfect formation and we all landed back on the runway ? together.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/10/slaying-fog-dragons
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August 11, 2015 Tuesday Shepnotes
6.16 am trike arrives, Brooke is pilot today
FANTASTIC! They flew ......... and they flew .... and they disappeared .. and they returned with lots of flying birds ... and they flew some more .. and some more .. and then .......... the cam quit again!
They flew for about 15 minutes! Straight!
Brook gave chix grapes, then took them up again.
7 am they put chix back in pen
Pics
Cranes in the mist - looks like a lake!
Brooke, you dont have to pick up half the birds in the marsh!
My pics dont do justice to the beauty
Aug 11 training with Brooke
https://youtu.be/sroMGF3Ayrc
Doe and Fawn playing
https://youtu.be/94O6qc9ibhg
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Really pretty. Funny about the other birds joining them.
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/anim/hang_zpsbc0qjvku.jpg)
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August 13, 2015 Thursday Shepnotes
no training - too windy
One bird escapes as tume cleans pen feeders
https://youtu.be/nnYoXMFZ4Gs
August 12 training
https://youtu.be/43EpLyLPD9k
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August 14, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
6.13 am trike lands, Brooke pilot
6.17 they took off,
6.25 they landed - its RAINING! Its NOT supposed to. Trikes cant fly in rain -seriously
Brooke landed well in pouring rain, thankfully, with all 6 birds.
God thot the colts looked so beautiful flying that way that He cried.
training while raining
August 14 - an OM first, the trikes do NOT fly in so much as a drop of rain!
https://youtu.be/xu_sg0y-p3s
OM tume Tom Schultz photo roundup
PHOTO - Brooke with 6 crane colts
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/13/tom-the-tumes-photo-roundup
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August 15, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
No weekend training til Sept
Joe Duff, OM pilot and staff
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/14/no-aircraft-training-for-the-next-four-weekends
Keith posts videos of the various wildlife in the marsh
https://youtube.com/user/QhQnmS
Irresistable pics stolen from the Decorah (eagles) lounge - 8)
(http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4e/18/22/4e1822cb43785f68f43f5bf91af7dd1b.jpg)
(http://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/s960x960/11885022_752187224890803_6994280633713143646_o.jpg)
Posted by Lani
Roseate Spoonbill's enjoying their time together !
Jefferson Island
New Iberia, Louisiana
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August 16, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
No aircraft training on weekends until Sept.
Doug Pellerin saw male Whooping crane 5-12 feeding in the field that is normally occupied by 4-12 and 3-14. Within minutes male crane 4-12 showed up and once again chased off his old pal.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/16/reunited-and
2 OM photos on link
Autumn in the air with colors, bugs, and migrating birds gathering.
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;D ;D lani; love your photos of your cute pets and especially the Roseate spoonbills. driving from Texas to Louisiana there are many in the marshes en route -- thanks for posting
shep; be back on weekdays for the next four weeks; the fellas need their weekends off for certain :D
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August 17, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
6.20 am trike arrives with Brooke
6.21 they're all off! OOPS! traffic jam! :)
6.22 birds are off without trike hahaha
6.23 birds behind trike head out into the sunrise
6.36 landed
Chicks with altitude - they're flyin higher
Chicks flew 2 minutes without the trike, just over 10 minutes with trike
Pitter patter
Tom Schultz captured photos from inside the pen
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/17/training-recap-5
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Aug 18 no training - fog
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:o :o shep; it was a lovely site to see the colts flying in what we call a "midsummer shower " and with the lovely sunrise to frame them.
They do look stronger than just a few days ago.
Thanks; as usual for photos and videos
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Aug 19 no training, rain
for the soul - from kbshcb - beek room
(http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/herding-cygnets-links.jpg)
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Aug 20 - no training
Pic from Lani - Beek room
(http://shameyourpet.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/naughty.jpg)
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August 21, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
6.30 am trike arrives with Brooke
6.33 They're off! - the colts - not the trike lol
6.34 Trike is up with colts behind - where they belong
6.56 lands
22 minutes straight - in the air
Good attitude today - and good altitude
They flew high and far
Video Highlight of Today?s Training
August 21, 2015 - The young Whooping cranes flew twice:
The first flight lasted 22 minutes and the second flight: 8 minutes. Amazing!
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/august-21-aircraft-training-whooping-cranes
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Glad your enjoying them oma! :D
Heavy sky traffic as crane colts meet gathering sandhill cranes
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August 22, 2015 day Shepnotes
No training on weekends til Sept
Adult whoopers visit the marsh Aug 21
3 cranes from the OM previous years marched the runway, this way then that way
#4 and #9 from 2013 and #7 from 2014
There are a total of 9 adult whoopers at White River Marsh Wisconsin
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/3-whooping-cranes-visit
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Thanks for the update, Shep.
LOL on all the adult whoopers visiting there. I don't think I can remember hearing about so many adults there at one time this time of year before. Does anyone else know if there have been 9 adult whoopers here at the same time this time of year in any previous years? LOL - I wonder what the adults are saying about the colts, and vice versa. ;) :D
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(http://i61.tinypic.com/14490qs.jpg)
baz, I looked in my archives for this pic for you - taken in July 2014 - last year -
on the Wisconsin marsh runway. Cranes 2, 4, 5 and 9 grazing from the year 2013
Jo-Anne Bellemer took photo.
Sadly, mortality is very high, and not many whoopers survive for various reasons.
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Thanks, Shep. That's such a good photo. :)
(But you said there were nine adult whoopers there today - right?)
I am aware of the mortality statistics. It is sad, but I hope for the best. So much has been learned along the way, which helps in many ways. I've been following this project for many, many years now.
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August 24, 2015 day Shepnotes
No training today, wind, but here is an article on the trike
The New Aircraft
FAA nonsense is creating troubles for pilots and cranes.
For details read Joe's report heavily edited by me! 8)
Aug. 24, 2015 by OM pilot and speaker Joe Duff
When you use an aircraft to lead Whooping cranes on their first migration there is a lot to worry about.
concern for the bird?s safety
delayed migration
team dynamics
WCEP matters
thoughts of the new aircraft.
Delving into the manufacturing of LSA trikes and the FAA regulations becomes complex very quickly. Ultralights (the trike) powered by small engines the FAA required new construction standards. The old trikes don?t meet the new standards, so when the FAA gave us an exemption to fly them (for a year), they asked us to upgrade .. means more weight and that equates to more speed.
The heavier aircraft needs a bigger wing from North Wing. The Washington state wildfires came VERY close to North Wing shop. North Wing is building 2 more wings for our 2 other aircraft.
Recently, the birds have been flying for 20 minutes or more at a time and managing to keep up with us. As they mature, their speed increases and we are now past that critical period when we need to fly as slowly as possible.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/08/24/the-new-aircraft-2
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;D Shep: thanks for the beautiful photos of the WB's. Joe's article made it very clear what they have to go through but I am glad he will finally get some sleep ;D
hoping for a clear day tomorrow ::)
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Hi Oma! Thanks, Shep!
I'm a private pilot, so I know about FAA regulations, even though I haven't flown ultralight aircraft. The new requirements which make for a heavier, faster trike present new challenges for future years of training the young whoopers, especially when they are just beginning to learn to fly and follow. I think OM should seriously consider requestiong additional exemption possibilities - even if just for during the early training phases. ... a new wrinkle that makes for new challenges and concerns.
Perhaps they need to look into backpack human flying kits? There are several already developed, and new ones are being worked on, too. Think it's silly? It could become a serious consideration - if not now, in the very near future. (I wouldn't fly one. But I wouldn't fly an ultralight either. LOL ) Here's just one example machine - there are others:
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skyflash-jet-powered-human
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baz; the backpack in your video looks comfortable at least ::)
What do you fly??
Where from??
Thanks to Eagle-Duck ( who was the most patient man) I finally have an Avatar and it definitely resembles me :o
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baz; the backpack in your video looks comfortable at least ::)
What do you fly??
Where from??
Thanks to Eagle-Duck ( who was the most patient man) I finally have an Avatar and it definitely resembles me :o
Oma, I love your new avatar! E-D is such a kind person who helps many people with that task. He is da bomb!
I haven't piloted a plane in a long time now, but when I flew regularly, I flew single engine land planes - all different types - vintage, classic, military, and new planes, too. I was lucky enough to fly out of a small private airfield where a lot of current and retired commercial airline pilots, and other pilots of varied interesting backgrounds and flight experiences, hangared and worked on and flew their wonderful array of aircraft, and they often invited me to fly with them. It was a blast ... and made for some interesting entries in my Log Book... a long time ago.
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August 25
No training - wind
Oam - love your avatar - and Educk is really cool
baz - What military plane did you fly?
Fascinating your a pilot! :o :D
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August 26, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
6.33 Brooke lands with trike
6.34 Colts took off - without trike - again - this time farther out before returning
- lol its funny - naughty! but funny!
6.39 am finally trike is off with 5 colts behind, #8 wouldnt follow trike
- Brooke buzzed the runway to coax her up, but she refused
6.45 Brooke landed to check her out
#8 light blue didnt follow trike. Guess she just had a lil hissy fit
6.55 All 6 colts up with trike. Flew 4 minutes
6.59 landed. End of training
Today was the colts first flight with the new transmitters OM put on Friday, Aug. 21
I cant find videos anymore :(
I am so disappointed Keith isnt posting videos anymore.
It was so easy to take screen shots off youtube.
He probably would have the video of that
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:o baz; fascinating life as pilot...I loved flying anywhere and I always felt safer in a Large jet than on the freeways in Houston town. Fortunately, my profession allowed me to fly to many, many countries and I loved it :D :D Only flew in 4 seaters out of country ::)
shep: I want videos too even though the photos that you posted were very good; even in the dense mist or fog. Thanks for those ;D
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August 27, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
Fog delay - finally training cancelled
Friday rain is predicted and they arent flying on weekends til Sept.
I wont post again unless they fly.
August 26, 2015 training
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-training-aug-26-2015
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Thanks, Shep! I hope the weather improves. And you found videos from yesteday, too!
Hi Oma!
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August 28, 2015 Flyday
6.39 trike lands and they're off - no waiting
6.59 theyre down
7.10 after a cooldown, they took off agin
didnt record landing
Training went well, they flew high today - hardly see em in the mist
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Thanks, Shep. Sounds like it was a very good training morning. And building stamina, too.
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Thanks, Shep. Sounds like it was a very good training morning. And building stamina, too.
shep: beautiful sight with the sunrise in the background.+ they don't seem to let the mist (or fog) hinder their workout!!
Enjoy your weekend~~~you too baz
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I HAD to share this! <3
Mr and Mrs Raccoon tussling (etc.) in an eagles nest!
https://youtu.be/wGl_bfld2xY
I wouldnt rate this X myself!
Oh Amy you NEED a heart icon here!
August 31, 2015 Monday
Fogged in a long time today
8.22 am OM finally called - no training - after we waited since 6 am
Cranes 4-12 and 3-14 stood a moment on the runway then left
As long as I am posting pics -
Mt McKinley was just changed to Denali by Obama executive order
Isnt it pretty?
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September 1, 2015 Tuesday
7.43 am trike arrives and Brooke took em out and UP with a rolling start
7.57 am landed
Short training today
I forgot to post this! :o
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Thanks for the update, Shep. I enlarged that s'cap you posted - I love that! :)
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September 2, 2015 Wenzday
Sept 1, 2015 Training video
It?s that time of year when fog delays start at 7:43 am central time.
Once out of the enclosure Brooke immediately took off so that the eager flyers couldn?t get ahead of him and off they flew into the slight haze still lingering on the north end of the training area over the marsh.
All six are doing incredibly well, which is a stark contrast to last year?s cohort at this time.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/02/crane-training-recap
I couldnt resist snips of the sun-splashed marsh dawn
There WILL be no aircraft training Sept. 5-6
baz - glad you liked it! ;D
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8) shep; your photos of the sunrise over the marshland were beautiful~~~ and the video of Brooke and colts was quite good. I love to watch them fly and they seem stronger everyday :o
Raccoons "tussling" eh?????
Thanks for the updates/videos
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/training90215.jpg)
September 3, 2015 Thurzday
6.50 trikes lands to pick up birds and they're off!
7.16 down - good flight
26 minutes flight - good altitude
They went up a second time for another flight.
There WILL be no aircraft training Sept. 5-6
Sept., 2, 2015 Training video
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/aircraft-training-sept-2-2015
Adult Cranes 4-12 and 3-14 stood on the runway waiting for the 6 colts.
Takes a quick eye for the pilot to avoid hitting any of the birds
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September 4, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
NO TRAINING - wind
OM crew leaving today for Wisconsin - from all over USA and Canada
Migration expected to begin later this month
Crane colts flew for well over half and hour September 3 and they flew higher than they?ve flown before.
They are ready to migrate and the target departure date has been set for September 20th.
Video begins in the dark with IR, training halfway thru
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/04/yesterdays-record-setting-session
Colts eat melon video
It looks like they enjoy pecking rind more than eating the red!
Male has the dark blue leg band and darker feather colors
https://youtu.be/zZCID6Q73DY
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/03/watermelon-frenzy
There WILL be no aircraft training Sept. 5-6
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Thanks, Shep. I love the watermelon eating pic - Maybe they'll have a watermelon seed spitting contest! :D I noticed in that pic that it looks like two colts are wearing dark blue leg bands - must be the light - the bird second from left and the 4th bird, on far right and partially hidden, both appear to be wearing same color blue bands in this pic.
I'm so glad they are starting migration soon - and the birds are ready! Last year was such a struggle to make progress once migration started, due to many factors - mostly weather. If the birds are ready to migrate now, I wonder why they are waiting till the 20th to start (though I know it takes some time to get set up to start)? I know they have a reason for why - I just haven't been over to their site to read all the details yet, but I will. I usually start reading all the details directly from the OM site once migration gets under way. It's been nice getting your updates here.
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baz, they cant leave on migration until after their Crane Festival.
Whooping and sandhill crances in the wild dont migrate anywhere near this early.
They ARE gathering into flocks tho.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
OM migration target departure date has been set for
September 20th.
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September 7, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
RAIN, no aircraft training
We enjoyed seeing the juvie GBH - great blue heron - in pond 2
3 Adult Cranes came to visit about 7 am -
7-14 female and males 4-13 and 9-13
OM migration target departure date has been set for
September 20th.
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The adult whoopers are looking really pretty. Thanks for the posts, Shep.
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20150908_070046_1.jpg)
OM photo (Heather musta taken this - beautiful)
September 8, 2015 Toozday Shepnotes
RAIN, fog, no aircraft training
Colleen, Heather and Jo took the 6 colts out onto the runway.
3 adult birds joined them!
See how foggy it is
yeah baz the adults are gorgeous! Fat n sassy!
Here is the video of the 3 previous years OM cranes dropping in suddenly hahaha
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/09/unexpected-visitors
[attachment deleted by admin]
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September 9, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
FAWWWGGYYY
The 3 Adult Cranes met the tumes on runway - 2014 female #7 and 2013 males #4 and #9
7.21 trike arrives with Joe Duff back as the pilot
7.23 off they go oops - nope. Joe stopt
7.24 off and up
- Pilot Joe gave us some GREAT video - a stunning REAL CLOSE pass by cam
7.44 touchdown
- 20 minutes flying
[attachment deleted by admin]
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OM photos taken Sept 9
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/10/training-photos
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_2909-1024x658.jpg)
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/war/9111.jpg)
REMEMBERING Septemer 11, 2001
September 11, 2015 FLYday Shepnotes
6.52 trike touchdown
6.53 birds takeoff without trike
6.54 trike takesoff - with birds
7.09 landed
15 minutes flying
They flew high and perfectly. Today we could hear pilot Joe on his aircraft radio! FUN!
Crane fest there in Wisconsin this weekend, many craniacs are there.
OM 2015-16 migration MAP
They leave Wisconsin Sept. 20th - weather permitting
http://operationmigration.org/operation-migration-map.asp
Timelines
http://operationmigration.org/migration-timelines.asp
* thanks baz - I goofed!!!
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Thanks, Shep. I didn't see the OM migration map at the link in your last post... but I know where to find it on the OM site. Sept. 20th will be here soon!
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:o :o I loved the photos as they are really looking ready, more and more everyday. The big photo posted by OM should be a poster.. ???shep; will we be able to follow the migration??
;D ;D hey baz/color]Thanks, Shep. I didn't see the OM migration map at the link in your last post... but I know where to find it on the OM site. Sept. 20th will be here soon!
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September 12, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
6.55 trike touchdown
6.57 birds lead trike on takeoff
- flying nicely - first all 6 off left wing - then one bird changes to right wing
- Joe got the colts up to 400 feet today - 48 mph
7.26 landed
6.57 - 7.26 - Nearly half hour of great flying
They flew high and perfectly. Today we could hear pilot Joe on his aircraft radio! FUN!
Crane fest there in Wisconsin this weekend, many craniacs are there.
oma, OM has portable cams for migration.
Not nearly as good as the one that is in Wis.
To some degree we follow migration.
They fly just after sunrise central time.
Whooping Cranes links and cams
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
http://ustream.tv/migratingcranes
http://operationmigration.org/cranecam.asp
http://operation migration theater cam
http://www.wildearth.tv/cam/operation-migration
FLIGHT CAM on migration
http://operationmigration.org/flightcam.asp
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September 13, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
6.59 trike touchdown
7.00 am trike and birds takeoff - and - vanish into the mist
7.29 trike touchdown
Almost half hour, flew high, #2 kept getting ahead of trike - NOT good
OM migration = wunderground weather forecast Sept 20 - clear
Here are the best screen pics I could get today
Crane fest concludes today in Wisconsin.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Shep, thanks. They are flying so well!
Oma, hi! Oma, during migration, there will be "Field Notes" posted every day (as OM does now, too), sometimes with videos and photos, too. I always check the Field Notes daily during migration. So many things can happen, and so often they have to change plans on a moment's notice it seems, depending on weather and other things that can come along their way.
And it's always so exhilarating when they finally reach their destination. I always hold my breath a little that each and every one makes it unharmed. But there have been some perils in the past. They are looking so good this year, and I hope that bodes for a 100% successful trike-led migration for them this year. :-* :-* :-*
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OM MIGRATION NOTES
OM migration - Targeting Sept 20 Sonday
wunderground weather forecast - clear
FLIGHT CAM on migration
http://operationmigration.org/flightcam.asp
Timeline
http://operationmigration.org/migration-timelines.asp
Migration map
http://operationmigration.org/operation-migration-map.asp
2014 migration - tough year!!
OM left Oct. 10 for Green Lake, Wisc - 5 miles. Some Cranes turned and went HOME.
- OM crated them all to Stop 2
14 miles to Marquette, Wisc where they sat .. and sat until
Oct when they finally flew 28 miles to Columbia, Wisc where they sat .. and sat until
Nov 7 when they flew 5 miles to Dane, Wisc
SAVE this info!
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Yes, last year was a tough one. And not the only tough one either.
Shep, thanks for all the links.
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Shep, thanks. They are flying so well!
Oma, hi! Oma, during migration, there will be "Field Notes" posted every day (as OM does now, too), sometimes with videos and photos, too. I always check the Field Notes daily during migration. So many things can happen, and so often they have to change plans on a moment's notice it seems, depending on weather and other things that can come along their way.
And it's always so exhilarating when they finally reach their destination. I always hold my breath a little that each and every one makes it unharmed. But there have been some perils in the past. They are looking so good this year, and I hope that bodes for a 100% successful trike-led migration for them this year. :-* :-* :-*
shep; thanks for ALL the links, etc. Got it all now :o
baz; Thanks; I wasn't certain about following but now I know and thanks again :-*
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Ran across this news item today - Whooping crane sighted in Kewaunee County - which is in Wisconsin!
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2015/09/12/whooping-crane-sighted-kewaunee-county/71931064/
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Ran across this news item today - Whooping crane sighted in Kewaunee County - which is in Wisconsin!
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2015/09/12/whooping-crane-sighted-kewaunee-county/71931064/
Exciting report of a whooper in that part of Wisconsin! yay! :) However, I found this article to include some negative information, or possible mis-information, that I'm not sure is accurate. I will try to see if I can verify some of the information in it - such as saying that, "scientists believe that there is not enough remaining habitat for the birds to thrive and reproduce" - quite a statement there! If that is true, why are organizations going through the time and expense and motions of trying to grow the population and helping it to migrate - if it can't thrive and reproduce, according to scientists... so I'm not sure if that is a true statement or not.. And that article said that locations of sightings of an endangered bird is protected by federal law - I'm not so sure of that either. I've never heard that it is against federal law to say where an endangered bird was sighted. I will need to research that statement further.
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baz - You are wise as always.
There is a REASON a species fades out - its NOT always man.
It was mentioned the other day by a crane person - forgot who - that
man-raised cranes dont have the instincts to avoid predation.
It may have been OM pilot Joe Duff but dont tell anyone cuz Im unsure.
These are beautiful birds and fun to watch but terribly expensive!
The mortality is tragic - from hitting power lines to predation - including by kids.
I truly hate seeing one of the babies I watched on cam found dead.
HARSH FACTS
The survival rate of whoopers is extremely low.
Very sad to see none of your years work continue!
Class of 2006
LIGHTNING KILLS 15 Whooping Crane chicks in pen
February 07, 2007 - A severe storm, lightning killed 15 of the 16 cranes in their pen.
Only one whooping crane chick survives Fla. storms.
Male #15 broke loose from a top-netted pen when tornadoes struck and killed his 17 flock mates.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-02-07/news/0702070338_1_whooping-cranes-migration-flock
http://www.rexfoundation.org/grantee-news/operation-migration-2
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/StormDeaths_Feb07.html
2015 - neither of these links has this story so did did a websearch
#15 later died also. I think all of another year perished too - separately.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/crane/spring2008
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/10/wcep_highlights110410.html
Whooping Cranes, events, mortalities
This is my forum. I post events here, I track migrations too in another thread.
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about4561.html
Another whooping crane link
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/crane
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Ran across this news item today - Whooping crane sighted in Kewaunee County - which is in Wisconsin!
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2015/09/12/whooping-crane-sighted-kewaunee-county/71931064/
Exciting report of a whooper in that part of Wisconsin! yay! :) However, I found this article to include some negative information, or possible mis-information, that I'm not sure is accurate. I will try to see if I can verify some of the information in it - such as saying that, "scientists believe that there is not enough remaining habitat for the birds to thrive and reproduce" - quite a statement there! If that is true, why are organizations going through the time and expense and motions of trying to grow the population and helping it to migrate - if it can't thrive and reproduce, according to scientists... so I'm not sure if that is a true statement or not.. And that article said that locations of sightings of an endangered bird is protected by federal law - I'm not so sure of that either. I've never heard that it is against federal law to say where an endangered bird was sighted. I will need to research that statement further.
baz - I don't know about their "remaining habitat" but I had to read that sentence about protected locations twice myself. That's not true in the MBTA but maybe the letter and intent of the Endangered Species Act is different.
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September 14, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
No fly - wind
CraneFest Week
Sep. 14, 2015 by Jo Bel, Princeton, Wisconsin.
Colleen, Heather, and I got to let the birds our for exercise on the runway! It?s hard to describe what it?s like when 4 foot tall birds run by you flapping their wings. We watched them fly off toward the north and they disappeared into the fog ? it was absolutely magical! And when they re-appeared and glided to us, landing gear down, they looked so prehistoric.
Thursday night was a welcome supper on the outside patio overlooking the lake.
Friday was the Friday night dinner. Nearly 100 people attended, bid on some auction items, and listen to
naturalist Stan Tekiela on ?Uncommon Facts about Common Birds?.
Saturday training flyover was awesome with 100 people watching.
Saturday pizza and pasta party at Princeton?s VFW hall.
Sunday brought another great flyover with Joe leading the colts over us against a bright blue sky. Some took a boat tour at Horicon Marsh.
Click link - I just pulled excerpts
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/14/cranefest-week-as-much-as-i-can-remember
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Thanks finn! THAT's what that elusive link is!
Migration teaser - my notes from Day 1 of 2014
OM Leaves home base for Green Lake Wisc. - stop 1
Oct 10, 2014 - Cranes took off behind trike about 8 am and 5 followed Joe Duff to stop 1
8.35 the 5 arrived and were penned at stop 1
25 minute flight
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/10/today-is-the-day
If you look at my forum you will see it can be utter chaos (rodeo) at first!
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/ftopic4464-0-asc-108.php
NO birds flew to stop 2 - ALL crated there after rodeo (OM term for crane chaos)
Its possible it will take LESS than half hour to fly to stop #1 - but
all depends on winds and cooperation
OM 2014 migration archive
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014
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Hi Finn, T40, Shep and others! :)
Finn, thank you for adding those links to the info flow here.
Shep, thanks for the training update and report on some of the weekend craniacs activities. I am aware of the deaths of the whoopers from predation, other injuries, and storms - I was following them those years at the time some of those storms happened. It was very sad. Severe and/or large storms wreak havoc on many forms of wildlife, and if serious enough, can have a significant impact on population numbers and locations of some animal species.
T40, it's possible that statement from that article about not enough land to thrive and reproduce was pertaining just to that region of the state. That's one of the things I dislike about some newspaper reporting - a lack of pertinent details which can lead to misunderstandings and misinformation. So I really don't know what that scientist statement was specifically related to. I had not been to the Whooping Crane Partnership website in a while, so thanks to Finn for the link b/c that spurred me to re-visit it. And that is where I found some good info on what details should or should not be included in listing/reporting the location of sightings. Though I don't know what legalities are associated with it, I believe it is a good guide - that detail was found on this page:
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/what2do.html
Keeping in mind the differences between the Western Flock (self-sustaining wild migratory flock) and the Eastern Flock (started in 2001 with captive-bred chicks)... There are links to explain the differences for each flock at
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/FlockWest.html - Western Flock and
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/FlockEast.html - Eastern Flock
In terms of numbers, the survival/cause of mortality of each bird in this Eastern Flock program since 2001 can be found by delving into the info on the site listed above by Finn. Here are some steps to get to those details...
Start at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/crane/index.html
Then click on "Resources" at the top of that page to get to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/indexCurrent.html
Then scroll down and click on "Activity: Meet the Cranes: Life Histories Reveal Survival Challenges " to get to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/SurvivalResearch.html
Then you will see a page of links for each Hatch Year, which you can click on.
***ALSO note on the right side of that page there are three links under the "Key Questions" that will take you to:
The number remaining from each Hatch Year, at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats.html
and How many males/females from each Hatch Year at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats_Gender.html
and The Losses, by calendar year, with details of when and how found or cause of death if known at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats_LossesYr.html
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September 15, 2015 Tuesday Shepnotes
windy and rainy - no fly again
The birds didnt fly Monday due to wind
Next training flight the birds may be introduced to 2 trikes.
Picking Favorites
Joe Duff, OM pilot report Sep. 15, 2015 (edited)
It is hard not to pick favorites. The birds have individual personalities and before long one of them cracks our attempts at impartiality.
Patuxent warned us that #2-15 was dumb as a brick. As a chick she had a short attention span and was easily distracted. Keeping her focused on the trike was a challenge and training her took more time that the other birds. So when she arrived, we expected her to wander off or walk into walls, but she surprised us.
Between the wet and dry pen there is a gate with a 2?4 wooden threshold about 8 inches off the ground. Each bird that crosses it for the first time inspects it carefully and tentatively steps over, but #2 was the first over.
Since then she has become one of the group leaders. She is often first out of the gate and inevitably the first to find the sweet spot of the wing. Lately she is getting comfortable in the air and has started challenging the aircraft by speeding ahead and taking the lead. I have had leave the others behind several times to chase her and re-assert the dominance of the aircraft as leader of the flight. Once she gets tired she will tuck behind the wing again, while we wait for the others to catch up. Before long though, she is back out front. She has grown into a fine, strong bird, eager to fly. She is no longer the underdog but she is still my favorite.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/15/picking-favorites
* * *
DREAM WARNING?
Last nite I had a dream in which a severe storm came thru suddenly with no warning.
I believe this was meant for me to warn others - even people who believe they are prepared.
Dream interpretations being symbolic, this may or may not be a thunderstorm.
It could be fire, earthquake, or - man.
Strangely enough, the Utah news online this morning was
8 died when their vehicles were - SUDDENLY - swept away in a flash flood.
Wisdom shares Providential messages - right?
I felt I was to share this with many.
September 14, 2015
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September 16, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
No fly again
The birds havent flown since Sonday
Next training flight the birds may be introduced to 2 trikes.
I did get you a beautiful snip of dawn breaking over the marsh
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Pretty pic of dawn, Shep. Thanks. I saw that it was too windy for flight training this morning.
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_3199.jpg)
OM photo in FJ - From left to right: 10-14, 5-12 & 10-14
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO!
Here is #5-12 male with his 2 gal pals - #9-14 and #10-14
Another Whooping crane #4-12 male paired with #3-14 female
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/17/9896
September 17, 2015 Thursday Shepnotes
I am posting at 5 am - too early for any official word.
Does NOT look good to fly today. If they do fly I'll post later on
Looks like its raining at pen now
Migration Delay
OM pilot Joe Duff
Rain has delayed the crops and most are still in the field while the farmers wait for them to dry out before harvesting begins. We rely on open fields at our stopovers. This season the birds are perfect, the weather is cooperating, the aircraft are ready and our team is assembled, but we will still be delayed by a late harvest.
We picked September 20th as our target departure date. We didn?t leave until October 10th in 2014.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/17/migration-delays-come-in-many-forms
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September 18, 2015 NoFlyday Shepnotes
Too cloudy, crazy winds
Auction items
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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September 19, 2015 Sataday
Shepnotes are NOT OM notes, they are MINE.
Lots of rain overnite
6.58 trike touchdown
Tumes let the birds out and they went NUTS flyin everywhere!
The trike just went back n forth on runway, didnt fly with birds
The birds flew in wide low circles around the outside of their pen.
So beautiful to see these creatures fly. At least one has gotten a LOT of white feathers.
Several in chat thot we heard one of their voice change - from preep to preeOINK!
Usually the voices change on migration, not this early.
I heard several gunshots - today is the opening of waterfowl hunting season
That and winds grounded the birds. Best to be safe.
The birds havent flown since Sonday, Sept. 13
OM migration delayed, will NOT leave Sept 20th.
Todays video
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/colts-get-some-air-time
Here is a video of the face off between #1 and #6 in the pen
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/face-dry-pen-door
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September 20, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
7.31 trike lands, and birds takeoff
7.55 all land together
They flew around 40 mph up 400 to 600 feet
OM migration delayed, will NOT leave Sept 20th.
Beautiful dawn!
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/P1060051.jpg)
OM photo
September 21, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
7.23 trike lands, and
7.24 birds takeoff
7.39 all land together
They flew around 38 mph - up 200 feet
Short flight, air was 'trashy' - bad for flying. Common word on migration.
OM migration delayed, no new target date
September 20 training photos
I love that photo by Jobel with the colts lined up off left wing - hard to tell which direction trike's goin - lol
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/21/whooping-crane-training-update
EXTRA
The final 'blood moon' in the tetrad will start Sunday, September 27,
between 5pm and 6pm PDT time (between midnight and 1am GMT on Monday).
It occurs on Sukkot, feast of booths, is a total lunar eclipse super moon, the first in 30 years.
The moon will seem bigger, brighter and fuller than usual
because the moon will be at its closest point in its orbit around the Earth.
This will be visible over central USA - and in Jerusalem Israel
A lot of prophecy about this event.
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September 22, 2015 Toozday Shepnotes
2 trikes today
7.10 Brooke trike lands
7.11 birds takeoff - they stayed with Brooke, Joe flew behind
7.33 all land together
Short flight, air was 'trashy' - bad for flying. Common word on migration.
OM migration delayed, no new target date
This classes first day with 2 trikes
Brooke lead pilot, Joe Duff chase
one trike just circled while Brooke landed.
Brooke yellow wing, Joe orange wing
One colt voice is changing. I heard it a few days ago.
Since then others do too - even Heather! ;D
Heather was on the cam today so I was able to get screen pics
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September 23
No training - windy
Can anyone ID this bird?
Had a large long beek
It was a redhead woodpecker
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/red-headed-woodpecker
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September 25, 2015 Friday Shepnotes
video of drop in guests
https://youtu.be/LkD1H_6r3d4
Saturday Sept. 26 is new target departure date.
We are hoping to get started south on Saturday!
Everyone has their RVs propane and water tanks filled.
We are all excited to get going and are anticipating a safe,
smooth migration with these great birds! Can?t wait to see all y?all in St Marks!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/25/new-target-departure-date-set-for-saturday
Sonday is the SUPERMOON - ECLIPSE - and the
final blood moon of the tetrad of 4
The ancients regarded eclipses as a bad omen
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wpid-20150927_075252.jpg)
OM photo
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
September 27, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
DOWN, fog
Saturday Sept. 26
At 8.00 we were told NO GO
OM will try again - and again - til they - GO 8)
Dont forget to watch the *almost* once in a lifetime
blood moon supermoon eclipse tonite (Sonday)
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/sky/moonred_zps86310d44.jpg)
OM photo
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wpid-20150926_074315.jpg)
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Loved seeing the Red-headed Woodpecker! We would see them fairly often when I was very young, but then they had a serious decline in numbers and I haven't seen one in years and years in my area - which is part of their year-round range. Their numbers declined by 70% between 1966 and 2010. Their Conservation Status is now listed as "Near Threatened." It is such a striking bird, and impossible (well almost) to mistake it as any other because of its distinctive colors/markings. Would love to see one again where I live!
More pics and great info if you scroll down both these pages about that bird:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/id
and be sure to see the several bullet points under "Cool Facts" on left side of this page for some unusual info about this bird and its history:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/lifehistory (The conservation info near bottom of that webpage is an eye-opening read, too. It is one of the types of birds on the Watch List of species most in danger of extinction without significant conservation action!!!)
Nice video of one on this page - with sound, so turn the volume up... LOL (it may take a minute for the video to load):
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/videos
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September 28, 2015 Shepnotes
cranes ground exercise
2 trikes came in but did take take the colts up
They did let them out
4 flew a wide circle and returned
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/74347199
baz - I am pleased you liked it!
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September 30, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
Featherface 6:02 AM
This morning looks promising for departure. Crew is getting in place. Joe will be lead pilot.
Migration flight cam
Heather holds one at flyovers and one is on the travel pen
http://operationmigration.org/flightcam.asp
Timeline
http://operationmigration.org/migration-timelines.asp
Migration map
http://operationmigration.org/operation-migration-map.asp
Stop 1 is Green Lake, Wisc - 5 miles. One year the flight was under half hour.
Perfect Air
Joe Duff, OM perfectionist pilot (edited)
Occasionally, I have been referred to as a perfectionist. That has its pros and cons. You get things done just the way you like them but you must resist re-doing the work of others. (LOL! true!)
Perfectionism is a mild form of disability.
OM progess south depends on calm, fogless air, not common in the fall.
The reason we need calm air is because Whooping cranes are soaring birds. Their 7 foot wings are designed to carry them aloft on thermals so they can glide along their course without much effort.
The 2015 cohort has already learned to ride the wake of the trike wing.
END JOE, read link, great report!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/30/perfect-air
Sept 20 VIDEO
http://youtu.be/eWLcoBjSa1g
As one who also suffers from perfectionism, perhaps thats why I most appreciate Joe's pilot reports! He writes what I want to know.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_4002.jpg)
OM PHOTO
September 30, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
I gave up on chat after being kicked out a few times.
A couple days ago mod kept deleting my posts as they often do.
Takes ALL the fun out of chat.
7.12 am Joe lands and the birds are released -
- and the birds lead Joe up up - and - awayyyyyyy
I followed with the video and got some pics.
LATER
Migration Day 1 * September 30, 2015
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/30/and-theyre-off-2
You can almost see Joe grin as he heads for the camera!
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October 1, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
No fly - wind
Stop #1 is BEAUTIFUL!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/01/day-2-standing-down
The SUPER Six
Sep. 30, 2015 by Joe Duff, OM lead pilot
We crossed over the ridge to the first migration stop. They landed right next to the trike and stood at attention, heads up, eyes wide and moved closer to the aircraft as the only thing familiar in a strange new environment. Brooke landed and we taxied close to the pen.
Within minutes they were chasing grasshoppers as we opened the pen. Number 11 was first in, crossing the threshold as if it were everyday stuff. Number 2 was next and then they all came in.
The trip took over half an hour.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/09/30/lead-pilot-report-the-super-six
Whoopsie Has a New Home
Oct. 1, 2015 - The captive crane flock at the International Crane Foundation has a new member ? The Whooping-Sandhill Crane hybrid chick that hatched earlier this year in eastern Wisconsin has been transferred to their headquarters from the Milwaukee County Zoo, where it was temporarily housed this summer.
The chick will be placed in quarantine for 30 days and then housed off exhibit in ICF?s Crane City. The husbandry staff at ICF will provide excellent care for the young crane as it continues to mature, and they hope to pair it with an existing bird in their collection for companionship.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/01/whoopsie-has-a-new-home
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Amazing stuff!!
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October 3, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
DOWN again - wind Migration - in Green Lake County, Wisconsin for another day.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
I did get a couple snips
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Great "snips" shep~~~Thank you for all the "snips"
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DSCN1641.jpg)
OM tume Doug Pellerin took photo
October 6, 2015 Toozday Shepnotes
Still at stop 1 - no fly today either
The Pitot Tube on the trikes
Oct. 4, 2015 Jeff Fox, OM worker
What is a pitot tube? Basically, a pitot tube is used to measure airspeed. You?ll notice these little tubes on the front of the ultralights (and sticking out of commercial airliners).
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/?n=field-journal-operationmigration
Migration - in Green Lake County, Wisconsin for another day.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P1060328_JB.jpg)
OM photo by Jo-Anne Bellemer
October 7, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
Still at stop 1 - no fly today either
Video From this Morning
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/07/video-from-this-morning-2
OM tried to move, but rodeo, swamp monsters, gave up
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/07/day-8-not-so-positive-after-all
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Oh, Shep; Jo-Anne's video and photos are magnificent. Thank you for posting (I forgot to go to the OM site today; I was so excited to see Mom and Dad on N2B!!!)
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Hi Finn, T40, Shep and others! :)
Finn, thank you for adding those links to the info flow here.
Shep, thanks for the training update and report on some of the weekend craniacs activities. I am aware of the deaths of the whoopers from predation, other injuries, and storms - I was following them those years at the time some of those storms happened. It was very sad. Severe and/or large storms wreak havoc on many forms of wildlife, and if serious enough, can have a significant impact on population numbers and locations of some animal species.
T40, it's possible that statement from that article about not enough land to thrive and reproduce was pertaining just to that region of the state. That's one of the things I dislike about some newspaper reporting - a lack of pertinent details which can lead to misunderstandings and misinformation. So I really don't know what that scientist statement was specifically related to. I had not been to the Whooping Crane Partnership website in a while, so thanks to Finn for the link b/c that spurred me to re-visit it. And that is where I found some good info on what details should or should not be included in listing/reporting the location of sightings. Though I don't know what legalities are associated with it, I believe it is a good guide - that detail was found on this page:
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/what2do.html
Keeping in mind the differences between the Western Flock (self-sustaining wild migratory flock) and the Eastern Flock (started in 2001 with captive-bred chicks)... There are links to explain the differences for each flock at
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/FlockWest.html - Western Flock and
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/FlockEast.html - Eastern Flock
In terms of numbers, the survival/cause of mortality of each bird in this Eastern Flock program since 2001 can be found by delving into the info on the site listed above by Finn. Here are some steps to get to those details...
Start at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/crane/index.html
Then click on "Resources" at the top of that page to get to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/indexCurrent.html
Then scroll down and click on "Activity: Meet the Cranes: Life Histories Reveal Survival Challenges " to get to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/SurvivalResearch.html
Then you will see a page of links for each Hatch Year, which you can click on.
***ALSO note on the right side of that page there are three links under the "Key Questions" that will take you to:
The number remaining from each Hatch Year, at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats.html
and How many males/females from each Hatch Year at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats_Gender.html
and The Losses, by calendar year, with details of when and how found or cause of death if known at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/WCEPStats_LossesYr.html
baz; T40, Finn, Shep,etc; too much info for my head but have bookmarked all to digest little by little. All very exciting on the positive side! Thanks for all :-* :-*
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October 10, 2015 N2B Sataday Shepnotes
Still at stop 1 - no fly today either
The winds from the southwest will keep us grounded for another day.
This morning at 9 am CT, we?re going to hold a live camera/chat session for one hour
Snips are NOT an accident scene - in the dawn fog cornstalks look red. Who knew?
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October 14, 2015 Wenzday Shepnotes
They FINALLY made Marquette county, stop #2 - well, 4 birds flew, 2 rode
Brooke is lead pilot, Joe Duff flew chase. Stop 2 Marquette county - 14 miles
Snips are NOT an accident scene - in the dawn fog cornstalks look red. Who knew?
I took some nice snips of southern Wisconsin as pilot flew to pen,
then tried to take snips on flight cam in flight
One snip of colts in pen at stop 1 just before trike landed to take them to stop 2.
Only 4 of the 6 followed, the other 2 will be crated and driven in the van.
I'' just post the snips
#8 and #11 did not follow
#8 light blue
#11 dark blue band is the MALE in the group (cohort)
[attachment deleted by admin]
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trip snips
The scene in the pen is NOT a bad accident -
or the haunted pen
;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
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last snips
sorry birds are so blurry - not my fault!
One snip is cool - it shows Joe Duff, the chase pilot behind them :D
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On the Road Again
Oct. 15, 2015 Joe Duff
Young cranes change almost daily. This year?s cohort have been model cranes.
But two weeks in one spot and less than ideal flying conditions changed that.
When Brooke launched with them, they flew like troopers for a mile or so before one, then another peeled off and headed back.
I directed Heather and Colleen to them before breaking off to catch Brooke who was now struggling with his four. The air below a few hundred feet was rough and turbulent. He would get them just short of smooth air but they would drop down again back into the trash. Headwinds slowed him to 28 miles per hour while I cruised at 50 just a few hundred feet higher.
It took him 29 minute to cover 14 miles and had to circle back a few times to pick up stragglers. I caught up to him just as they landed and helped put the birds into the pen. At least that willingness to go inside has not changed. Another good day or two of flying and they will be back to the birds we recognize. We tied down the trikes and headed back to the previous site to box the other two and tear down the pen just vacated.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/15/on-the-road-again
Lead Pilot Report, Brooke
This morning I landed at the pen and signaled Colleen and Heather to release the birds.
The birds quickly lined up off the left wing like they really meant it this time, but turbulent air discouraged #8 and #11 and they turned back to the pen. I continued with 4 cranes.
Joe worked to round up the stragglers, but they refused, and were led back to the pen by Colleen and Heather.
Meanwhile, we pressed on to stop 2.
#8 and #11 were crated and rode the van to stop 2.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/15/day-15-lead-pilot-report
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/gallery/2015-operation-migration/P1060328.JPG)
Changing Personalities of Cranes
Colleen Chase, OM volunteer (edited)
The birds have changed, now not as cooperative as they had been.
The travel pen is new of course, October 7th release the air was choppy, did that freak them out? Are they just getting older and less anxious to follow? Brooke always says things can change quickly with the birds and it sure did. I can?t describe how interesting it is to watch them grow and change.
#1 (green band) makes me smile every time I walk in the pen. She spreads her wings as if to say you are on my turf watch it! Sometimes she flaps and flies in a HAPPY DANCE as best she can with a topnet in place. She is loyal to the trike, independent and just awesome!
#2 (black band) went from the class dunce to being the rockstar. She sticks to the trike like glue and even challenges it and tries to lead.
#6 (Yellow band) is not a mean girl anymore, she is curious and likes to investigate everything. She is a great follower!
#8 (yellow #25) is still a happy bird. She likes watermelon a lot. I wish I knew why she landed out Tuesday.
#10 (green band #15) is a great follower and sticks close to the trike! She always comes to visit the costume.
#11 (dark blue band) is still my favorite, he was the bird that the fox scared and he flew into the pen panel. He seemed a bit sore and subdued for a few days after that incident. I was so relieved when he got back to his normal curious, sweet, friendly self! I hope we do not see a repeat of Tuesday and he does not see anymore crates!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/16/changing-personalities-of-cranes
OM volunteer Doug Pellerin beautiful crane photos
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/16/our-incredible-volunteers
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DSCN0906.jpg)
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October 18, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
flew
I posted questions several times - no answer
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Thank you Finn.
Thats a wise decision. SO FEW crane chicks survive - and the expense is so great.
Some years NO OM chicks have survive.
Whooping Cranes, events, mortalities
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about4561.html
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Statement from OM:
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/24/usfws-vision-recommends-ending-aircraft-guided-migration/
Finn, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
That is an excellently-written and FACT-FILLED statement and report, which should be the only kind of report that the FWS should consider when developing policies, making recommendations, and making decisions. That OM (Operation Migration) statement and report makes it clear that the FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) did not consider ALL THE FACTS when they created their "vision" document. So much for vision!
Please read that entire response/statement from OM. Facts matter. That's why I am repeating this link. All the facts are necessary, not just a subset of facts:
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/10/24/usfws-vision-recommends-ending-aircraft-guided-migration/
The comments below that OM statement were informative as well, and one of them included links for those who choose to write their Congressional Representatives and Senators, and a link to write to the USFWS on this topic:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.fws.gov/duspit/contactus.htm
Also in those comments, referring to that OM statement in Finn's link, one person asked if OM would "grant reproduction consent for this copyrighted material to all supporters of OM that desire to make the effort to provide a copy to their U.S. Representative." Heather Ray granted that permission in her reply to that comment! According to the OM site, Heather Ray is their Director of Development, Webmaster, IT Support, CraneCam Technology, and she co-chairs the WCEP Communication & Outreach Team, sits on the Operations Team and participates in the Monitoring and Management Team, as stated at:
http://www.operationmigration.org/operation-migration-team-members.asp
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I checked the Field Journal at the OM site today ... They aren't flying a migration leg today due to winds. BUT... they did have an exercise flying session with the whooping cranes this morning, and posted some spectacular photos of that in the Field Journal today, at:
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/?n=field-journal-operationmigration
Enjoy! :)
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Eastern Migratory Population Update
Nov 5, 2015 - Whooping Crane Update November 2015
The adult cranes are starting to move around and flock up in preparation for their fall migration, with one pair already seen in Indiana. The Ultralight-guided migration is already underway and the Direct Autumn Release birds have been banded and were officially released at Horicon NWR as of 3 November. The current maximum population size is 100 birds (52 males, 46 females, 2 unknown). Many thanks to our crane trackers at ICF, as well as Heather Ray, Wisconsin DNR pilots Bev Paulan and Mike Callahan, and the volunteers and public all working to help us keep an eye on our birds wherever they may roam.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/05/eastern-migratory-population-update-7
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November 7, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
I think they are going to LaSalle County, (Ottawa) Illinois today
but the entire early morning was / is mass confusion
check here this afternoon
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
UPDATE
The plan this morning was to crate #2-15 as both pilots suspected she was being a distraction to the rest of the cohort. They crated her. There was a delay due to Brooke?s pull start cable coming off, which had to be repaired.
Once Brooke launched with the birds they weren?t going to cooperate. #1-15 has her almost adult voice the others are paying attention to her lead.
Brooke landed to regroup and asked us to let #2 out ? thinking the others were reluctant to leave her behind.
There will be more details later but in the end the crane we boxed was the only bird to fly the entire 57 miles to LaSalle County, Illinois.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/07/day-39-success-for-one
Pen Modifications (Colleen Chase)
Nov 6, 2015 roost check, #1 (green) was doing her happy dance and flew over the lattice divider and grazed both legs against it. I looked at both legs and found no obvious wounds. The divider had to go.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/07/pen-modifications
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Joe Duff, lead pilot report
November 8, 2015 Migration Day: 40
Location: Livingston County, IL
With only six birds it should be easy to identify the troublemakers but flock dynamics and dominance structures are beyond me. WHY did birds refuse to climb for the first 3 migration legs and what makes them break and turn back.
For a while we thought #2 was the problem. So we boxed her to see if the others fell into line. That didn?t happen and when we let her out, she was the only one to make the complete leg.
That still may be the case but after her good performance we boxed #1.
She is the oldest bird and has developed her adult voice which elevated her in the dominance structure - and she has even started to challenge the aircraft with aggressive threat posturing like a teenager too big for her britches.
Sunday was my lead and I took off with 5 eager birds. They followed for a mile and abruptly turned back. We brought out the swamp monsters (Colleen and Heather) but the birds kept breaking off. I landed to start again.
Lou Cambier, our top cover pilot warned us that a layer of ground fog was heading our way and as we slowly climbed we passed through thin rows of silky fog about 200 feet up. My five birds turned into four, then three and finally one as they peeled off one by one and disappeared into the fog now over the pen. I made a wide sweeping turn but Brooke was closer and dropped in to the lead while #2 and I carried on.
Once she was out of the mix, the 4 remaining birds locked onto Brooke?s wing and headed on course. Was that because of her absence or were they just far enough from the pen to finally pay atrention? Or was the fog too unfamiliar for them and they followed Brooke out of insecurity?
A large bank of fog to the east channeled us southwest and for a while we were at the same altitude and a thousand feet apart. #2 was desperate to join her flockmates but I managed to keep her separate and as we cleared the fog, I increased the space between us.
LOL!!! Joe and who's the boss?
#2 stayed behind the wing while we climbed to 1,000 feet but with all that easy flying, she had lots of reserve energy and decided to spend it on dominance. She dropped below the wing and began to pass me. I added power and pulled the wing back to go faster. Each time she went for the lead, I took it back. She would fall back and I would leave her there until she opened her beak to pant. Then I would slow and she would gratefully take the wing to rest. At some points we were flying at 54 mph, a good 16 mph faster than normal crane cruise speed.
Number 2 stayed on my wing for the last 15 miles, which took half an hour with the headwinds we had been fighting the entire way. We reached 3000 feet then began a slow descent. Coming down she had the advantage. While descending you can only fly so fast, so she led the way down. Still she stayed close and we landed next to the pen a good 20 minutes before Brooke. That gave me time to feed her grapes and make friends.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/09/day-40-lead-pilot-report
OM field reports
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/11-9-15_uphoff1.jpg)
OM photo
November 9, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
All 6 flew to Monicello IL
Video of takeoff
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/77317703
Teaching #1 - continued
Joe Duff Pilot Report November 9, 2015 flight to Piatt County, IL
#1 is dominant and disruptive to flight. Read Joe's humorous report.
Raising cranes is quite a challenge! Will they box her again til the 5 are away, then fly her alone?
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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November 10, 2015 Monday
OM stays put, brake work on truck, strong winds in the forecast Thursday.
Aircraft are stored in a hangar and out of the elements here. If we were to fly to our next site tomorrow, they would be outside and subjected to bad winds.
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Nov 13, 2015
Today its too windy to fly - but tomorrow may be hopeful
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3-14_111115.jpg)
OM photo
November 14, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
7.12 birds left with Joe Duff for an exercise session
BUT didnt go too far - strong headwinds
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/14/day-46-no-go
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
EMP Whooping Cranes on the Move
Nov. 13, 2015 by Heather, OM
Some Whooping cranes in the EMP have moved south in the past couple of weeks.
8 cranes confirmed in Greene County, Indiana, including:
12-02, 4-11, 19-10, 13-03, 9-05, 36-09, 18-03 and 24-13
12-03 and 12-05 are in Knox County, Indiana.
The family unit consisting of 9-03, 3-04 and W18-15 were in Richland County, Illinois.
The 6 Whooping cranes which had been frequenting White River Marsh, Wisconsin was last seen together on Nov. 5. Nov. 6 female #3-14 was on the move, Nov 12 she was in Christian County, Kentucky.
Female #10-14 in Indiana with #3-14. That group consists of 3 males: 4-12, 5-12 and 4-14 (Peanut) and 3 females: 3-14, 9-14 and 10-14. (Oh isnt that handy!? Every time I see Peanut, I say - awwwww!)
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/13/emp-whooping-cranes-on-the-move
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Joe Duff, Lead Pilot Report
Nov. 14, 2015
It was my lead this morning and one of those days that wasn?t perfect, but so long awaited that we thought we would try anyway.
I landed in the harvested bean field next to the pen, and hit a rock and clipped the brake line for the front wheel and fractured the plastic hose that contains the brake fluid and the peddle went instantly to the floor. Brakes are only important on the ground so I took off with the birds anyway.
They all came out together and we bounced around in the rough air until we reached 200 feet and settled in to a smooth ride. At 300 feet our ground speed was only 17 mph and the GPS said it would take us 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach our destination. But the birds seemed locked on and they were climbing well so we kept going, hoping to improve our time as we got higher.
Two miles out from the starting point, they broke abruptly and turned back. Nothing had scared them so we can only assume that it was the slow progress we were making. We landed after 20 minutes.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/14/day-46-lead-pilot-report
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Nov. 16, 2015
No fly
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/P1020748.jpg)
Photo: St. Marks Refuge Volunteer
Male Whooping crane #5-12 (left) and female #9-14
arrived at St. Marks November 17th.
OM Whooping cranes #5-12 male and #9-14 female have arrived in Florida! :D ;D
St. Marks Arrivals
November 18, 2015
St. Marks Refuge Manager forwarded the photos taken while working on the pensite.
The last hit for female #3-14 and male #4-12 placed them in Jefferson County, GA.
#7-14 was in Vigo County, Indiana at the beginning of the week and the female #8-14 was in southeast Tennessee. Female #10-14 was in Alabama as of November 15.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/18/st-marks-arrivals
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Suggestion to the OM people
Crane Calendar fund raiser
OM needs a 16 month whoopendar for 2016
All the 16 month calendars I've bought - one I paid $18 for! -
have 12 pages - and all 4 extra months on ONE page.
Thats no good for scheduling!
The one I would MOST like would be
October, November, December on 3 separate pages
Then the normal January - December
and then a page for the new year's January
Most people have overlap - that kind of 16 month calendar'd be so handy.
And OM can put a photo of OM cranes at St Marks for the January!
OM cranes in the cow pond for a spring month.
Tume Doug takes WONDERFUL photos.
What a fundraiser this'd be - and a great keepsake!
Photo: St. Marks Refuge Volunteer
#5-12 and 9-14 spent time foraging at a pond a short distance from St. Marks NWR
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/bands_5-12Left_9-14Right1.jpg)
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Shep, hope you sent your calendar suggestions to OM. I have a feeling they won't see them in this Forum. ;) Thanks for the s'caps and updates! :)
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/flight_112015_1.jpg)
#1-15 on the right challenges #2-15 for the lead behind the trike wing.
November 20, 2015 Flyday Shepnotes
7.15 am takeoff behind Joe
9 am Heather reported the birds are on the ground in Effington, IL.
flightcam worked and they are flying beautifully!
Joe Duff, Lead Pilot Report
Nov. 20, 2015 Cumberland Co., IL
All the birds came out of the pen together and everything looked good - for awhile. About the same place that they turned back last Saturday, they broke again. This time I was able to catch them and they all gathered on the wing once more.
Number 2-15 pulled her usual stuff and tried to lead the aircraft and number 1-15 dropped below the wing, taking a few others with her. At one point, I noticed both of them on my right wing, fighting for the lead, competing for top dog position. Periodically, numbers 1 and 2 would each take a lead position on opposite wingtips.
We did a long slow descent and all of the birds landed together on a little tractor road next to a wet bean field. This flight was the first time all six birds followed one aircraft for a complete leg unless you count the very first stopover. Total flight time = 1 hour 43 minutes.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/20/day-52-lead-pilot-report
#1-15 honking in flight
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/flight_112015.jpg)
Another weather front coming in tomorrow.
NE Florida eagle Juliet has 2 eggs, hurry up Harriet!
SWFL Eagles on egg watch
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/SantaCrane_zps9e8d8259.jpg)
Santa Crane, OM photo - 2013 I think?
November 22, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
Flew from Effington to Wayne County Illinois
7.20 am trike flew over pen and colts exited and flew UP UP to trike and
headed south behind Brooke - BEAUTIFUL exit!
Brooke lead, Joe Duff chase pilot
8.45 all landed in Fairfield, the last stop in Illinois
Kentucky is the next stop
Fairfield in Wayne County is known locally as Little Egypt
#11 is male and the youngest in the group (cohort)
He still has th most cinnamon color
Look here for reports later
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Migration map
http://operationmigration.org/operation-migration-map.asp
The best snips of the birds is early before sun washes the picture out
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Here you see lead pilot Brooke
and chase pilot Joe Duff
removing the frost covers from their aircraft
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
List all the things you are thankful for
start with
food
electricity
hot tapwater
flush toilets
[attachment deleted by admin]
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November 24, 2015 Toozday Shepnotes
The cranes flew to Kentucky
Flight time of 2 hours 30 minutes to go 45 miles
That is one of the bird handlers in a tarp -
they call them swamp monster - after birds take off,
they DONT want them to land back at pen
Poor Joe!
Joe Duff, Lead Pilot Report
Nov. 24, 2015 Union County, Kentucky
We had a constant headwind that slowed us to a frustrating 30 mph.
#2 crane caused trouble and they had a heck of a rodeo wrangling birds.
Brooke landed with 4 birds and Joe arrived with 2 birds 25 minutes later. Then they set up the pen.
On the bright side, we are finally out of Illinois and all the birds made it all the way.
We take our joy in small doses.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/24/day-56-lead-pilot-report
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November 26, 2015 Shepnotes
Windy - and rain coming in next few days.
OM wont be advancing for a few days
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more pics
When tume - crane handler - move right - they follow
he moves left - they follow - like puppies
It seems ustream gives a better screen print image, color richer, clearer
What do you think?
below are ustream
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Whooping cranes in the EMP
November 27, 2015 Wild Cranes Migration report = * denotes female
14 whoopers in Greene County, Indiana. They are: 17-07*/10-09, 12-02/4-11* and 19-10, 13-03*/9-05, 36-09*/18-03, 24-13, 18-09/23-10* and 34-09*/4-08.
The family unit consisting of 9-03 and 3-04* with the wild produced chick W18-15 is in Wayne County, Illinois. Interesting to note that during our flight from Cumberland County to our migration stop in Wayne County, we flew approximately 7 miles from the small wetland where this family is. Even more interesting is that W18-15 and ultralight crane 8-15* are full siblings. Number 8-15 came from the forced re-nesting study at Necedah and resulted from the first clutch of eggs this past spring being collected for use in the reintroduction. (Thanks PCW!).
Wisconsin DNR pilot Bev Paulan flew her final aerial survey of the season Nov. 24th and reported seeing only 3 Whooping cranes. They were: 16-12, 17-11*/19-11 ? all in Juneau County, Wisconsin.
Over in the Wisconsin Rectangle, DNR pilot Michael Callahan flew a survey yesterday and spotted 27-14* as well as six (6) of this year?s Direct Autumn Release cohort at/near Horicon marsh in Dodge County. Five members of the cohort are together and include: 61*,62,63,65*,67-15*. The sixth youngster is 68-15* was spotted in a flock of ~100 Sandhill cranes.
Mike also reported seeing DAR colt 66-15* in Calumet County, Wisconsin. The eighth DAR crane (64-15*) from the 2015 cohort departed on migration a few days ago and the whereabouts are unknown. Her signal was last heard as she traveled over Madison, WI, however trackers were unable to locate her due to traffic and snow.
Four of the six 2014 ultralight Whooping cranes have PTT devices, which we get information on a couple times each week. We know for sure that 3-14* and 10-14* are currently in Jenkins County, Georgia. We cannot definitively say that 4-14 (Peanut) and 4-12 are traveling with them, however, considering the number of weeks this group of four spent together near White River Marsh in the late summer/early fall, it?s likely.
The last PTT hit we received on number 8-14 placed her in Hamilton County, Tennessee earlier this week.
4 Whooping cranes were foraging near the winter release pen at St Marks in Wakulla County, Florida!
The group consists of: 7-14*, 9-14* and two males: 5-12 and 4-13.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/26/where-the-wild-cranes-are
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November 29, 2015 SONday Shepnotes
At 1.00 pm ct today OM has a live video chat on our CraneCam.
If you have any questions post it in the chat box alongside the video stream.
http://operationmigration.org/cranecam.asp
OM Reports
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/11/29/day-61-no-go
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December 3, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
7.08 am Trike left the hanger
7.30 BIRDS UP
10.00 All on the ground in Tennessee
I arrange the video side by side and pop chatbox out.
Birdies flew great - looked happy, playing in the air
Flight pics are so poor its not worth taking more than one.
OM skipt a stop and landed in Landed in Carroll County, TN
Look here for pilot reports later
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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shep, thanks for the update. Good news on making it to the Carroll Co., TN stop! Whoop, whoop! :)
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Phone pics of cranes waiting for pen to be set up
How they love being in the water again!
You will notice they turned blue
Must be the camera or shadows - kinda odd
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December 05
No flying Dec 4 or today
Here's 2 pics - the trike went up Dec 4 to test but too 'trashy' to fly
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December 7, 2015 Monday Shepnotes
7.13 BIRDS UP
7.35 They are on their way - finally - after a circle tour, rodeo, of refusing to follow.
I suspect one colt is playing - whose the boss
The birds are NOT cooperating
OM hopes to fly to Hardin County, TN. 67 miles
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Birds safe on the ground
BOTH OM's trucks got stuck in the mud at the pen they just left,
tractor pulled them out
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/goprograb12-07-017.jpg)
Joe Duff Lead Pilot Report
When I launched with the birds, I could not see them. The only place to land is on a tractor road 300 feet from the pen. It?s over a slight ridge but as soon as the birds are 10 feet up, they could see me and hear the vocalizer. I took off and they fell into place ? but not for long. One bird kept turning them back every time we headed on course.
Just to the south of the pen there is a forest that extends east and west for miles. The fog seemed to catch in the branches like a solid wall so we had to circle to gain a little altitude while Colleen and Heather paraded around the pen as animated swamp monsters.
The thicker the fog got, the less agreeable they seemed to be about crossing it, but there was also a battle playing out between numbers 1 and 2. One bird would break and lead a few others back. I would chase them and invariably when I took back the lead, it was number 2 up front. 40 minutes later I was still corralling birds within a mile of the pensite.
Finally after 50 minutes, number 2 veered off alone. Her departure was so sudden that the other birds did not follow and that allowed Brooke (chase pilot) to move in quickly and pick her up. He went east and I took the others west.
With one bird you can concentrate your efforts and he soon had her on course but it wasn?t easy. She kept bouncing from wing to wing or leading the trike, or worse, dipping below the wing where she had to work hard and use up her reserved energy.
They broke once more and something interesting happened. Often when they leave the aircraft they will fly parallel to the trike a few hundred yards away. They seem to be deciding whether to leave or come back. If you turn towards them, they take that as confirmation to turn for the pen. But if you hold your course, they sometimes come back.
As we flew east, four cranes drifted off to the left leaving #1 alone on my wingtip. I could see her calling and there was a moment of indecision. I held my course while number 1 left my wingtip, took over the lead of the four and brought them back to the trike.
With all five birds on the wing I turned on course. We had been airborne an hour and 6 minutes and we were finally on our way.
Brooke was miles ahead and working hard to keep number 2 flying. We slowly climbed to 800 feet but my birds were now getting tired. They had flown for more that a hour with only short periods of soaring on the wing. I took them up to 1000 feet. But they would fall behind and fly with their beaks open to get more air. We landed next to Brooke who already had number 2 in the pen and water and feed ready.
The total flight took 2 hours and 26 minutes but it was hard work all the way ? both for the birds and the pilots. I made sure #1 got extra grapes and I quietly thanked her for the help.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/08/day-69-lead-pilot-report
I edited, click link and read it. Joe is a great writer and speaker!
Joe took these photos in flight with a selfie stick. How creative!
Poor Joe! What an insane flight! On link is an image from Joe's GPS unit showing his track history. lol - Will they shove #2 in a crate? What a naughty girl!
December 8
It doesnt appear they will be going ANYwhere for several days
weather
They put up a test trike, but no go.
Snips a couple pics
birds were ready!
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/goprograb12-07-016.jpg)
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T40 posted the following in the "Birds in the News" thread in Forum. I'm sharing it here. Thanks, T40.
Wildlife agents report increase in Louisiana's whooping crane population.
http://www.ksla.com/story/30690440/wildlife-agents-report-increase-in-louisianas-whooping-crane-population
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Found a peanut! Found a peanut! :D :-*
December 9, 2015 Female sub-adult Whooping crane #10-14* at St. Marks Florida. She is with #3-14* and the 2 males: #4-12 and #4-14 (Peanut).
This makes a total of 8 Whooping cranes which have returned to St. Marks in the past few weeks.
The original four are: 5-12, 9-14*, 7-14* and 4-13.
The new arrivals had been blown east into Georgia in November.
All cranes in the Class of 2014 have returned to Florida! :D ;D :D :)
*denotes female crane
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/09/newsflash
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Photo December 13, 2015
pouring rain - gonna be MUD MUD MUD
cranes LOVE it, trikes dont
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December 15, 2015 Toozday Shepnotes
Flew from TN to Double Springs in Winston County, Alabama
The winds let up and we reached Winston County, Alabama! 66 more miles. This morning?s flight lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes and all six cranes stayed with Brooke the entire flight. Please enjoy these photos by Cindy Hayes and Chase pilot, Joe Duff.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/15/day-77-success
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Thanks, Shep. That last link in your post isn't working for me - I get "the webpage cannot be found" message when I click on it. Did something get "cut off" maybe in the cut-and-paste of that link? I can go to the OM Field Notes webpage directly and find the info there, but just wondered about the link. Hmmm... when I go to http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/ I don't currently see the Day 77 (12-15-2015) post there. I wonder if it was removed for some reason? On further investigation at that web page, on the right side in the RSS/Twitter feed, I see the reference to the Day 77/Success post though... and some other tweets indicating some people may be having some access issues. I found this:
https://mobile.twitter.com/OperMigration?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
and scrolled through that to see the Day 77 Success mention for Dec. 15, and also the OM tweet today saying that winds aloft are too strong and that they will be standing down for the day today in Winston County, Alabama.
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Dec 16, 2015 - shepnotes
baz - It was an OM photo - which Heather'd given me permission last year to post.
She couldnt get into their site to post today til later.
I have no idea if they had to re-arrange stuff.
clicking on fb snip also get the 404 - but u can see the pic there
it DID exist - lol
https://www.facebook.com/OperationMigration
Here are screen shots I got today. Cranes in Alabama.
2 are being a bit feisty - a 3rd joined after I snipt.
Dec. 16 Thursday looks 'IFFY' to fly - they hope to.
Friday looks more hopeful.
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Nice snips, Shep. I'm sure the pic was there earlier. LOL. I see you edited your post to remove that pic now. I wasn't even talking about th e"missing" pic anyway... I was talking about the link - http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/15/day-77-success - which gives a "webpage cannot be found" message. I'm sure now that it's not any error on your part. It looks like some of the OM people even have had some kind of issue with accessing some of their site info today the best I could tell from some of the things I read there in their tweets from OM people... They must've had some kind of technical glitch.
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OM isp was banned by the journal server.
It sounds funny :D - but things like that have happened to me,
and its NOT funny at all.
4.30 pm Heather replied
I was blacklisted from our site by a 3rd party security plugin.
We had to roll back and rebuild.
The journal is updated
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Here are the lost photos
They are very nice!
Dont shoot me but one of the pics they look almost like geese!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/15/day-77-migration-update
Whooper with Tourettes
Lead Pilot Report
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/16/day-77-lead-pilot-report
If reading Brooke's reports confuses you, dont feel bad! ;D
Just think Mork - if you watched that TV show - or Robin Williams.
You'll be ok
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/SantaCrane_zps9e8d8259.jpg)
PHOTO from a previous year. Too cute not to use again! dont remember who did it.
December 17, 2015 Thurzday Shepnotes
The one with the most cinamon color is the male.
We can call him Bubba. Aint he purdy?
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December 18, 2015 Friday Shepnotes
Double Springs in Winston County, Alabama
7.06 am trike leaves airport and heads to the pen to get the birds - and - cam goes OFF
7.09 BIRDS UP - but no go - returned to pen about 7.40
snips from video
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/18/day-80-no-go
Heading Home for the Holidays
Dec. 18, 2015 - The warm winds have delayed us longer than most years past and the holiday season is knocking (loudly) at our RV doors. After much discussion, we just now made the decision that our current migration stop is the safest ? both for the cranes and the aircraft. The crane pen is located very close to camp and here we have the luxury of a hangar to keep the aircraft out of the elements until we return on December 28th.
Colleen Chase and Jeff Fox will stay here to tend to the birds over the holidays ? they?ll be well cared for. The rest of us will pick up rental cars tomorrow and head to our respective homes in Florida, North Carolina, Ontario and Rhode Island to spend time with our families.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/18/heading-home-for-the-holidays
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OKC owls are active, seen and heard - cam probly right after new year
OKC owlcam - Mrs nests in a balcony planter!
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2126.0.html
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December 19, 2015 Sataday Shepnotes
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/hol/Ceag_zpsgjfyspg5.jpg)(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/hol/falC_zpsibygaf5y.jpg)
Merry CHRISTmas
December 24, 2015
Double Springs in Winston County, Alabama
Aransas Texas Whooping Cranes
December 2015 Update - Heather Ray
Data management postsurvey observations
Overall, habitat appeared to be in excellent condition.
We did not observe any family groups that included twin juveniles.
Whooping cranes were detected on a couple islands.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/24/wood-buffaloaransas-whooping-crane-pop-update
Stormy weather
Dec. 23, 2015 Joe Duff
After sitting for weeks in high winds, we picked a day to break camp and head home for a short Christmas break. That very morning was perfect for flying! The problem was that the next stopover does not provide ideal conditions for the birds. We chose the last option which was to leave the birds where they are, with our experienced crew members.
We headed home, arriving just in time to hear that tornadoes were predicted for the Alabama county we just left.
There is not much you can do if 200 mph winds whip through the area except evacuate ahead of time.
The pen has been staked down with extra ropes and multiple pegs so it looks like it?s been captured by a monster spider. Crates have been set up and if there is time, the birds will be boxed and moved to a shelter. If not, they will be released to hunker down as they would in the wild but without the hazard of a pen blowing around them
Brooke came back to sit out the storm and help if needed. If it passes uneventfully, he will head back down to Florida.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/23/stormy-weather
There is no live pen cam of cranes
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2015-12-23trailer.jpg)
Jeff and Colleen followed Brookes instructions for securing the pen trailer
It Was a Dark & Stormy Night
Dec. 24, 2015 Colleen Chase
On Monday, December 21st the local news stations started forecasting probable tornadic weather for Wednesday the 23rd. Brooke came back from Florida to be here for the storm. After hearing about the risk of golf ball sized hail, we decided that boxing the birds and putting them in a safe secure building was the best thing to do. The airport has a shelter, and we put the birds in the pump house, which was perfect! A concrete building right next to the RVs!
At 4:30 pm Brooke, Jeff and his wife Mary and I started boxing birds. By 5:30 they were tucked into their safe place. We spent most of the night under a tornado watch, had a really strong thunderstorm and high winds. We were lucky. 7 people died last night in Mississippi and Tennessee.
The birds did great after their dark and stormy night. I had sprinkled mealworms in every muddy spot in the pen, put out a watermelon and an eggplant. They foraged and explored with their usual curiosity.
Merry Christmas!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/24/it-was-a-dark-stormy-night-2
OM photo
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2015-12-24.jpg)
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Horrible storms. My prayers to all affected by them.
Glad to hear the cranes and the people who helped them are safe.
G'night, and Peace for Christmas.
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December 29, 2015 day Shepnotes
Double Springs in Winston County, Alabama
The crew has returned from the Christmas break, and let the cranes out for awhile.
Nice photos here
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2015/12/29/day-82-standing-down
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160102_081738.jpg)
OM photo
2016
January 2, 2016 Sataday shepnotes
Double Springs in Winston County, Alabama
TRIED to head to Walker (Jasper) today, but cranes preferred wading!
7.23 BIRDS UP - but kept doubling back - a rodeo
Somewhere around 8 pilot gave up for today
The cranes preferred the pond to flying!
Took screenshots too
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shep, thanks for the report and pics. Glad to know the young whoopers from this year are all safe and healthy. hope they continue on their migration route soon though. ;) :D
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January 3, 2016 Sonday shepnotes
They finally left Double Springs, Alabama, SKIPPED Jasper and landed at Chilton Cty (Clanton), Alabama
7.20 BIRDS UP - #2 was crated til the other 5 were off
9 am we got the word they will SKIP the next stop and fly on to the following stop
We dont know if they are driving #2 in the crate or what they did
10.38 am 5 cranes safe on the ground
Usually I wouldnt save a pic this bad - but with almost NO signal for video - this was all I cud get
Lead Pilot report (edit)
Jan. 3, 2016 Joe Duff, Chilton County, Alabama
Naughty #2
January 2 was almost a perfect flying morning. We launched (with birds) in smooth conditions and flew with the birds for 40 minutes back and forth. We were not helped by the fact the birds have been in the same location since before Christmas. The lake that developed at the end of our runway during the recent rain storms also distracted them. They got to play in it once before and they wanted more of that.
And finally there is the ongoing competition for alpha bird between #1 and #2.
When the birds broke and headed back to the pen, I couldnt tell who instigated the mutiny.
When I caught up with them to retake to lead, it was #2 at the head of the pack.
In the end, the winds got too rough, so we called it quits.
Heroin #1
January 3 we a plan. We crated #2
The colts didn?t appear fixated on the runway lake or the pen, still they turned back several times for a 31 minute rodeo and we were still in sight of the pen field. Finally they collected on the wing, #1 was leading them. She is my favorite bird because she is the first to follow and the last to leave my wingtip. The other birds were content to follow her and we were finally on our way.
;D YIPPEE SKIPPEE!
We were ten miles from our next stop and at last the birds were soaring and looked strong enough to carry on so we made the decision to skip that site.
? Where was #2 ?
#2 was still back at the starting point. Brooke was to turn back once we were underway and then lead her south alone. But by the time I got the birds organized we were too far along for him to head back, so she made the trip in a crate.
Click link for Joe's whole report in detail
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/03/day-87-lead-pilot-report
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dscn3194.jpg)
Departing Chilton County, Alabama (Huw Lloyd photo)
January 11, 2016 Monday shepnotes
Leaving Chilton Cty (Clanton), Alabama at last!
7.30 am trike heads to pen
7.32 birds loosed
There is so MUCH water below, the birds want to go down to it.
Pilot Brooke had trouble getting them to follow him.
As we watched them in flight, I could see what Joe Duff has written in his articles taking place before my eyes.
See my January 3 post
Heroin #1 - sticks to trike when others wander, then they return to trike
It aint easy bein a pilot!
Bird with the green band in lead - both #1 and #10 now have a green band
#1 is the Princess - the absolute LEADER
Birds landed at nest stop - Hayneville in Lowndes Cty
Pilots report will be here later
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Crane #11 dropped out at some point during the flight and was crated the remaining distance. Joe stayed with this young male bird until Richard van Heuvelen could get there to gather him up.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/11/day-94-quick-update
Keith has a short youtube of the take off this morning:
http://youtu.be/x82u_rlHhB8?list=TL-e2HutorIYMxMTAxMjAxNg
:( Sad note
:( Marsha, Whooping crane #10 crosses Rainbow Bridge
January 1, 2016 St Marks discovered the remains of Marsha, female Whooping crane #10-14 near the winter pen.
Called Marsha for her propensity to wander off into the marsh, she continued to occasionally wander away from the other cranes. Her remains will be sent to the Lab in Madison, WI for necropsy.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/04/sad-news-from-st-marks
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Sad to hear the news of the Whooper, 10-14, Marsha. As bad as it is to lose any of these cranes for any reason, I hope they won't find any kind of contagious cause of death. It is more of a worry when the birds spend time in larger flocks or groups of birds at their popular migratory grounds.
Glad to hear of the continuation of this year's Whoopers' first migration journey, and that they are all healthy.
Thanks for the updates and pics and links, Shep.
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January 12, 2016 Toozday shepnotes
Hayneville in Lowndes Cty, Alabama temp 26
Joe took off with the colts - but no go - wind, and his radio didnt work
As Joe was removing the tarps from wings - to keep frost off,
the trike ran away from him - LOL!
Then he had trouble with his radio
As you see in pic below - the shadow of the cross on Joe's tarp
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Yikes! Glad the trike didn't run away or get damaged. Small planes can become airborne easily without a pilot in the right wind conditions. ;)
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ALMOST HOME
January 13, 2016 Wenzday shepnotes
Hayneville in Lowndes Cty, Alabama temp 26
Joe took off with the colts - but #2 was a problem so they crated her again,
and the other 5 birds flew to Troy in Pike county.
9.15 am birds landed
Only 4 more stops to St Marks - and one might be skipt.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Lead Pilot Report
Jan. 13, 2016 Joe Duff
This morning the surface air was dead calm and the birds followed like troopers for a while, but then #2-15 started her tricks.
#1 was soaring along and setting a fine example when #2 dropped on her and an aerial dog-fight ensued.
#2 took the others and peeled off and left me, #1 stayed with me.
That rodeo continued for 27 minutes. Then Brooke suggested landing back at the site to put #2 in the pen.
Once 2-15 was in the pen, I launched again, but the birds did not go. They stood there watching me. Finally they launched on their own and Brooke picked them up and they followed in a perfect line. The absence of one bird made all the difference.
Brooke climbed to 1500 feet and picked up a slight tailwind.
Including the rodeo, the flight took 2 hours. The next site was an hour and 20 minutes away.
We will also box #2 next flight.
(I cut out a LOT! Click link for details. Joe musta been taking writing lessons from Brooke.)
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/13/day-96-lead-pilot-report
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
I am so FWUSTWITTERPATED by this forum!!! >:(
I couldnt get in - AGAIN! 9.30 am central time
I took 3 pics in Haynevile, there was a rodeo before they crated #2.
The monster blows an air horn to scare birds away from pen so they'll follow trike
Whooping crane colt #2-15 disrupting the flight formation. OM photo
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shep, glad the whoopers were able to fly another migration leg today, even though that wascally wascal #2 had to get their by crate. :D
I am also having the same Forum issues today as so many reported having yesterday and that I also had yesterday... yes, very frustrating... Not making the communication connection with Forum before timeouts, or extremely s-l-o-o-o-w response, when trying to post or navigate between pages or threads or boards in Forum. Oooh-la-la... no fun! ::) ::) ::)
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ALMOST HOME
January 14, 2016 Thurzday shepnotes
5 birds flew from Troy, Alabama to Decatur Georgia in Clay County
7.20 birds up
9.23 am central time (10.23 eastern) On the ground in Clay County!
They crated #2
Next stop Leon, FLORIDA
That is the LAST STOP before St Marks
Will they be home Sonday?
Stay tuned - to ... as the cranes fly .....
Lead Pilot Report Jan. 14, 2016 Joe Duff
Location: Clay County, GEORGIA
To avoid the aerial warfare, we decided to crate #2-15 again this morning.
If things went smoothly, Brooke planned to turn around and attempt to launch with her alone, but that did not happen. By the time the birds settled in and we were sure they would follow, we were too far along and still not confident. Ten miles from the starting point we were still at 200 feet.
Luckily the surface air was calm so I could slow the aircraft to 33 mph, but the birds still fell behind a time or two. That does not include the four trips around the pen getting them on their way.
There are a number of helicopter related businesses in the Troy, Alabama area from a Sikorsky Service Center to University Aviation Training courses. Low flying rotorcraft are everywhere.
Five miles into the flight, a military Kiowa circled us to have a look and that was the only real time the birds broke and headed back. One wide sweeping turn and they joined my wingtip again.
When we took off, we were covering ground at 25 mph. But as we climbed, we gained back some of the speed we were losing to the headwind. We cruised along at 38 indicated (speed read from the airspeed indicator) and were making 31 (ground speed read from the GPS)
We eventually made it up to 1800 feet. But then we found a slight burble causing the wing to bounce and the birds to work harder following it. So we dropped back down to 1500 and smoother air.
Our flight was so slow that Jo arrived with number 2-15 in the box, even before the pen was assembled.
It took one hour and 47 minutes to cover 59 miles.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/14/day-97-lead-pilot-report
January 15 Friday - no fly - rain
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Jawja
January 16, 2016 Sataday shepnotes
Too foggy too fly
Cranes became flappy - I didnt get snips of the flapping
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DELAY
January 19, 2016 Toozday
Decatur Georgia in Clay County
No flight til Sonday, pilot Joe Duff
Crew concerned about upcoming WCEP meetings. Joe Duff, Heather, Jo-Anne, and Jeff and I attend these pivotal meetings. So we won?t be flying until we are back Saturday. We?ll be ready to go again Sunday, January 24th. The team felt that because we have worked so closely for so many years, we needed to be together at the end of what may very well be the last aircraft-led migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/19/standing-down-till-sunday
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The following is copied from Forum's "Birds in the News" thread where T40cfr403 posted yesterday the news of the shooting and killing of two Whooping Cranes in Texas.
T40's post can be found in that thread at:
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2027.msg453624.html#msg453624
Below is a quote of T40's post along with my reply posted in that same thread.
Texas man charged with killing endangered whooping cranes
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2016/01/15/texas-man-arrested-killing-endangered-whooping-cranes/78833816/
(http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/36/47/06/8024493/3/920x920.jpg)
T40, I hope you don't mind that I'm going to share this post of yours in the Forum's thread for the Operation Migration Whooping Cranes. I am beyond angry about this! I don't care how young this person is who shot and killed these 2 Whooping Cranes, he better get an active prison term out of it as far as I'm concerned... The story says the max he can get is 6 months, and I hope he gets sentenced to a good portion of that, and has to serve it. Someone has to start having the guts to enforce such laws! What good are these laws without enforcement?
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I dont know if they ever jail anyone for shooting bird species.
If I recall right - one only got a $100 fine for killing an eagle.
I may be wrong. I heard an expert speak to this, but my memory on detail fails me. :(
It sure is too bad OM had to leave cranes in Jawja (Georgia).
If I'd decided I would have crated them to St Marks before taking off for the meeting.
I believe those birds migrate by the sun and earth's magnetic fields as much as eye sight.
Just my lil ole opinion.
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Whooping Crane Group To Take Up USFWS Proposals, Including Phase-Out Of Aircraft
http://www.wpr.org/whooping-crane-group-take-usfws-proposals-including-phase-out-aircraft
(http://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/styles/resp_orig_custom_user_narrow_1x/public/field/image/fl%20College%20of%20Computer%2C%20Mathematical%20and%20%20Natural%20sciences%20-%20whooping%20cranes%20ultrlight_0.jpg?itok=sVxNgrTv×tamp=1453248763)
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The DECISION
January 23, 2016 Sataday
End of Ultralight-guided Migration
Jan. 23, 2016 Joe Duff - That?s all she wrote.
The decision was final. There will be no more aircraft led releases.
There are a number of inhibitors to a successful reintroduction of Whooping cranes. Firstly, you need a method of teaching them migration. Then you must get enough of them onto the landscape so a high percentage will survive to reach breeding age. You must ensure they exhibit wild behavior and mate with their own kind.
Operation Migration team has been very successful in achieving those goals.
Despite those achievements, you can only judge the success of a wildlife reintroduction by the ability for the population to produce young and grow to a self-sustaining level. Of the 240 plus birds released into the EMP, only 10 chicks have survived to fledge.
So why are the offspring not surviving?
Why did so many eggs hatch in 2015 but only 3 chicks survive? Maybe predation played a role but the more likely cause is inattentiveness of the parents. Maybe in their early development, hand raised chicks miss some behavior that only real parents can teach.
When animals are raised in captivity for multiple generations they undergo genetic changes that may weaken their ability to persist in the wild. They live on a fixed diet, they don?t fly and they are not subjected to the regular adrenalin rush of avoiding predators. With so few Whooping cranes left, each one is precious and vet teams treat them for conditions that would normally kill untreated birds in the wild. They live on to produce children with the same predisposition for that illness.
Last August we hired Jeff Fox who has been reading research papers and using the WCEP database to see how the UL method stands up against other techniques. Unfortunately, the more he dug, the more discrepancies he found in that database.
There are more males than females.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/23/end-of-ultralight-guided-migration
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
crane cam is LIVE - but too dark for a pic
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/migratingcranes/pop-out
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shep, thank you for posting that report. That decision comes as no surprise to me, and I'm sure not to anyone who has been following that storyline, but I am sad to know the UL OM Whooping Crane process will end. I have read all the background reports and data and opinions and such that I can find on that topic, and there certainly has been some mis-representation of those data by the "powers that be."
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Federal authorities to end use of ultralights for whooping crane project
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/fish-and-wildlife-service-to-end-whooping-crane-migration-project-b99657191z1-366304761.html
Whooping Crane Conservationists To End Use Of Ultralight Aircraft In Migrations
http://www.wpr.org/whooping-crane-conservationists-end-use-ultralight-aircraft-migrations
Ultralight-led whooping crane flights to end
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/watchdog-earth/2016/01/23/ultralight-led-whooping-crane-flights-end/79227518/
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Sandy F (NWWISbirder) January 23, 2016 6:09 pm Reply
With heavy heart and blurry eyes I say
Don?t Be Sad Because It Ended,
Be Happy Because It Happened
Thanks T for your links
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_5052.jpg)
PHOTO by Cindy Hayes
ALMOST HOME
January 24, 2016 Sonday shepnotes
Flew away from Decatur Georgia in Clay County
7.20 am They're off behind Brooke, Rich is chase
Wicked mod kept deleting my posts in the chatroom
mod in chatroom said they boxed #2 and flew the other 5 birds
January 24, 2016
Location: Decatur County, GA
Pilot Brooke Pennypacker led the birds this morning with Richard van Heuvelen flying in the chase position.
It took some wrangling to get them to form up on the wing of the aircraft but after about 20 minutes they seemed to fall into line.
Brooke will write his lead pilot report later.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/24/day-103-successful-flight
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
I got a screen pic of the trike but pen cam too blurry to snap
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/whooping20crane20young20colts_zpslxdqhjxd.jpg)
January 25, 2016 Monday Shepnotes
OM put up a test trike but no fly
I took a screen shot of Jawja (Georgia)
Joe Duff
Brooke
Trike
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Statement Regarding the Arraignment of Accused Whooping Crane Shooter
https://www.savingcranes.org/statement-regarding-the-arraignment-of-accused-whooping-crane-shooter/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/whooping_crane_louisiana_400.png)
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US program for whooping cranes might have caused parenting problems
http://www.mymagic949.com/news/news/national/us-program-whooping-cranes-mightve-caused-parentin/nqBgq/
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Statement Regarding the Arraignment of Accused Whooping Crane Shooter
https://www.savingcranes.org/statement-regarding-the-arraignment-of-accused-whooping-crane-shooter/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/whooping_crane_louisiana_400.png)
T40, THANK YOU FOR POSTING! AND THANKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION FOR ISSUING A STATEMENT TO THE ATTORNEY HEARING THIS CASE AND REQUESTING VIGOROUS PROSECUTION!!!
Also, here is the link to the full statement made by the International Crane Foundation...
https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/statement_of_international_crane_foundation_jan2016.pdf
Both links are very worthwhile reads... full statment taken from the link embedded in the very short summary statement by way of the link in T40's post. Thanks again, T40!
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Statement Regarding the Arraignment of Accused Whooping Crane Shooter
https://www.savingcranes.org/statement-regarding-the-arraignment-of-accused-whooping-crane-shooter/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/whooping_crane_louisiana_400.png)
T40, THANK YOU FOR POSTING! AND THANKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION FOR ISSUING A STATEMENT TO THE ATTORNEY HEARING THIS CASE AND REQUESTING VIGOROUS PROSECUTION!!!
Also, here is the link to the full statement made by the International Crane Foundation...
https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/statement_of_international_crane_foundation_jan2016.pdf
Both links are very worthwhile reads... full statment taken from the link embedded in the very short summary statement by way of the link in T40's post. Thanks again, T40!
Two follow-up stories to this case below - the 2nd story below is the most recent:
(about first court appearance)
http://www.12newsnow.com/story/30958704/two-whooping-cranes-killed-in-hardin-county
(and entering Not Guilty plea in court this past Monday)
http://www.12newsnow.com/story/31053681/jefferson-county-man-pleads-not-guilty-amid-charges-of-killing-two-endangered-whooping-cranes
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service casts doubt on claim of 23 whooping crane deaths (from a 2008 lawsuit)
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/news/releases/usfws-whoopingcrane012716
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Latest whooping crane killing renews controversy. Yikes!
http://www.caller.com/sports/outdoors/latest-whooping-crane-killing-renews-controversy-2a30794b-0e73-2e0b-e053-0100007fab5d-366770791.html
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copied part of story - for the record on here
2 whooping cranes shot
Jan. 27, 2016 A young suspect arrested in the Jan. 10 death of two whooping cranes in East Texas admitted this week to shooting the birds to a biologist with the International Crane Foundation. This is the second time this month he has admitted to the shooting.
And yet minutes after his second confession Trey Joseph Frederick, 18, entered a plea of not guilty to a federal judge in a U.S. District Court in Beaumont, where he was arraigned on a single Class B Misdemeanor charge. It is unclear why he was charged in only one of the deaths.
Killing a whooping crane is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If convicted, Frederick faces up six months in federal prison and a fine of up to $15,000. In 2013, a Dallas attorney, while duck hunting near Rockport, mistook a juvenile whooper for a sandhill crane.
The man pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities. A judge ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine and make a $10,000 community service payment to Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges, a nonprofit group that supports the refuge where the whooping cranes spend the winter. In addition, he served a year on probation.
snip
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(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/zcry/bird/whooping20crane20young20colts_zpslxdqhjxd.jpg)
HEADIN HOME!
January 30, 2016 Sataday Shepnotes
The birds are flying to Leon Florida today
They COULD be at their FINAL destination Sonday - at St Marks in Florida
Jan 30 cranes in Georgia - composite pic - video is horrible but took it anyway
Whats next for OM team?
Pilot Joe Duff talks about what is next [/size]
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/82136419
FLORIDa!!!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/30/day-108-florida
Lead Pilot Report
Today, I had the opportunity to lead Whooping cranes for the very last time. As the birds glided along off my left wing, I began to think of a lot of things that have happened over the 25 years I have been involved in bird migration. - Richard
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/01/30/dedicated-lead-pilot-report
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Latest whooping crane killing renews controversy. Yikes!
http://www.caller.com/sports/outdoors/latest-whooping-crane-killing-renews-controversy-2a30794b-0e73-2e0b-e053-0100007fab5d-366770791.html
Thanks T40! Incredible, really. I believe the most important points in this story are in the latter portion of it... not the part about the hunter charged in 2013 and fined for shooting a whooping crane back then... but more about the part of this story pointing out the ignorance of some people and why it's important to get involved with educating people about the issues brought forth in the latter part of this story.
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PREDICTING
Jan. 31, 2016 - The forecast for Sunday is calling for light headwinds.
Despite this, we only have a 23 mile flight from Leon County to our final destination at St. Marks NWR so we?re going to attempt a flight.
If you?d like to be on hand to welcome the arrival of the class of 2015 Whooping cranes, please head to the town of St. Marks and follow the signs (or traffic) to the viewing area.
Plan to be on site by 8:15 am Eastern time and don?t forget your camera and a supply of tissues in case I run out.
Please keep in mind the weather could change and we may have to postpone the arrival? sorry.
(forgot to grab link :-[ )
UPDATE - NO GO TODAY
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Whooping Crane Flight Delayed
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Whooping-Crane-Flight-Delayed-367142311.html
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Spring rains provide whoopers with bountiful food
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/jan/30/spring-rains-provide-whoopers-with-bountiful-food/
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The question - then the answer, or one answer - thanks T!
The question
Whooping Crane Flight Delayed
Terry Peacock refuge manager said, "We've made the decision to stop the ultra-light migration. It's basically because we're trying to find out why we're not having successful breeding.
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Whooping-Crane-Flight-Delayed-367142311.html
One answer
Harrell said
One thing that a migrating species has to deal with is you may see really good conditions where you breed and bad conditions where you winter, or it could be the opposite. It's not always that you have good conditions in both places. It's probably rare, actually.
308 whooping cranes in 2015
The wild population grows about 4 percent per year.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/jan/30/spring-rains-provide-whoopers-with-bountiful-food
I myself have felt the gene pool is too small. There are cranes in other nations. DNA in a number of ways can be brought to USA to enhance and strengthen whoopers here. I have heard Joe Duff mention the small DNA pool.
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Whooping Cranes, known as Grus americana, are not in any countries outside of the USA and Canada. The total global population of wild and captive Whooping Cranes is only in the USA and Canada. The Whooping Cranes in Canada are part of one of the 4 USA populations, as that group migrates between Canada and the USA. There had been some in Mexico at one time, but they are now regionally extinct.
There is much good info throughout this page on Whooping Cranes:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whooping_Crane/lifehistory
And there is much scientific detail about Whooping Cranes on this IUCN List of Threatened Species page. Scroll down that page to the sections on "Geographic Range" and "Population" and "Conservation Actions" for those details:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22692156/0
Additional info at The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America, "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior, Part 17.84," re. rules regarding any relocation of any Whooping Crane:
http://tinyurl.com/hlnaqpr (this tiny url results from the conversion of the long url below - both links are to the same page)
or:
https://books.google.com/books?id=06k8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA259&lpg=PA259&dq=are+there+any+whooping+cranes+outside+the+united+states?&source=bl&ots=2ILviS4lgp&sig=sZJwO3EN96QYrdRX68jOKJyunSs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC-K7XodfKAhXBOyYKHQdCCxkQ6AEIRjAG#v=onepage&q=are%20there%20any%20whooping%20cranes%20outside%20the%20united%20states%3F&f=false
The only captive Whooping Cranes in the world are in the USA and Canada, at the locations specifically listed in the last sentence of the first paragraph at this page:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/esa_works/profile_pages/WhoopingCrane.html
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(http://i59.tinypic.com/35an3v8.jpg) (http://i58.tinypic.com/2h6r6fm.jpg)
:( Another Loss Feb. 2, 2016
Crane #9-14 was predated at St. Marks NWR by a bobcat.
Her sister #10-14 (Marsha) was predated January 1st.
The OM team will attempt to capture the bobcat and release it elsewhere.
The Royal Couple
Whooping crane #3-14. She and male #4-12 had been at the winter pen area and had been associating with both 9-14 & 10-14.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/02/02/sadly-another-loss
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
(http://i57.tinypic.com/xonwj9.jpg)
February 3, 2016 day Shepnotes
#9 obituary
#9 was called TIMID and had a yellow band. She was one of those OM experimented with putting a backpack on her. This test did not work. At the end of June, 2014 Geoff, the volunteer costumed handler, wrote about #9
"She?s a bird who loves her space more than life itself, and any bird who?s in her three-foot bubble is in for a bad time. She?ll peck or chase them out of her comfort zone." Luckily, she's fine once the others get away from her. She has a lot to be sunny about, as her tough attitude has landed her the top spot in the pecking order. The chicks do their best to stay out of her way.
By mid-November the chatroom was calling #9 Luna cuz she is a little - looney
Class of 2014 - my notes
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/ftopic4464-0-asc-108.php
The Royal Couple Joins Training July 16, 2015
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2q9htg2.jpg)
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February 4, 2016 Thursday Shepnotes
No fly - rain
St. Marks Festival Feb. 6 from 11 am to 4 pm
2016 marks the centennial of the Convention between the U.S. and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds, and Treatys with Japan, Russia and Mexico. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge will recognize the story of 100 years of migratory bird conservation at its annual Festival on Saturday Feb. 6, 2016.
Activities for all ages will take place at this year?s festival and include live music, live animals, and a great line-up of exhibitors.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/02/03/st-marks-nwr-who-festival
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HOME!
February 6, 2016 Sataday Shepnotes
With no decent weather in the forseeable future and not wanting to delay the migration any longer, we?re going to crate the young Whooping cranes the remaining distance.
Not ideal but best under the circumstances?
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/02/06/no-go-3
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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HOME!
February 6, 2016 Sataday Shepnotes
With no decent weather in the forseeable future and not wanting to delay the migration any longer, we?re going to crate the young Whooping cranes the remaining distance.
Not ideal but best under the circumstances?
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/02/06/no-go-3
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Thanks for that update, shep. And awww... too bad they had to make the final leg by crate, but glad they are all safely at their wintering grounds now. :-* :-*
And so here ends the the use of an ultralight-led first Autumn migration of the young Whooping Cranes in the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. They did all they could to help increase the population of the whoopers, but apparently the whoopers that were part of this program were not having the hoped-for reproductive success in the wild that would lead to a self-sustaining population, and so all the methods of rearing and releasing young whoopers in the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership will be modified. I am so thankful for all who spent so much time, energy, research, money, and support for this Project, and for educating the public about the plight of these birds. They have been a vital link in the learning and practice of methods to help with bringing back Whooping Cranes from the brink of extinction.
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Here follows the "Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Statement on Vision for the Future," released January 22, 2016, which basically says that the Eastern Partnership's ultralight-led whooping crane migration will end this year and modifications will be made to all of the rearing and release methods to improve success - meaning primarily to improve the success of the Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes to hopefully attain a self-sustaining population, because it has been determined that there has been a lack of reproductive success in the wild using the current methods of UL-led migration and possibly some of the human intervention methods used in the rearing and release of the whoopers in the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, and says, "Modifications are being made to put emphasis on more natural methods of rearing and releasing young whooping cranes, which means discontinuing ultralight-led migrations and perhaps other techniques that rely heavily on human intervention as recommended by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." My own interpretation, to be confirmed by future statements, assumes they also mean that they may stop the heavy reliance upon the costumed-human rearing method of the young birds, and put more emphasis on natural methods of rearing and releasing young whoopers.
Here is the full statement:
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/pdf/WCEPstatement22Jan16.pdf
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:) FREE at LAST!
FREE at LAST!
Many pictures of the release of the cranes.
Good photos
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/02/07/st-marks-arrival-photo-round-up
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Whooping cranes' predatory behavior key for adaptation, survival
http://phys.org/news/2016-02-whooping-cranes-predatory-behavior-key.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgr-item&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
(http://cdn.phys.org/newman/csz/news/800/2016/whoopingcran.jpg)
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Saving whooping cranes requires cooperation
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/feb/09/saving-whooping-cranes-requires-cooperation/
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In New Plan, Baby Whooping Cranes to Be Led by Parents, Not Planes
http://www.audubon.org/news/in-new-plan-baby-whooping-cranes-be-led-parents-not-planes
(http://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_inline/public/sfw_apa_2013_28325_225505_lewisscharpf_whooping_crane_kk.jpg?itok=4jB0YYH8)
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In New Plan, Baby Whooping Cranes to Be Led by Parents, Not Planes
http://www.audubon.org/news/in-new-plan-baby-whooping-cranes-be-led-parents-not-planes
(http://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_inline/public/sfw_apa_2013_28325_225505_lewisscharpf_whooping_crane_kk.jpg?itok=4jB0YYH8)
T40, thanks for posting the "New plan" article - I look forward to reading it later on. Love that outstanding photo of the whoopers in flight! :-* :-*
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Last Flight For Ultralight Led Whooping Crane Migration
http://www.immortal.org/23636/last-flight-ultralight-led-whooping-crane-migration/
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Job Board - Whooping Crane Naturalist Intern: Wisconsin
http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/whooping-crane-naturalist-intern-wisconsin/
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No more whooping crane flights over Georgia
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional/no-more-whooping-crane-flights-over-georgia/nqWFH/
(http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/600/img/photos/2016/02/22/74/0e/whooping-cranes.jpg)
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River authority, environmental group make peace after legal battle
http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Groups-set-aside-legal-battle-over-rivers-6851579.php
(http://media.jrn.com/images/660*374/C0012435261--82102.JPG)
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Whooping cranes are pretty terrible parents. Are humans to blame?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/02/29/even-people-in-crane-costumes-cant-teach-whooping-cranes-to-be-good-parents/
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To Make A Wild Comeback, Cranes Need More Than Flying Lessons
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/02/468045219/to-make-a-wild-comeback-cranes-need-more-than-flying-lessons
(http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/02/29/Joe%20Duff-4ff92d84d8d55ac7955cdaeeae947b445710a8b9-s800-c85.jpg)
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Changes to the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership: Your Questions Answered
https://www.savingcranes.org/changes-to-the-whooping-crane-eastern-partnership-your-questions-answered/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/whooping_crane_family_icf_400.jpg)
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Changes to the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership: Your Questions Answered
https://www.savingcranes.org/changes-to-the-whooping-crane-eastern-partnership-your-questions-answered/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/whooping_crane_family_icf_400.jpg)
Thanks for posting this recently published article, T40. I have been following the decisions leading up to and including the January 2016 statements about the changes planned for how the WCEP will operate going forward. There has been quite a lot explained about why changes will be made to lead to Whooping Crane chicks being raised using less human intervention - such as the chicks spending more time being reared by adult Whoopers, and less interaction with humans costumed like Whoopers (tumes) - and that article speaks specifically of the changes for the WCEP's Whooper chicks being raised by spending large amounts of time with captive adult Whoopers. But I have not seen them answer questions about how they plan for those WCEP chicks to learn to migrate if they are not going to be led on their first migration by manned ultralight - since the captive adult Whoopers who would be raising those chicks do not migrate, of course. I wonder if they plan to crate those chicks raised by captive adult Whoopers to the southern fall migration over-wintering pen locations in hopes they will follow the wild adult Whoopers who visit there on their spring migration back to northern nesting grounds? So, it seems they are answering questions about changes being made to help increase the success of wild Whoopers successfully fledging their hatchling chicks. But there are still a lot of questions about their plans - and for me, that is mostly about how they plan for those WCEP captive-reared chicks to learn to migrate? I sure hope they aren't planning on another non-migratory population being "built." Also, near the end of that article, they speak of "addressing shootings" ... I believe instead they should've said "publicly advertising that they will be criminally prosecuting shooters, resulting in active jail sentences, permanent lifetime loss of hunting privileges, and stiff fines for those found guilty."
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Plight of endangered whooping cranes the focus of event at Swiss Valley
http://www.thonline.com/news/tri-state/article_9f86c1c5-194d-5f01-8eec-7c2afae2c9ea.html
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ALLIGATORS, St Marks FLORIDA
March 13, 2016 Colleen checks the pen
I saw a ripple in the water near the pen gate, and watched a smallish alligator swim back and forth. Pretty soon three of the cranes also noticed it and followed it, they were safe on the inside of the pen and it was on the outside so I was not worried. It was really interesting and concerning in the respect that this curiosity I was witnessing is probably the death of many Whoopers. They are curious when they should be alarmed.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/03/11/solo-at-st-marks-nwr
This summarizes why so many hand raised cranes are predated.
They lack the natural flight response to danger
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Patuxent refuge changes course in project to restore rare whooping cranes
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-whooping-cranes-20160311-story.html
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-56e420ac/turbine/bal-wooping-cranes-bs0036798457-20160223/1000/1000x563)
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As sandhill cranes leave the area, whooping cranes will swoop in to take spotlight
http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/agriculture/as-sandhill-cranes-leave-the-area-whooping-cranes-will-swoop/article_85309eec-e7ef-11e5-b372-d7ad1eb5f872.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kearneyhub.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/36/0366f568-e7f0-11e5-97a7-7ffa5f124717/56e36dfa1aa31.image.jpg?resize=800%2C600)
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Texas Whooping Cranes Learning How To Be Adults In Louisiana
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/03/18/texas-whooping-cranes-learning-how-to-be-adults-in-louisiana/
Louisiana's oldest whooping cranes learn how to be adults
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/03/louisianas_oldest_whooping_cra.html
Whooping cranes in La. learning parental skills
http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/national-world-news/20160318-whooping-cranes-in-la.-learning-parental-skills.ece
(https://cbsdallas.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/cranes.jpg?w=640&h=360&crop=1)
(http://image.nola.com/home/nola-media/width960/img/tpphotos/photo/2016/03/18/whooping-cranes-c5606f72dedd40ef.jpg)
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GREAT PICS T! :D
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WILDLIFE: Beefed-up rewards key tactic for solving crimes
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060034600
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The entire population of whooping cranes in the Central Flyway is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the next several weeks.
(Scroll down in the article to the 3rd story, dateline Lincoln, Neb.)
http://www.yankton.net/outdoors/article_fb9288aa-f2ff-11e5-8f04-bb1a3c1a87b4.html
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Wisconsin-to-Florida whooping crane migration program grounded
http://www.startribune.com/wisconsin-to-florida-whooping-crame-migration-program-grounded/373757341/
(http://stmedia.stimg.co/ows_145919659365915.jpg?w=525)
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(Neb)-WMA Closed For Whooping Crane Migration
http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=39264
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April 4, 2016
Only 3 whooping cranes, no photo
There are 300 whooping cranes that migrate through Nebraska each fall and spring between Texas coast and Alberta, Canada.
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Volunteers needed for annual crane count
http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/announcements/community/article_7ea9c94a-2ca4-5620-878c-196f18beb7bf.html
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Whooping crane report: Spring migration north begins (Unfortunately, a subscription is required to read the entire article.)
http://www.rockportpilot.com/sports/article_e5165b3a-fb72-11e5-8243-2f35d2ef515e.html
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Whooping crane spring migration has begun.
It has been a tremendous winter season here at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), but the Whooping Cranes seem to be ready to get back up to Wood Buffalo National Park for another breeding season.
As of the morning of March 29, of 11 birds with active satellite transmitters, four have departed the ANWR. The four marked cranes are spread out from Central Texas to South Dakota. Reports received over the last few weeks from states in the migration corridor indicate 31 Whooping Cranes have been spotted in migration from Kansas to South Dakota. The number of whooping cranes at Aransas will quickly dwindle over the next few weeks. Spring migration is typically shorter in duration than fall migration, usually taking about 30 days.
Great MAP!
Northward Migration Progress
April 5, 2016 - Our group of 5 young Whooping cranes continued north to Gibson County, Indiana. The lone female #2-15 appears to have stayed put in Jasper County, Indiana.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/05/northward-migration-progress
:) 9-13 crossed Rainbow Bridge
April 5, 2016 - The remains of male Whooping crane 9-13 have been found.
He had been killed in Marquette County in November 2015.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/05/some-sad-news
:'(
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I'm sad to learn of 9-13's death. :( :'( I'm glad they were able to locate and collect his remains. Perhaps they will be able to determine cause of death - hopefully they will report on that when there is an update to share. Thank you for posting the link to that news, shep, though it is sad news indeed. Rest in Peace, 9-13. :-* :'( :-* :'( My condolences to all the volunteers and Craniacs and all who follow the Whooping Cranes.
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Rare whooping cranes use area wetland as migration layover
http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=27&ArticleID=50475
(http://newstrib.com/SiteImages/Article/50475a.jpg)
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Rare whooping cranes use area wetland as migration layover
http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=27&ArticleID=50475
(http://newstrib.com/SiteImages/Article/50475a.jpg)
T40, thanks for posting the link to that article. It's nice to see a positive report... and I'm so glad that Illinois did the right thing to help protect the Whoopers who made a spring migration stop there by temporarily closing that area of that wetland to visitors until the Whoopers leave to continue their migration. There was some very good information in that short article - which I really appreciated and which seems almost rare in many newspapers these days. Two thumbs up all around. :D
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The Plan for 2016
April, 2016 Pilot Joe Duff (edit, click link)
Fish and Wildlife Service ended the UL release method 2016 January.
All future releases must maximize chick/parent association, the first question to answer was how that would affect the captive breeding centers that must provide the chicks.
Parent reared birds are wanted.
Louisiana still wants costume reared birds.
Captive breeding pairs often produce more than the normal two eggs. The first clutch is taken. Just prior to the emergence of Black flies, they are going to pull the eggs from half of the active nests in hopes those pairs will try again. That second clutch is generally laid after the black flies are gone.
All the success we have had with wild breeding so far has been the result of late or second nest attempts. It is hoped that these birds will still be influenced by the hormones that drive nesting, nurturing and defensive behavior.
The second target will be young, inexperienced pairs that have failed at their first attempt to breed. Any PR chicks will be released near single or groups of unpaired adult Whooping cranes.
Releasing 15 birds will take a lot of manpower to manage. OM will assist as needed, plus track some of those birds as they move south. This spring we will be tracking and monitoring pairs around White River and Horicon to see if we actually do have some young pairs and what happens to any eggs they might produce. In addition, we will assist in replacing non-functioning tracking devices. Some birds need to be captured and their devices replaced.
Brooke will be heading north this weekend and Heather and I will head out to Wisconsin later this week. Rather than watch the behavior of birds in the pen every day we will spend more time watching the wild, post release birds
and we will take you along with us.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/11/the-plan-for-2016
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Whooping Crane Hatches in Wild in La. for First Time Since 1939
http://www.katc.com/story/31706485/whooping-crane-hatches-in-wild-in-la-for-first-time-since-1939
(http://katc.images.worldnow.com/images/10313671_G.jpg)
Update: 2 whooping crane chicks: Louisiana's 1st in wild since 1939
http://www.katc.com/story/31726624/2-whooping-crane-chicks-louisianas-1st-in-wild-since-1939
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Whooping Crane #2-15
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/13/whooping-crane-2-15/
(http://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2-15_habitat_MB.jpg?w=1500)
(http://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2-15_flt_MB_1.jpg?resize=550%2C368)
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Whooping cranes begin to arrive in Wisconsin
April 16, 2016 Naughty female #2-15 is in Washington County, WISCONSIN!
Also female 8-14 arrived in Columbia County, WISCONSIN.
Whooping crane pair 4-12 and 3-14 at White River Marsh, Wisconsin
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/15/white-river-marsh
Photo of #4-12 and 3-14
http://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DSC_7264_DP_RC_041416.jpg?w=3286
;D Naughty #2
April 13, 2016 by Heather - Whooping Crane female #2-15 disrupted many of the flights last fall with her aggressive behavior until the pilots decided to crate her before the flights. This allowed them to fly the other 5 cranes to the next stop.
She left St. Marks on March 22nd with 4 older Whooping cranes. Somewhere along the way, her independent streak kicked in and she?s now traveling solo. She arrived at Jasper County, Indiana March 30th. As of April 15 she?s in Boone County, Illinois.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/13/whooping-crane-2-15
A wild Whooping crane has hatched in Louisiana!
http://www.katc.com/story/31706485/whooping-crane-hatches-in-wild-in-la-for-first-time-since-1939
The Crane Foundation captured a 5 yr old male whooping crane #16-11 and relocated him to Necedah NWR. Crane 16 is the bird that sired Whoopsie, a hybrid Whoophill in 2015 after pairing with a female Sandhill.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/12/capture-relocate
Field website
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Thanks T for posting those pics!
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April 18, 2016
Whooping crane 10-15 is in Green Lake County, Wisconsin!
It appears she (and very likely the other 4 she traveled from Florida with) roosted approximately 5 miles from their former pensite last night! Hopefully, tomorrow morning I?ll receive a satellite hit for 2-15 so we can include her in the list of official returnees.
Heather
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/04/16/they-are-home
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Another Record Year for Whooping Cranes
http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=another-record-year-for-whooping-cranes-&_ID=35561
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Researchers count record number of whoopers
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/apr/19/researchers-count-record-number-of-whoopers/
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Whooping Cranes: America's Symbol of Survival and Hope
http://bozone.com/whooping-cranes-americas-symbol-survival-hope/
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Yes Virginia, There is a Whooping Crane Festival
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/05/02/yes-virginia-there-is-a-whooping-crane-festival/
(http://i2.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Crane-fest-committee-photo.jpg?w=3544)
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Whooping Crane Chicks Hatched in Louisiana in April Reach One Month Mark This Week (Very cute video!)
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/40179
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Whooping cranes hatch in Louisiana for first time since 1930s
http://wildlife.org/whooping-cranes-hatch-in-louisiana-for-first-time-since-1930s/
(http://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Conservation-whooping-crane-chick-hatches-620x264.jpg)
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What's Next for Whooping Cranes: Your Questions Answered
https://www.savingcranes.org/the-international-crane-foundations-role-in-whooping-crane-recovery-your-questions-answered/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/whooping_crane_family_mike_endres_400.jpg)
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The following is copied from Forum's "Birds in the News" thread where T40cfr403 posted yesterday the news of the shooting and killing of two Whooping Cranes in Texas.
T40's post can be found in that thread at:
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2027.msg453624.html#msg453624
Below is a quote of T40's post along with my reply posted in that same thread.
Texas man charged with killing endangered whooping cranes
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2016/01/15/texas-man-arrested-killing-endangered-whooping-cranes/78833816/
(http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/36/47/06/8024493/3/920x920.jpg)
T40, I hope you don't mind that I'm going to share this post of yours in the Forum's thread for the Operation Migration Whooping Cranes. I am beyond angry about this! I don't care how young this person is who shot and killed these 2 Whooping Cranes, he better get an active prison term out of it as far as I'm concerned... The story says the max he can get is 6 months, and I hope he gets sentenced to a good portion of that, and has to serve it. Someone has to start having the guts to enforce such laws! What good are these laws without enforcement?
Update: Defendant Pleads Guilty at Pre-conference Hearing for Texas Whooping Crane Shooting
https://www.savingcranes.org/defendant-pleads-guilty-at-pre-conference-hearing-for-texas-whooping-crane-shooting/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/whooping_crane_unison_call300.jpg)
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T40, thank you for the follow-up story. I look forward to learning what the judge decides for the fine/sentence/probation. I was pleased to read that a large group showed up for that hearing.
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The following is copied from Forum's "Birds in the News" thread where T40cfr403 posted yesterday the news of the shooting and killing of two Whooping Cranes in Texas.
T40's post can be found in that thread at:
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2027.msg453624.html#msg453624
Below is a quote of T40's post along with my reply posted in that same thread.
Texas man charged with killing endangered whooping cranes
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2016/01/15/texas-man-arrested-killing-endangered-whooping-cranes/78833816/
(http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/36/47/06/8024493/3/920x920.jpg)
T40, I hope you don't mind that I'm going to share this post of yours in the Forum's thread for the Operation Migration Whooping Cranes. I am beyond angry about this! I don't care how young this person is who shot and killed these 2 Whooping Cranes, he better get an active prison term out of it as far as I'm concerned... The story says the max he can get is 6 months, and I hope he gets sentenced to a good portion of that, and has to serve it. Someone has to start having the guts to enforce such laws! What good are these laws without enforcement?
Update: Defendant Pleads Guilty at Pre-conference Hearing for Texas Whooping Crane Shooting
https://www.savingcranes.org/defendant-pleads-guilty-at-pre-conference-hearing-for-texas-whooping-crane-shooting/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/whooping_crane_unison_call300.jpg)
Info on the shooter: Trey Joseph Frederick Photos: Pictures of Teen Hunter
http://heavy.com/news/2016/01/trey-joseph-frederick-photos-pictures-beaumont-texas-teen-hunter-kills-whooping-crane-rare-bird-endangered-facebook-page/
Trey Joseph Frederick: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
http://heavy.com/news/2016/01/trey-joseph-frederick-whooping-crane-shot-killed-beaumont-texas-suspect-facebook-page/
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Whooping crane sightings delight central Missouri birders
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/whooping-crane-sightings-delight-central-missouri-birders/article_0d671324-2371-11e6-bc18-9ff32832e7c8.html
Whooping cranes at Eagle Bluffs CA video: https://vimeo.com/167376891
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Two whooping cranes killed, reward being offered >:(
http://www.wwltv.com/news/two-whopping-cranes-killed-reward-being-offered/228392884
(http://www.wwltv.com/img/resize/content.wwltv.com/photo/2016/06/02/B9315525462Z.1_20141216162159_000_G129E7167.1-0_1464888288919_2657873_ver1.0.jpg?preset=534-401)
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That story about the 2 Louisiana Whooping Cranes just makes me incredibly sad, and angry, too. I couldn't bring myself to try to enlarge the photo to identify the bird by the leg band. The photos with the news story at that link appeared to be the same bird in both photos anyway, so I think it was just a photo of a Whooper, and not neessarily either of the two that were shot and killed. I can't for the life of me come up with any reason why anyone would shoot an endangered bird, such as a Whooping Crane, and whoever did this, killed two of them! I find it hard to believe any hunter would mistake a Whooping Crane for any duck or goose that could possibly being legally hunted at that time. What scum does that? ... Makes my stomach turn. Wish I had never opened this thread today. I could have been just fine not ever knowing about this since I can do absolutely nothing to stop any jerk that would do any such thing as that. I hope the person is found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and when they are, I hope their crime and penalty are plastered across TV news and papers and internet for all to see... That way at least some of the people who might ever do such a thing might think twice if they knew that if they did, they definitely would be put behind bars, and for much longer than they ever imagined, and also would suffer significant financial losses from a big fine, too. News outlets need to spend more time and effort putting this kind of story out into the media world - which would do a lot more good than spinning their wheels 24/7 re-telling the same old political junk-story-of-the-day sort of "tabloid trainwreck news." There... I said it.
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(http://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC_7085_1.jpg)
OM photo above
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/06/07/wild-free
Here is dawn today! June 11, 2016
Watched a coyote and deer in marsh
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/coyote-visit
Later watched a harrier hawk chase this coyote away from its young
hawk would dive at coy, and coy'd LEAP into the air - many many times - or DUCK!
2 sandhill cranes also stalked the coyote - poor beastie!
Actually I think this critter may be a coyote-wolf cross, its pretty husky
CRANE CAM is LIVE
http://operationmigration.org/cranecam.asp
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WildEarth video of Operation Migration
Whooping crane fly through: http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-fly-through
06/20/2016 Beginning of Whooping Crane flythrough: http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/06202016-beginning-whooping-crane-flythrough
06/20/2016 Night flyer: http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/06202016-night-flyer
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WildEarth video - 06/23/2016 Single Whooping Crane with two Sandhill Cranes
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/06232016-single-whooping-crane-two-sandhill-cranes
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Lincoln native helps endangered crane species soar
http://www.valleybreeze.com/2016-06-29/cumberland-lincoln-area/lincoln-native-helps-endangered-crane-species-soar#.V3ZuNzVqTIU
(http://d3pktm18jhpn81.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/MAIN%20PAW%20Operation%20Migration%20puppet%202%20Copied%20from%20PAWT.jpg?itok=MF4fo9Iu)
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WildEarth Video: 7/1/2016 Whooping Crane Chase Scene
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/712016-whooping-crane-chase-scene
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WildEarth Video: 07/05/2016 Whooping Crane flyby
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/07052016-whooping-crane-flyby
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WildEarth Video - 07/08/2016 Lovely Whooping Crane flight
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/07082016-lovely-whooping-crane-flight
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Growing whooping crane population may visit Illinois
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160712/news/160719966/
(http://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20160712/news/160719966/AR/0/AR-160719966.jpg&updated=201607081340&MaxW=800&maxH=800&noborder)
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WildEarth Video: 7/23/2015 Whooping Crane Pair Flies to Roost
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/7232015-whooping-crane-pair-flies-roost
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Whooping crane recovery puts human chick 'parents' out of a job
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2098824-whooping-crane-recovery-puts-human-chick-parents-out-of-a-job/
(https://d1o50x50snmhul.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/26130000/icf-flapper-and-parents.jpg)
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Crane's story promotes positive message
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_927aecf1-6a0a-5dc1-bbb5-1a4e1fefa669.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/wiscnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/55/055ea527-f262-5b43-9b63-556678f8577c/579a81d0b6a01.image.jpg)
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WildEarth Video 7/28/2016 Whooping Crane 5-12 with Sandies
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/7282016-whooping-crane-5-12-sandies
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One in Five Whooping Cranes Dies From Gunfire. Some Are Trying to Stop It
http://www.newsweek.com/1-5-whooping-cranes-die-gunfire-some-are-trying-stop-it-487425
(http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2016/08/04/al-perry.jpg)
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For the birds: A closer look at foundation's cranes
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_648b5917-5962-5846-8ee1-dfbcd58836e5.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/wiscnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/71/e711fabc-d993-5e03-8ed8-961a21f104e2/57a7b94887763.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800)
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WildEarth video: 08/19/2016 Quick peek of Whooping Crane
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/08192016-quick-peek-whooping-crane
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WildEarth Video: 08/24/2016 Whooping Crane pair flies out for the day
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/08242016-whooping-crane-pair-flies-out-day
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The following is copied from Forum's "Birds in the News" thread where T40cfr403 posted yesterday the news of the shooting and killing of two Whooping Cranes in Texas.
T40's post can be found in that thread at:
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,2027.msg453624.html#msg453624
Below is a quote of T40's post along with my reply posted in that same thread.
Texas man charged with killing endangered whooping cranes
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/animals/2016/01/15/texas-man-arrested-killing-endangered-whooping-cranes/78833816/
(http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/36/47/06/8024493/3/920x920.jpg)
T40, I hope you don't mind that I'm going to share this post of yours in the Forum's thread for the Operation Migration Whooping Cranes. I am beyond angry about this! I don't care how young this person is who shot and killed these 2 Whooping Cranes, he better get an active prison term out of it as far as I'm concerned... The story says the max he can get is 6 months, and I hope he gets sentenced to a good portion of that, and has to serve it. Someone has to start having the guts to enforce such laws! What good are these laws without enforcement?
Update: Defendant Pleads Guilty at Pre-conference Hearing for Texas Whooping Crane Shooting
https://www.savingcranes.org/defendant-pleads-guilty-at-pre-conference-hearing-for-texas-whooping-crane-shooting/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/whooping_crane_unison_call300.jpg)
Info on the shooter: Trey Joseph Frederick Photos: Pictures of Teen Hunter
http://heavy.com/news/2016/01/trey-joseph-frederick-photos-pictures-beaumont-texas-teen-hunter-kills-whooping-crane-rare-bird-endangered-facebook-page/
Trey Joseph Frederick: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
http://heavy.com/news/2016/01/trey-joseph-frederick-whooping-crane-shot-killed-beaumont-texas-suspect-facebook-page/
Update/In-depth Account: Ruffled Feathers (Trey Frederick did this unspeakable act out of "pure meanness.")
http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/whooping-cranes-texas/
(http://www.texasmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/08/feature-whooping-cranes-800x500.jpg)
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T40, thanks, but I can't bring myself to read anymore about that man and how or why he killed those cranes in Texas... I only care about the cranes, not the person who killed them, except to the extent that I wonder what sentence/punishment he has been given... maybe I have read that somewhere, but I don't recall now. If it is in that article, I won't see it because the title in the link makes that article sound like it is primarily a re-telling of the story of the killing of the cranes. There were some delays along the way in the hearings/sentencing as I recall... if I am recalling correctly... I could have it confused with another story, but I think it was this one. You would know for sure if there is info in the new article you are posting here about if he has received his legal punishment yet, and if so, what it was.
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baz - The killer hasn't been sentenced yet. Supposed to happen "this fall." I was actually encouraged by this article, which is a rather long read, because I think it's part of a pre-sentencing strategy to make sure that the whole story is out there in the public domain to show how shocking this crime actually is. There were lots of details that hadn't been published before, including quotes from, and profiles on, the "good guys," as well as intimate details about the lives of the whoopers actually involved in this atrocity. It is a whooper-centered essay and they are treated with respect, like all murder victims should be. It, therefore, risks breaking your heart all over again. I understand.
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WildEarth Video: 8/26/2016 Second 'New Couple' Whooping Crane Joins Partner
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/8262016-second-new-couple-whooping-crane-joins-partner
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T40, thanks for letting me know about that extended article. :( I'm going to pass on reading more stories about that incident till the one comes up with the sentence he gets for his crimes.
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baz - The killer hasn't been sentenced yet. Supposed to happen "this fall." I was actually encouraged by this article, which is a rather long read, because I think it's part of a pre-sentencing strategy to make sure that the whole story is out there in the public domain to show how shocking this crime actually is. There were lots of details that hadn't been published before, including quotes from, and profiles on, the "good guys," as well as intimate details about the lives of the whoopers actually involved in this atrocity. It is a whooper-centered essay and they are treated with respect, like all murder victims should be. It, therefore, risks breaking your heart all over again. I understand.
Thanks for posting the link for the article, T40. As heartbreaking as the killing of the whoopers is, I appreciated knowing how resolved the local people are to keeping them safe. The article also left no doubts that the killer knew exactly what he was doing.
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Whoopers forgo trip north, summer on Aransas
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/aug/29/whoopers-forego-trip-north-summer-on-aransas/
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(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/gallery/2016-operation-migration/3runway.jpg)
Hurricane Hermine hits Florida
Sep 2, 2016 Panhandle - Category 1 Hurricane Hermine 80 mph winds made landfall near St. Marks, Big Bend. Evacuations are underway and a state of emergency has been declared in 51 counties across Florida. Tallahassee hadnt been hit by a hurricane since Kate in 1985. Hermine is moving northeast at 14 mph toward Georgia, the Carolinas and up the East Coast.
Storm is flooding streets, toppling trees and knocking down power lines. The storm struck where the Florida peninsula meets the panhandle. Power was out for 32,000 customers in Tallahassee. 6,000 National Guard are ready to mobilize after the storm passes. The governors of Georgia and North Carolina declared states of emergency.
http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about3350.html
I hope the whooping cranes at St Marks are ok!
I expect Heather to post something
altho St Marks may have no power
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
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Thanks, shep. Yes... I'm also hoping to hear something positive about the cranes... fingers crossed that they are found and are okay after Hermine's hurricane force landfall there in St. Marks. I'm nervous to hear the news. But I'm also wondering...
And I've lost track of when the whoopers are at the St. Marks refuge in Florida... Don't they arrive there later in the year for winter? Or are they already there, or are some of them there year-round maybe? I wasn't sure about that, but knew that in the past, some of them have arrived on those grounds for the winter in December, if I recall. I appreciate any info anyone has on that... I just haven't kept up on that recently and my memory isn't good on what I've read about that in the past. Thanks!
I did some light googling to look for any recnt storm-related news about the whoopers at St. Marks, but didn't find anything pertinent in the online news media, and only found these other sites witht he info I mention with each link below...
I went looking just now - no news on the OM Field Notes page about that yet... I did find the public (all can view) "Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge" Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/gotoSt.Marks - not the official FB page for that refuge, but informational and has pics/vids...
There is a post there today saying they just got their power back on at the visitor center there and are therefore now open again... said the lighthouse and the eagle's nest are still standing.
They also have this relate "Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge" website:
http://www.stmarksrefuge.org/cranes.htm - no news there about the aftermath of the storm yet.
That was info shared from THE OFFICIAL public facebook page (all can view it) for St. Marks and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuges at:
https://www.facebook.com/SMSVNWRS/?ref=page_internal
There is more info about the storm at that official FB link, and a couple of photos showing debris, but I didn't see any reference to the whooping cranes in the time I scrolled down that FB page or in the sparse comments under the posts about the storm on that FB page. I did a very quick look-see, so could've missed something. I'm not a member of FB, so I can't pose a question there about the whoopers...
They did say this in one of the posts today there on that official FB page for St. Marks Wildlife Refuge:
"Fall migrants are arriving at St. Marks, although some may have been blown off course by Hermine, they'll find their way back. Go to this web site and get involved with protecting migratory birds every day. https://www.fws.gov/birds/MBTreaty100/index.php " - but there was no specific reference to the whoopers that I found there - so far. I'm sure the people working there are all very busy doing many things because of Hurricane Hermine.
I also found the National Wildlife Service (NWS) official web page for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge at:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st_marks/
I found this alert posted on their page before the storm made landfall:
Refuge Closed!
Storm Closure
The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge announced that the Visitor Center and Lighthouse Road are closed due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Hermine. High winds and flooding are expected. Both the Visitor Center and the road will remain closed until further notice. Refuge crews will need to make safety and community access to homes the first and second priorities before we can open Lighthouse Rd.
I made a quick pass of that website but didn't readily find any news about the whoopers there just now.
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you googled more than I did- and I DID search.
NOTHING in the field
NOTHING in OM facebook
Evidently all is well
Some cranes stay in that general area - cow pond?
Uncertain
The OM cranes are in Wisconsin
They wont head south til Nov
O well - worried for nothing
The Chesapeak osprey nest cam taken down due to storm
wont be replaced this year
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shep, I don't know about if, or where, the whoopers might be if they are currently in the St. Marks refuge... but I have a feeling that the folks there haven't really had an opportunity yet to check the status of a lot of the wildlife there yet because of issues getting through and having time to look and then post reports hasn't really happened yet, and at least one of the links I visited said the main road there is still closed and wouldn't reopen till cleared and deemed okay to use again... though they do have power back in the Visitor Center and the Visitor Center is now re-opened, so that's good. Also, many of the people who would do that may be very busy tending to their own, or family and friends, issues from flooding and damage to their own homes, vehicles, communications, etc. I know it takes a while for things to get going again after such a big hit. Maybe there will be more info available when there has been more time to collect and post it. Fingers crossed, and hope they are okay wherever they are. :)
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WildEarth Video: Whooping Crane pair flies in for the night
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-pair-flies-night
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Age before youth: Older cranes lead the way to new migration patterns
https://www.usgs.gov/news/age-youth-older-cranes-lead-way-new-migration-patterns
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160906103713.htm
(https://images.sciencedaily.com/2016/09/160906103713_1_540x360.jpg)
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WildEarth Video: Whooping Crane pair flies in for the night
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-pair-flies-night
T40, thanks. But I wonder where this is in this video... and I wonder what "RC" stands for in the description below the video...
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Age before youth: Older cranes lead the way to new migration patterns
https://www.usgs.gov/news/age-youth-older-cranes-lead-way-new-migration-patterns
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160906103713.htm
(https://images.sciencedaily.com/2016/09/160906103713_1_540x360.jpg)
Interesting! Thanks, T40.
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WildEarth Video: Whooping Crane pair flies in for the night
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-pair-flies-night
T40, thanks. But I wonder where this is in this video... and I wonder what "RC" stands for in the description below the video...
baz - I understood this to be the Operation Migration cam and you would know better than I where it's located. I believe "RC" stands for the "Royal Couple." They appear about 4:30 into the video and they are beautiful! Synchronized flying. Gorgeous.
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WildEarth Video: Whooping Crane pair flies in for the night
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-pair-flies-night
T40, thanks. But I wonder where this is in this video... and I wonder what "RC" stands for in the description below the video...
baz - I understood this to be the Operation Migration cam and you would know better than I where it's located. I believe "RC" stands for the "Royal Couple." They appear about 4:30 into the video and they are beautiful! Synchronized flying. Gorgeous.
Thanks T40. If that's the crane cam, then I guess it's in Wisconsin, since that is "home" for Operation Migration (OM). I didn't know it was from their cam... they post so many videos taken in different places. OM does a lot - including tracking the whoopers' fall migration, so I wondered if this might be a video of a pair during its migration... oh me... :D
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Whooping Crane Reintroduction Effort Shifts Direction
http://www.wpr.org/whooping-crane-reintroduction-effort-shifts-direction
(http://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/styles/resp_orig_custom_user_narrow_1x/public/articles/2016/09/fl-usfws-whooping-crane-chick.jpg?itok=nzqwZjPC×tamp=1473441933)
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WildEarth Video: Whooping Crane Pair flight over cornfield
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/whooping-crane-pair-flight-over-cornfield
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Whooping Crane Recovery Program earns honour for Calgary Zoo
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-zoo-whooping-crane-recovery-1.3760529
(http://i.cbc.ca/1.3760545.1473795890!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/whooping-crane.jpg)
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Chick Arrival
Sep 15, 2016 - Windway Aviation flew in another cohort of Whooping crane chicks from Baltimore to Wisconsin. 9 parent reared Whooping cranes. The OM crew, along with Patuxent?s Dr. Glenn Olsen transfered the crates to our two air conditioned vans and driven to the White River Marsh staging pensite.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/09/14/its-chick-arrival-day
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Whooping Crane Recovery Program earns honour for Calgary Zoo
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-zoo-whooping-crane-recovery-1.3760529
(http://i.cbc.ca/1.3760545.1473795890!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/whooping-crane.jpg)
More info: Conservation awards: whooping cranes, pond turtles, gorillas
http://www.wtol.com/story/33106324/conservation-awards-whooping-cranes-pond-turtles-gorillas
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Photos: Young cranes paired with adult cranes for annual migration
http://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2016/09/15/photos-young-cranes-paired-with-adult-cranes-for-annual-migration/90412924/
(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/8aa56ca03a590bbf1beb1080f20afc111196fc4c/c=0-28-3427-2604&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/2016/09/15/WIGroup/Milwaukee/636095400441220124-MJS-cranes-8-hoffman.jpg-CRANES.1.jpg)
New approach on cranes takes wing
http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2016/09/15/new-approach-cranes-takes-wing/90377442/
(http://graphics.jsonline.com/jsi_news/graphics/2016/MJSCRANES16G.jpg)
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New approach on cranes takes wing
http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2016/09/15/new-approach-cranes-takes-wing/90377442/
T40. Thanks for posting. That is an excellent article. Fingers crossed for this year - this will be the first year since 2001 that there won't be a ultralight-plane-led fall migration to southern wintering grounds for these little whoopers in Wisconsin. I'm very nervous to see what happens since no one knows what's going to happen... or when... I will probably be peeking through my fingers with my hands over my eyes. 8)
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East Texas man awaits sentencing in whooping crane shootings (No additional info but at least the story is still "news.")
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/east-texas-man-awaits-sentencing-in-whooping-crane/nsczj/
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Thanks, T40. What the what are they waiting for? Does anyone know why he hasn't been sentenced yet?
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Calgary Zoo restores whooping crane population with advanced techniques
http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2016/09/22/calgary-zoo-whooping-crane-population-advanced-techniques.html
(http://www.metronews.ca/content/dam/thestar/uploads/2016/9/22/whooping-cranes.jpg.size.xxlarge.promo.jpg)
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Thanks, T40. What the what are they waiting for? Does anyone know why he hasn't been sentenced yet?
baz - They said he was to be sentenced "in the fall." He appeared before this judge, so I assume it will be the same judge at sentencing. Doesn't look like his sentencing is on the Judge's calendar for September.
The Court Calendar for Zack Hawthorn, Magistrate Judge: http://www.txed.uscourts.gov/page1.shtml?location=info:judge&calendar=15
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Thanks T40. "Why" has been on my lips since I was a toddler. :D ;)
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WildEarth Video: 09/23/2016 Two adult and one juvenile Whooping Crane
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/09232016-two-adult-and-one-juvenile-whooping-crane
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WildEarth Video: 9/25/2016 Whooping Crane Colt 30-16 Flies Off
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/9252016-whooping-crane-colt-30-16-flies
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WildEarth Video: 9/25/2016 Whooping Crane Colt 30-16 Flies Off
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/9252016-whooping-crane-colt-30-16-flies
Thanks T40. Nice video, and I'm very glad he didn't actually fly off - as in "away" (by himself)... It was nice to see his graceful flight to a different spot in the marsh. :) :-*
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Whooping Crane 8-15
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/09/26/whooping-crane-8-15/
(http://i2.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DSC_0983_1DP.jpg?resize=768%2C554)
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WildEarth Video: 09/27/2016 Two white birds take off with juvenile whooping crane
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/09272016-two-white-birds-take-juvenile-whooping-crane
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Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Job Board - Alabama
Whooping Crane Field Research Intern: Alabama
http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/whooping-crane-field-research-intern-alabama/
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WildEarth Video: 10/01/2016 Young Whooping Crane flies in with some Sandhills
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/10012016-young-whooping-crane-flies-some-sandhills
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WildEarth Video: 10/04/2016 Whooping crane pair takes flight
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/10042016-whooping-crane-pair-takes-flight
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WildEarth Videos:
10/05/2016 Pair of Whooping Cranes leaving cornfield area
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/10052016-pair-whooping-cranes-leaving-cornfield-area
10/05/2016 Brief sighting of whooping crane pair
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/052016-brief-sighting-whooping-crane-pair
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Whooping Crane Parent Rearing: Your Questions Answered
https://www.savingcranes.org/whooping-crane-parent-rearing-your-questions-answered/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/whooping_crane_family_mike_endres_400.jpg)
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Crane expert to give talk
http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Crane-expert-to-give-talk-9946400.php
(http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/51/66/72/10972803/5/920x920.jpg)
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NEWS
Some good, some bad, some odd
October 10, 2016
Its time that I get some updates.
2016 Chicks should soon be heading south.
While 5-12, 4-13 and 8-14 are sorting out their relationship status the ?Royal Couple? otherwise known as male 4-12 and female 3-14, seems to have adopted a Parent Reared Whooping crane colt! Take a look at this video clip to see the trio come flying into White River marsh to roost last night ? TOGETHER! Whooping cranes 4-12 and 3-14 bring Parent Reared colt #30-16 to their roost location for the night.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/07/as-the-crane-world-turns-2
http://www.wildearth.tv/videomark/10062016-royal-couple-and-30-fly-roost
Whooping crane #34-16 in Adams County, WI began exhibiting signs of illness, sequestered herself in standing corn. The following day she seemed lethargic, and on Friday morning, Brooke and Patuxent?s Robert Doyle found her remains. She had been predated.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/08/sadly-another-loss-2
Changes
Male 5-12 has bad luck with mates. They keep leaving him or being stolen
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/05/changes-some-good-some-bad
Parent Reared Crane #30-16
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/04/parent-reared-crane-30-16
Whooping crane chicks 31 & 38-16 in Marquette County, WI have found their wings!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/03/update-whooping-cranes-3138-16
Eastern Flock ? Whooping Crane Update
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2016/10/06/eastern-flock-whooping-crane-update
If we are going to keep track, we are interested in all behaviors and events
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Public asked to be on lookout as whooping cranes migrate through Nebraska
http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/public-asked-to-be-on-lookout-as-whooping-cranes-migrate/article_e29c3fc8-8f65-11e6-8434-2f9d44f90c98.html
Whooping Crane Sightings
http://www.sandhillsexpress.com/Home/SandillsExpressArticleContent/tabid/95/ArticleId/17643/Whooping-Crane-Sightings.aspx
Whooping crane migration soon to begin in Kansas
http://www.kansasagland.com/news/local_state_news/whooping-crane-migration-soon-to-begin-in-kansas/article_3e4a159e-5753-52aa-a8db-d41aae4b941b.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kansasagland.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/cd/1cd580bd-8be1-5928-bc3b-e88836dcd3f9/57fd05b933f8c.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C797)
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Pair of Endangered Whooping Cranes Relocated to Florida in Hopes of Successful Breeding
https://www.savingcranes.org/pair-of-endangered-whooping-cranes-relocated-to-florida-in-hopes-of-successful-breeding/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/16-11_doug_pellerin_400.jpg)
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Pair of Endangered Whooping Cranes Relocated to Florida in Hopes of Successful Breeding
https://www.savingcranes.org/pair-of-endangered-whooping-cranes-relocated-to-florida-in-hopes-of-successful-breeding/
T40, thanks for posting. Interesting story - hope that pair of whoopers will form a strong pair bond and find mating, nesting, and chick-rearing success.
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Wakanda Whooper: The Curious Cinnamon Crane
https://www.amazon.com/Wakanda-Whooper-Curious-Cinnamon-Crane/dp/1592987133
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29401261-wakanda-whooper
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXBWxnbDSb4w6LHehaKak9a1AYL7nmUtX3ZTlHelkP_iaN_A4V)
Two Harbors resident illustrates award-winning book
http://www.lcnewschronicle.com/community/arts-and-entertainment/4136504-two-harbors-resident-illustrates-award-winning-book
(http://www.lcnewschronicle.com/sites/default/files/styles/16x9_860/public/field/image/1014.WakandaWhooper%281%29.jpg?itok=GspSxgyN)
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Late Whooping Crane Migration Expected in Texas
http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20161020c
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Cinnamon Crane must be a sandy cross
like Whoopsie
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LETTERS: Sentence for Whooping Crane deaths should be firm
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/opinions/letters/article/LETTERS-Sentence-for-Whooping-Crane-deaths-10004282.php
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The Court Calendar for Zack Hawthorn, Magistrate Judge
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
10:00 am
1:16cr7 - USA v. Trey Joseph Frederick
- Sentencing
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LETTERS: Sentence for Whooping Crane deaths should be firm
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/opinions/letters/article/LETTERS-Sentence-for-Whooping-Crane-deaths-10004282.php
The Court Calendar for Zack Hawthorn, Magistrate Judge
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
10:00 am
1:16cr7 - USA v. Trey Joseph Frederick
- Sentencing
T40, thanks for both of these posts and update on a court date for sentencing.
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Texas Judge's Decision a Win for Whooping Cranes
https://www.savingcranes.org/texas-judges-decision-a-win-for-whooping-crane/
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Killing Whooping Cranes
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-killing-whooping-cranes
Beaumont man sentenced to 5 years probation, $25K in fines for killing whooping cranes
http://www.12newsnow.com/news/local/beaumont-man-sentenced-to-5-years-probation-25k-in-fines-for-killing-whooping-cranes/341595681
Texas Fines Whooping Crane Killer, Revokes His Gun Rights
http://www.newsweek.com/texas-fines-whooping-crane-killer-revokes-his-gun-rights-513612?rx=us
Whooping crane killer barred from owning firearms for 5 years
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/whooping-crane-killer-barred-from-owning-firearms-/nsxbd/
(http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2016/08/04/whooping-crane.jpg)
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Texas Judge's Decision a Win for Whooping Cranes
https://www.savingcranes.org/texas-judges-decision-a-win-for-whooping-crane/
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Killing Whooping Cranes
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-killing-whooping-cranes
Beaumont man sentenced to 5 years probation, $25K in fines for killing whooping cranes
http://www.12newsnow.com/news/local/beaumont-man-sentenced-to-5-years-probation-25k-in-fines-for-killing-whooping-cranes/341595681
Texas Fines Whooping Crane Killer, Revokes His Gun Rights
http://www.newsweek.com/texas-fines-whooping-crane-killer-revokes-his-gun-rights-513612?rx=us
Whooping crane killer barred from owning firearms for 5 years
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/whooping-crane-killer-barred-from-owning-firearms-/nsxbd/
T40, thanks for posting the ruling and sentence... it's a start, and that was a hefty fine... don't know how they would enforce the "can't own a gun for 5 years" part... I haven't read the "fine print" in the articles, but I would rather he be barred from handling or using a gun - what's to stop him from using another person's gun? The $25k fine helps to underscore the severity of his crime, and I hope they start collecting it and garnish his wages till it's all paid. I would have preferred to see at least some active jail time in his sentence in addition to the rest of his sentence. He seems to be one sorry excuse for a human being. With all that is known about him and what he did and why, an active sentence would seem to be appropriate for his crimes.
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baz - Well he is on a long probation and if he violates it I'm sure it'll be straight to jail for him.
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Texas Judge's Decision a Win for Whooping Cranes
https://www.savingcranes.org/texas-judges-decision-a-win-for-whooping-crane/
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Killing Whooping Cranes
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-killing-whooping-cranes
Beaumont man sentenced to 5 years probation, $25K in fines for killing whooping cranes
http://www.12newsnow.com/news/local/beaumont-man-sentenced-to-5-years-probation-25k-in-fines-for-killing-whooping-cranes/341595681
Texas Fines Whooping Crane Killer, Revokes His Gun Rights
http://www.newsweek.com/texas-fines-whooping-crane-killer-revokes-his-gun-rights-513612?rx=us
Whooping crane killer barred from owning firearms for 5 years
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/whooping-crane-killer-barred-from-owning-firearms-/nsxbd/
T40, thanks for posting the ruling and sentence... it's a start, and that was a hefty fine... don't know how they would enforce the "can't own a gun for 5 years" part... I haven't read the "fine print" in the articles, but I would rather he be barred from handling or using a gun - what's to stop him from using another person's gun? The $25k fine helps to underscore the severity of his crime, and I hope they start collecting it and garnish his wages till it's all paid. I would have preferred to see at least some active jail time in his sentence in addition to the rest of his sentence. He seems to be one sorry excuse for a human being. With all that is known about him and what he did and why, an active sentence would seem to be appropriate for his crimes.
baz -- His hunting license has been rescinded for the next five years in all states
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Beaumont Man Who Shot Two Whooping Cranes Won't Pay Much for the Crime
http://www.houstonpress.com/news/beaumont-man-who-shot-two-whooping-cranes-wont-pay-much-for-the-crime-8890869
(http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/745xauto/8890871/whooping_crane_in_flight_in_texas_1_.jpg)
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Thanks, ginger. As I said when I posted that, I hadn't read the details yet.
T40, thanks for that article. It has a good summary of the sentencing points in it. I think since he avoided any of the possible 6-month active prison time, he should've been given more than 200 hrs of community service, in addition to the other parts of his sentence. If it had been an accident, I might not feel as strongly about the sentence he received, but apparently from what has been reported, he knew they weren't geese when he shot those two whooping cranes. It makes me wonder what has to happen that's even worse than this to implement the up-to-6-months prison time the law allows for this criminal act?
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Should the Whooping Crane Shooter's Fine Have Been Higher?
http://www.audubon.org/news/should-whooping-crane-shooters-fine-have-been-higher
(http://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_inline/public/web_apa_2015_karenwilles_282272_whooping_crane_kk.jpg?itok=A4kSUyRX)
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Plenty to see before whoopers arrive
http://www.caller.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/10/30/plenty-see-before-whoopers-arrive/92672202/
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Sandhill, Whooping Cranes Spotted Outside Chicago (2 very cool videos)
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/10/31/sandhill-whooping-cranes-spotted-outside-chicago
(http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/styles/resp-slide/public/article/slideshow-img/Josh%20Feeney%206_0.jpg?itok=ezv--a8C)
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I found these 2 links for the whooping crane cam tonight, but both were off-air. Hope there's something to see during daylight hours.
Whooping Cranes at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge - http://operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html
Operation Migration Whooping Crane Cam - http://www.ustream.tv/migratingcranes
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Fake crane project brings birds back to Britain
http://phys.org/news/2016-11-fake-crane-birds-britain.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
(http://cdn.phys.org/newman/csz/news/800/2016/thegreatcran.jpg)
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How Whooping Cranes Learned to Migrate By Following an Airplane
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/how-whooping-cranes-learned-to-migrate-by-following-an-airplane
(http://motherboard-images.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/no-id/1478632053242885.jpg)
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Whooping cranes making way to Texas (subscription required to read entire article)
http://www.rockportpilot.com/news/article_e50711de-a603-11e6-9d08-53122065b97b.html
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Whooping cranes passing through Kansas
http://www.kansas.com/sports/outdoors/article114691038.html
Whooping Crane Sightings: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Quivira/what_we_do/science/whooping_crane_sightings.html
Hunting Closure Due to Whooping Cranes: https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147501167
(https://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_6/NWRS/Prairie_Zone/Quivira/Sections/What_We_Do/Science/Whoopers%20for%20whooper%20page%20512.jpg)
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Saving Wisconsin's cranes
http://www.waupacanow.com/2016/11/30/saving-wisconsins-cranes/#_
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Farmer files federal lawsuit to prevent recently completed Pratt area wind farm from starting, to protect Whooping Cranes
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/farmer-files-federal-lawsuit-to-prevent-recently-completed-pratt-area/article_026eda4f-1d31-52a4-b6bd-cc1ea1c160a5.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/99/799b9483-ed75-56c7-b574-19530d71d3ea/584363553394e.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C656)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d4/5d40fa9a-ef3c-548b-8dbb-e1adb697d133/58436355b8ae9.image.jpg)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/51/a5100aa9-83aa-5757-b630-9d42abf99fcc/5843525547615.image.jpg)
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The Aransas Project and the GBRA are negotiating water allocation and more
http://www.caller.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/12/07/now-hope-whoopers-and-bays/95006432/
(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/2a96ef6540c9a82ab2fdf2692c41939262823e92/c=403-0-2232-1375&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/12/05/TXGroup/CorpusChristi/636165531361409535-02224-CCLO-Whoopers.JPG)
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Wildlife & Fisheries releases more whooping cranes in Louisiana marsh
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/12/wildlife_fisheries_releases_mo.html
(http://image.nola.com/home/nola-media/width620/img/outdoors_impact/photo/whooping-crane-ffc743ddbbca9bff.jpg)
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Whoopers expand territory along Mission River and delta
http://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2016/12/08/whoopers-expand-territory-along-mission-river-and-delta/95135550/
(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a9fcc99f0a0f4fc82cbea4b6827e858d72a6f452/c=119-0-680-422&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/12/08/TXGroup/CorpusChristi/636167923156020013-Mission-R-map.png)
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Farmer files federal lawsuit to prevent recently completed Pratt area wind farm from starting, to protect Whooping Cranes
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/farmer-files-federal-lawsuit-to-prevent-recently-completed-pratt-area/article_026eda4f-1d31-52a4-b6bd-cc1ea1c160a5.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/99/799b9483-ed75-56c7-b574-19530d71d3ea/584363553394e.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C656)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d4/5d40fa9a-ef3c-548b-8dbb-e1adb697d133/58436355b8ae9.image.jpg)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/51/a5100aa9-83aa-5757-b630-9d42abf99fcc/5843525547615.image.jpg)
T40, thanks! Congrats to the farmer who filed that lawsuit!! ... sure hope s/he prevails! Kind of burns me up knowing that migration and nesting sites and routes are so tediously documented, supposedly in part to provide data for use by energy companies to know where and where NOT to locate certain equipment, such as WIND FARMS to help protect migratory birds in particular, and you would think also for endangered species, including a near-extinction whooping crane population!!!!!!! It's hard to believe that the people involved in developing that wind farm and selecting the location for it were oblivious to the whooping crane population in the area, not to mention other protected species, such a migratory bird and such. Methinks someone is passing the buck and, egads, possibly telling a lot of big fibs. :P >:( :(
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Report: Whooping cranes catch plane to Louisiana; see 'undercover' handlers rounding up birds
http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/article_76891610-c15d-11e6-9379-435a2a58fcaa.html
(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/theadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/ad/7adfcd19-e302-505f-b17d-54c0b59eb2d8/5751d873ba526.image.jpg)
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Thanks for posting that link to that article, T40! :) I hope the relocated whoopers will be healthy and do well in their new home in Louisiana. :) :-*
(That article hit some high spots in the information department, but it sure was short on any supporting detail. What is the world of journalism coming to? At the rate it seems to be going, I think degrees in journalism may soon be a thing of the past, because, really, what would be the point? ::) )
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baz - Don't get me started on "scientific" journalism. It's pathetic. It seems to all be dumbed down to a 3rd grade reading/comprehension level (no offense to 3rd graders!). I've actually emailed writers (a handful over several years) who got the story right, IMO, in an interesting and well-written way. Occasionally I post in the comments section (rare) pointing out errors, confusion, etc., mostly when it comes to eagles. I try not to be a troll! I just let the other 90% roll off my back.
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I feel ya, T40!!! I erased what I wrote above in my post earlier three times because I went on such a big rant on that topic. ::) LOL. But I couldn't help at least making a mention of it. Thanks for letting me know it isn't "just me." ;)
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Crane Foundation looks locally for young crane that got off course (subscription required to read entire article - but it's OK - see below)
http://www.pcgazette.com/Content/Default/Outdoor/Article/Crane-Foundation-looks-locally-for-young-crane-that-got-off-course/-3/5/1970
(http://www.pcgazette.com/Images/Images/7171.jpg)
Parent Reared Release Wrap
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/
(https://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/PRupdate_1.jpg?resize=550%2C231)
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Whooping cranes are back at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/12/whooping_cranes_return_to_whee.html
(http://image.al.com/home/bama-media/width960/img/alphotos/photo/2015/12/09/-3c024d24b5444beb.JPG)
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NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE ARANSAS REFUGE/WHOOPING CRANE FESTIVAL REGISTRATION
http://www.caller.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/12/24/outdoors-calendar/95699770/
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Crane stories continue
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
;D
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Indiana Conservation Officers investigating after Whooping Crane killed in Greene County
http://wthitv.com/2017/01/03/indiana-conservation-officers-investigating-after-whooping-crane-killed-in-greene-county/
(https://lintvwthi.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/15823679_1205902489446543_4937138706773947404_n.jpg?w=650)
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Crane Foundation looks locally for young crane that got off course (subscription required to read entire article - but it's OK - see below)
http://www.pcgazette.com/Content/Default/Outdoor/Article/Crane-Foundation-looks-locally-for-young-crane-that-got-off-course/-3/5/1970
(http://www.pcgazette.com/Images/Images/7171.jpg)
Parent Reared Release Wrap
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/
(https://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/PRupdate_1.jpg?resize=550%2C231)
More: Experts Relocate Young Endangered Whooping Crane That Missed Migration
https://www.savingcranes.org/experts-relocate-young-endangered-whooping-crane-that-missed-migration/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bryce_joins_zion_wheeler_national_wildlife_refuge_carol_thompson_450.jpg)
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Whooping Crane Researchers Evaluate First Year Of New Reintroduction Techniques
http://www.wpr.org/whooping-crane-researchers-evaluate-first-year-new-reintroduction-techniques
(http://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/styles/resp_orig_custom_user_narrow_1x/public/articles/2017/01/fl-larry-johnson-whooping-cranes.jpg?itok=UhvoVUw0×tamp=1483464466)
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I was so distressed at seeing that photo of the dead Whooping Crane in the field, that I couldn't read the article. I can't "un-see" that. :'( :'(
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(http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/crane/11/4_0907_tn.jpg)
Heather Ray article on shooting (T posted above)
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/01/04/another-shooting
Female whooping crane number 4-11 has apparently been shot at her winter location in southwest Indiana. She was a mother last spring for the first time. Here is a link to her biography on Journey North.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/11/BandingCodes1104.html
In order to help catch the individual responsible, Indiana DNR Law District 5 asked this information be shared, and if anyone has any information about the poaching to contact the Indiana Conservation Officer Dispatch at 812-837-9536.
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
Update: Reward now $6,500 for information in whooping crane death
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/01/13/in-whooping-crane-death-3/
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Hundreds visit North Alabama wildlife refuge to see whooping cranes (video)
http://whnt.com/2017/01/16/hundreds-visit-north-alabama-wildlife-refuge-to-see-whooping-cranes/
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Birders flock to Rockport to view endangered species
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/jan/17/birders-flock-to-rockport-to-view-endangered-speci/
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
Update: Reward now $6,500 for information in whooping crane death
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/01/13/in-whooping-crane-death-3/
Update: Reward upped to $10,000 for information in Greene County Whooping Crane death
http://wthitv.com/2017/01/18/reward-upped-to-10000-for-information-in-greene-county-whooping-crane-death/
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
Update: Reward now $6,500 for information in whooping crane death
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/01/13/in-whooping-crane-death-3/
Update: Reward upped to $10,000 for information in Greene County Whooping Crane death
http://wthitv.com/2017/01/18/reward-upped-to-10000-for-information-in-greene-county-whooping-crane-death/
Update: Reward in Indiana whooping crane killing grows to $15,000
http://www.weau.com/content/news/Reward-in-Indiana-whooping-crane-killing-grows-to-15000-411678065.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*456/whooping+crane14.jpg)
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
Update: Reward now $6,500 for information in whooping crane death
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/01/13/in-whooping-crane-death-3/
Update: Reward upped to $10,000 for information in Greene County Whooping Crane death
http://wthitv.com/2017/01/18/reward-upped-to-10000-for-information-in-greene-county-whooping-crane-death/
Update: Reward in Indiana whooping crane killing grows to $15,000
http://www.weau.com/content/news/Reward-in-Indiana-whooping-crane-killing-grows-to-15000-411678065.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*456/whooping+crane14.jpg)
Update: Reward In Whooping Crane Killing Increases To $15,600
http://www.wbiw.com/local/archive/2017/01/reward-in-whooping-crane-killing-increases-to-15600.php
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Whooping Crane Festival not endangered
https://www.101corpuschristi.com/Whooping-Crane-Festival-2017
(https://www.101corpuschristi.com/uploads/media/default/0001/22/f65c78cd9b2bc3e99164280a57588571188a9ee6.jpeg)
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Book Review - A Chorus of Cranes: The Cranes of North America and the World
http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-16-159.1
(http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/na101/home/literatum/publisher/pinnacle/journals/content/cond/2017/00105422-119.1/condor-16-159.1/20170207/images/medium/i0010-5422-119-1-167-f01.gif)
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International Crane Foundation Jobs - Whooping Crane Naturalist Intern
https://www.aza.org/jobs?job=5346
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:D Some whoopers have flown north thru TN and Kentucky and into Indiana
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/02/22/early-spring-2
Sandhill Crane rescued on a golf course in Sarasota, but it couldnt be saved :(
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/02/20/small-crane-world
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Monthly Whooping Crane UPdate
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/03/03/monthly-whooping-crane-update/
(http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/01.jpg)
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1st Whooper Returns to White River Marsh!
Mar. 5, 2017 Male #10-11 has returned to White River Marsh in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. In fact he was spotted with Sandhill cranes just west of our camp.
To my knowledge, this is the first time this now almost 6 yr old crane has returned to the marsh. His typical territory is southwest in Marquette County.
In the EMP update posted Friday it was mentioned there was one Whooping crane who had returned to Wisconsin. I?ve just checked the database and unless there is another, it would appear the one returnee is male #18-11 in Dodge County.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/03/05/1st-whooper-returns-to-white-river-marsh
March 2017 Whooping Crane UPdate
Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes.
During February, most Whooping Cranes began migration and at least one has returned to Wisconsin.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/03/03/monthly-whooping-crane-update
We have two pairs that frequent the White River Marsh that have now reached breeding age. We hope to relocate our camera, getting it close enough to monitor at least one pair during their incubation and track them. If all of this comes to fruition, we will be monitoring nesting birds in the spring and attempting to capture one pair on camera.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/03/06/a-busy-season-ahead
Field journal
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField
Operation Migration Whooping Crane Cam
http://www.ustream.tv/migratingcranes
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Calendar featured photo of now-dead whooping crane
http://wane.com/2017/03/08/calendar-featured-photo-of-now-dead-whooping-crane/
Heavy fines for poaching endangered whooping cranes
http://www.katc.com/story/34689917/dept-of-wildlife-and-fisheires-warning-the-public
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Whoopers make rare stop here
http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/whoopers-make-rare-stop-here/article_5b29d3c1-45ae-55ea-bb89-07892a1fd0d7.html
(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/daily-journal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/44/f4473a30-4406-5fff-925e-75b28c79de53/58c2ef2f2c4b4.image.jpg)
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Whooping crane makes surprise appearance
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20170310/whooping-crane-makes-surprise-appearance
(http://www.gainesville.com/storyimage/LK/20170310/NEWS/170319724/AR/0/AR-170319724.jpg?Q=75&maxW=960&maxH=960)
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Reward offered for Indiana whooping crane shooting case
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Reward-offered-for-Indiana-whooping-crane-shooting-case-410290805.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*463/1024px-Whooping_Crane_in_flight_in_Texas.jpg)
Update: Reward now $6,500 for information in whooping crane death
http://www.tribtown.com/2017/01/13/in-whooping-crane-death-3/
Update: Reward upped to $10,000 for information in Greene County Whooping Crane death
http://wthitv.com/2017/01/18/reward-upped-to-10000-for-information-in-greene-county-whooping-crane-death/
Update: Reward in Indiana whooping crane killing grows to $15,000
http://www.weau.com/content/news/Reward-in-Indiana-whooping-crane-killing-grows-to-15000-411678065.html
(http://media.graytvinc.com/images/810*456/whooping+crane14.jpg)
Update: Reward In Whooping Crane Killing Increases To $15,600
http://www.wbiw.com/local/archive/2017/01/reward-in-whooping-crane-killing-increases-to-15600.php
Update: Birdwatcher hopes to raise awareness in death of whooping crane
http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/2394033.html
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PEANUT HAS a GIRLFRIEND!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/03/11/as-the-crane-turns/
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Public encouraged to report whooping crane sightings
http://beatricedailysun.com/public-encouraged-to-report-whooping-crane-sightings/article_ec1aa888-390c-59f1-acf6-47369d257f69.html
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A Sandhill Crane Hunt in Wisconsin?
https://www.savingcranes.org/a-sandhill-crane-hunt-in-wisconsin/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/a_sandhill_crane_hunt_in_wisconsin.jpg)
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Are whooping cranes destined for extinction? Climate change imperils recruitment and population growth
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.2892/full
(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/ece3.2892/asset/image_n/ece32892-fig-0001.png?v=1&t=j0kpqmn7&s=103785c0bee3a820e9927db972bae0f5c13e73e6)
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Wintering Sandhill Crane exposure to wind energy development in the central and southern Great Plains, USA
http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-15-99.1
(http://www.bioone.org/na101/home/literatum/publisher/bioone/journals/content/cond/2016/00105422-118.2/condor-15-99.1/20160525/images/medium/i0010-5422-118-2-391-f01.gif)
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Wild Earth Action Team leads whooping success in Corpus Christi
http://zoohoo.dallaszoo.com/2017/03/27/wild-earth-action-team-leads-whooping-success-in-corpus-christi/
(http://zoohoo.dallaszoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/beach-cleanup-580x435.jpg)
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As spring migration occurs, some will get a chance to see a whooping crane
http://www.inforum.com/sports/4241947-doug-leier-spring-migration-occurs-some-will-get-chance-see-whooping-crane
(http://www.inforum.com/sites/default/files/styles/16x9_860/public/0B3MZQqG_yFGnN3JuemNER0M2Tms.jpg?itok=axgv1KrW)
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Whooping cranes flying over KAKEland
http://www.kake.com/story/35060209/whooping-cranes-flying-over-kakeland
(http://kake.images.worldnow.com/images/13531767_G.jpg)
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Tonight's quartet makes 18 so far
http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/blogs/20170404/tonights-quartet-makes-18-so-far
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Louisiana milestone: wild-hatched whooping crane turns 1
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/State-s-1st-wild-hatched-whooping-crane-since-11064922.php
(http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/60/35/21/12702825/3/920x920.jpg)
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Nonprofit asks for public's help to save bay
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/apr/12/nonprofit-asks-for-publics-help-to-save-bay/
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Wintering Whooping Crane Update, April 7, 2017
https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147602084
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Whooping crane species' success tied to local flock
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/apr/17/whooping-crane-species-success-tied-to-local-flock/
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Tracking Whooping Cranes - YOU Can Help!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/04/20/tracking-whooping-cranes-you-can-help/
(https://i1.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/givinggrid.jpg?resize=768%2C537)
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Rare Whooping Cranes visit Medstead
http://www.newsoptimist.ca/community/correspondent-corner/rare-whooping-cranes-visit-medstead-1.16896877
(http://images.glaciermedia.ca/polopoly_fs/1.16896882.1493146100!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_804/bs-whoopers-jpg.jpg)
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The "Royal Couple" is involved in another "first:" their nest is being monitored by "citizen scientists" and many other online observers on a live-streaming video camera recently set up by Operation Migration. "This is the FIRST TIME EVER that a Whooping Crane nest has been monitored by camera 24 hours a day, seven days a week!"
WCEP News Release - Whooping Cranes notch nesting milestones in Wisconsin
http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/newsroom/2017/nr04April2017.html
OperationMigration Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/c/OperationMigration/live
(http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/images/2017/WhiteRiverMarshFemaleWHCRonNest.jpg)
I started a new thread for this cam: White River Marsh Whooping Crane Cam, WI - 2017
https://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php?topic=2448.0
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Whooping Cranes returning to Wisconsin this spring have achieved two important milestones toward establishing a self-sustaining flock of this ancient and endangered species in eastern North America.
A pair has nested for the first time at White River Marsh Wildlife Area, marking a welcome expansion of nesting range in Wisconsin and providing an important backstop to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where most of the returning cranes have nested to date.
And another pair of cranes nesting in Necedah claimed the crown of the first nest in Wisconsin resulting from a released ?parent-reared? bird, a bird reared by a parent crane in captivity, not by costumed human caretakers.
?We are so pleased that Whooping Cranes are expanding and taking advantage of this previously unutilized suitable nesting habitat, so we do not have all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak,? says Trina Soyk, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who co-leads communications for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) leading the restoration project.
?And we are very excited about the first nest from a parent-reared Whooping Crane. Both of these are important milestones, and we are cautiously optimistic about the future of these pairs and the direction of our efforts toward helping achieve a self-sustaining population.?
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/04/28/nesting-milestones/
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(http://i57.tinypic.com/2rndi54.jpg)
CraneCam Goes LIVE!
This season, our camera is deployed at an undisclosed location in Green Lake County, Wisconsin and will feature the pair consisting of female number 3-14 and male number 4-12 as they nest for the first time.
This pair is fairly young with the female at 3 years and the male at 5. Whooping cranes typically begin breeding at 5 years of age. They?ve been a bonded pair since the spring of 2015.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/04/24/cranecam-goes-live/
Shortly after sunrise this morning, we saw both cranes chasing off a pair of Trumpeter swan intruders.
Very nice to see them so vigilant and defending their nest!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2017/04/24/defending-the-nest/
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New Hope - Matching whooping cranes to help avoid extinction
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/local/matching-whooping-cranes-to-help-avoid-extinction/article_4cecfc3c-2d54-11e7-b248-6ba3ee7e805e.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/rrdailyherald.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/67/e670754c-2d49-11e7-991d-d72620454899/5905471c0395f.image.jpg)
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Whooping Crane Restoration Group Announces Two Milestones
http://www.wrjc.com/news/local-news/whooping-crane-restoration-group-announces-two-milestones/
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Whooping crane reintroduction continues in Louisiana
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/articles/whooping-crane-reintroduction-continues-in-louisiana/
(https://www.fws.gov/southeast/images/hero/small/whooping-crane-release-in-louisiana.jpg)
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OperationMigration Live Stream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCsl0KHGp9Q
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Little white lies: Costumes fool Audubon whooping cranes into learning survival skills
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/communities/crescent_city/article_54e366fa-514f-11e7-8dcd-e7f680688fc8.html
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/theadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/be/2be3a582-e2b5-5659-af15-9ef56c1b3349/5941bc6e39806.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1101)
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Breeding Season Produces History-Making Wisconsin Wild Chicks
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/06/breeding-season-produces-history-making-wisconsin-wild-chicks/#axzz4km4POrLI
(https://www.ammoland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Wisconsin-Whooping-Crane.jpg)
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Farmer files federal lawsuit to prevent recently completed Pratt area wind farm from starting, to protect Whooping Cranes
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/farmer-files-federal-lawsuit-to-prevent-recently-completed-pratt-area/article_026eda4f-1d31-52a4-b6bd-cc1ea1c160a5.html
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/99/799b9483-ed75-56c7-b574-19530d71d3ea/584363553394e.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C656)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/d4/5d40fa9a-ef3c-548b-8dbb-e1adb697d133/58436355b8ae9.image.jpg)
(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hutchnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/51/a5100aa9-83aa-5757-b630-9d42abf99fcc/5843525547615.image.jpg)
Update: NextEra Gets ESA Suit Over Bird-Killing Turbines Tossed
https://www.law360.com/articles/937133/insufficient-notice-in-kansas-suit-over-bird-killing-turbines
(http://www.hutchnews.com/storyimage/KS/20161202/News/312029925/EP/1/2/EP-312029925.jpg?Q=75&maxW=960&maxH=960)
(http://www.hutchnews.com/storyimage/KS/20161202/News/312029925/EP/1/3/EP-312029925.jpg?Q=75&maxW=960&maxH=960)
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Texas Judge's Decision a Win for Whooping Cranes
https://www.savingcranes.org/texas-judges-decision-a-win-for-whooping-crane/
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Killing Whooping Cranes
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-killing-whooping-cranes
Beaumont man sentenced to 5 years probation, $25K in fines for killing whooping cranes
http://www.12newsnow.com/news/local/beaumont-man-sentenced-to-5-years-probation-25k-in-fines-for-killing-whooping-cranes/341595681
Texas Fines Whooping Crane Killer, Revokes His Gun Rights
http://www.newsweek.com/texas-fines-whooping-crane-killer-revokes-his-gun-rights-513612?rx=us
Whooping crane killer barred from owning firearms for 5 years
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/whooping-crane-killer-barred-from-owning-firearms-/nsxbd/
(http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2016/08/04/whooping-crane.jpg)
OMG! Update! Beaumont man who shot whooping cranes in 2016 gets 11 months for breaking federal probation
http://www.12newsnow.com/news/crime/beaumont-man-who-shot-whooping-cranes-in-2016-gets-11-months-for-breaking-federal-probation/456482885
(http://www.12newsnow.com/img/resize/content.12newsnow.com/photo/2017/07/13/vlcsnap-2017-07-13-16h40m45s866_1499982295750_10038295_ver1.0.png?preset=534-401)
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Two whooping cranes killed, reward being offered >:(
http://www.wwltv.com/news/two-whopping-cranes-killed-reward-being-offered/228392884
(http://www.wwltv.com/img/resize/content.wwltv.com/photo/2016/06/02/B9315525462Z.1_20141216162159_000_G129E7167.1-0_1464888288919_2657873_ver1.0.jpg?preset=534-401)
Different case than Texas shooting.
Update: Louisiana Man Faces Prison, Fine for Killing Whooping Crane
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/louisiana/articles/2017-07-11/louisiana-man-faces-prison-fine-for-killing-whooping-crane
Man sentenced for shooting whooping crane
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2017/07/man_sentenced_for_shooting_who.html
Judge sends whooper shooter to prison
http://www.caller.com/story/sports/outdoors/2017/07/19/judge-sends-whooper-shooter-prison/484474001/
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A 50-year effort to raise endangered whooping cranes comes to an end
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/09/18/a-50-year-effort-to-raise-endangered-whooping-cranes-comes-to-an-end/?utm_term=.091a0ff68670&wpisrc=nl_animalia&wpmm=1
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/resizer/TFlh7dGnf7b4UVWfk9xLFEkI_Fk=/1484x0/https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/K6HC6BD7MI5ZTMQFUZ5HBX4KA4.JPG)
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Scientists measure damage to endangered species' habitat (w/video)
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/sep/21/scientists-measure-harveys-damage-to-species-habit/
(https://media.victoriaadvocate.com/cache/11/43/11433cb01479870052340540af043dba.jpg)
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Rockport, Texas, Hit Hard By Harvey
http://www.npr.org/2017/08/27/546497337/rockport-texas-hit-hard-by-harvey
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TransCanada, Keystone XL opponents submit final arguments to group charged with evaluating project
http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/transcanada-keystone-xl-opponents-submit-final-arguments-to-group-charged/article_1a895682-9a73-11e7-adbf-eb035fea0f99.html
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Whooping crane migration is changing, according to data
https://nebraskaradionetwork.com/2017/09/26/whooping-crane-migration-is-changing-according-to-data/
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Opinion: Whooping cranes are still endangered. Patuxent's program shouldn't end.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whooping-cranes-are-still-endangered-patuxents-program-shouldnt-end/2017/09/24/7a040720-9fb3-11e7-b2a7-bc70b6f98089_story.html?utm_term=.6772a7bc98ca
(https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2017/09/15/Health-Environment-Science/Images/WHOOPINGCRANE_SG15.JPG?uuid=t5YXfo2qEeecU2oWm-sJUw)
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Whooping cranes leave Maryland program because of budget cuts
http://www.wbaltv.com/article/whooping-cranes-leave-maryland-program-because-of-budget-cuts/12485927
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Endangered Whooping Canes Returning To Texas This Month Will Find a Habitat Disrupted By Harvey
http://www.texasstandard.org/stories/endangered-whooping-canes-returning-to-texas-this-month-will-find-a-habitat-disrupted-by-harvey/
(http://www.texasstandard.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/3cff9738ed083b21f6d14e5d46145b1a-e1507041199139.jpg)
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Whooping Cranes Take Wing Earlier in Spring Thanks to Climate Change
http://www.audubon.org/news/whooping-cranes-take-wing-earlier-spring-thanks-climate-change
(http://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfuture/HiqStqu3ruTYZJ5qtHSRZ0v4q2djGCqJpcKxdPy2PEo/mtime:1507139264/sites/default/files/styles/hero_image/public/web_nationalgeographic_1317666.jpg?itok=V3ZGovIa)
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UWO grad student examines crane population problem
http://www.uwosh.edu/today/53046/uwo-grad-student-examines-crane-population-problem/
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Whooping crane southern migration takes off
https://www.101corpuschristi.com/news/whooping_crane_southern_migration_takes_off
(https://www.101corpuschristi.com/uploads/media/default/0001/24/ccca29d0e3e29162f2892ff316e79c64b75fcbd3.jpeg)
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First whooping cranes sighted at wildlife refuge
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/oct/27/first-whooping-cranes-sighted-at-wildlife-refuge/
(https://media.victoriaadvocate.com/cache/61/d6/61d6f5ebd11b6a5a4467325f996d8bc1.jpg)
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Parent-Reared Whooping Crane #30-17
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2018/01/09/parent-reared-whooping-crane-30-17/
(https://i2.wp.com/operationmigration.org/InTheField/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_0651_30-17_122217.jpg?resize=768%2C576)
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Still $9000 Reward in 2016 Whooping Crane Killings
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/louisiana/articles/2018-03-15/still-9000-reward-in-2016-whooping-crane-killings
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'Craniacs' conservation group Operation Migration shutting down after 25 years
https://chippewa.com/news/state-and-regional/craniacs-conservation-group-operation-migration-shutting-down-after-years/article_c059d9ee-65e2-5a14-bf8b-c1134aeb95e3.html
(https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/chippewa.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/fb/bfb3e2d6-a385-5271-ae96-13554e6f1976/5b776c57e0274.image.jpg?resize=750%2C297)
Two whooping cranes glide during their approximately 90-day migration to Florida in 2015. Operation Migration, which has helped restore the whooping crane population in the eastern United States, says it is calling it quits at the end of the year.
JOE DUFF, OPERATION MIGRATION
(https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/chippewa.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/79/0792e6cc-5db2-54b7-a5f6-6fd3abd349f3/5b776c59acb7c.image.jpg?resize=750%2C235)
An Operation Migration ultralight aircraft leads young cranes on their migration journey to Florida in 2014. The ultralight-lead migration project ended in 2016 after the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service began shifting to a more natural reintroduction model.
HEATHER RAY, OPERATION MIGRATION
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Operation Migration Resigns From WCEP & Dissolves Organization
(https://picload.org/image/dliroola/whooping-cranes-aug-30-1a.jpg)
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2018/08/17/operation-migration-resigns-from-wcep-dissolves-organization/ (http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2018/08/17/operation-migration-resigns-from-wcep-dissolves-organization/)
Very sad to read this article. :(
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Research abstract: Examination of multiple working hypotheses to address reproductive failure in reintroduced Whooping Cranes
http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-17-263.1
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Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update - July 2019
https://www.savingcranes.org/whooping-crane-eastern-population-update-july-2019/
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/whooping_cranes_29-08_15-11_juneau_county_oliver_burrus_600.jpg)
Whooping Cranes 29-08 and 15-11 in Juneau County, Wisconsin
(https://www.savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/whooping_crane_locations_july_1_2019_600.jpg)
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WHOOPING CRANE EASTERN POPULATION UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2021
September 8, 2021 in I Give A Whoop, Newsroom, North America, Whooping Crane
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/4-12_3-14_W2-21_doug_pellerin_600_400.jpg)
Whooping Crane family 4-12, 3-14 and chick W2-21 (center) strike a pose in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. W2-21 is the year’s oldest surviving wild-hatched chick.
Photo by Doug Pellerin.
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month, three more wild-hatched chicks have fledged! A huge thank you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation and all the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. This report is produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 78 (37 F, 37 M, 4 U). This now includes this year’s four wild-hatched chicks. Nineteen of these 78 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 September, there are at least 68 Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin and two in Michigan. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. Their last known locations (in the past month) are on the map below.
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/whooping_crane_locations_september_1_2021_600.jpg)
2021 Wild-hatched Cohort
Nesting season is complete and there were 14 chicks confirmed to have hatched and up to four are still alive (see below).
W2-21 (U) hatched to parents 3-14 and 4-12 in Green Lake County, WI, at the beginning of May and fledged in July.
W10-21 (U) hatched to parents 12-03 and 12-05 at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, WI, and fledged mid-August.
W11-21 (M) hatched to parents 36-09 and 18-03 at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, WI, and fledged mid-August.
W14-21 (M) hatched to parents 25-09 and 2-04 at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, WI, and fledged in late August.
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HAPPY AUTUMN!
Thanks Phyl -
you ever see a whooper on MS flyway cam?
its FULL of sandies and their young
(https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2183.0;attach=553086;image)
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Hi Shep.
I did.
I've learned a lot from you thread.
When I have time...I'll post another update for October. Unless you do it first. LOL ;)
Happy Autumn! to you and yours also.
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WHOOPING CRANE EASTERN POPULATION UPDATE – APRIL 2022
April 13, 2022 in Newsroom, North America, Whooping Crane
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/whooping_cranes_6-17_4-17_24-17_Sauk_Co_WI_bridget_lockridge_600.jpg)
The Whooping Crane trio 4-17, 6-17 and 24-17 in Sauk County, Wisconsin, earlier this spring. Photo by Bridget Lockridge.
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month, Whooping Cranes have returned to Wisconsin, and some have started nesting! A huge thank you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation, and all the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. This report was produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 77 (37 F, 37 M, 3 U). Seventeen of these 77 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 6 April, there are at least 67 Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin, two in Michigan, and one that was last seen in Indiana during March but is likely back in Wisconsin and has not yet been confirmed. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. Their last known locations (in the past month) are on the map below.
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/whooping_crane_locations_6_april_2022_600.jpg)
Reproduction
As of 6 April, there are potentially eight nests in Wisconsin. Eggs have not yet been confirmed in all the nests.
Active and potential nests: 5 in Juneau County, 1 in Marquette County, 2 in Green Lake County.
2021 Cohort
W2-21 (U) migrated back to WI with their parents and is now in Green Lake County, where they have been associating with 85-21 (M).
W11-21 (M) is in Juneau County, WI, where he has been associating with other young Whooping Cranes.
W14-21 (M) migrated back to Juneau County, WI, with his parents. He has been associating with other young Whooping Cranes.
84-21 (F) is in Juneau County, WI, where she has been associating with other Whooping Cranes.
85-21 (M) is in Green Lake County, WI, and has been associating with W2-21 (U).
2020 Cohort
W3-20 (F) was reported in Marathon Co, WI, in early April but has not yet been confirmed.
W13-20 (M) was not seen for most of the winter but is now in Dodge County, WI.
W14-20 (M) was confirmed dead in early April (see below).
W18-20 (F) was last seen with 80-19 (F) in Hopkins County, KY, in February.
Mortality
W14-20 (M) was confirmed dead in early April but likely died during fall 2021. The cause of death is undetermined.
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst. Click here to learn more about our work in North America.
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nice post
beautiful birds
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(https://www.nature365.tv/assets/images/logo.png)
https://www.nature365.tv/video/2023-10-10-common-cranes
https://www.nature365.tv/
Hi Shep!
This was today's Nature 365 video.
Hope you enjoy it.
And, you don't mind me posting it here.
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https://operationmigration.org/whooping-crane-the-ultimate-guide/ (https://operationmigration.org/whooping-crane-the-ultimate-guide/)
Whooping Crane: The Ultimate Guide
/ Cranes / By Operation Migration Team
The whooping crane is known to be the tallest North American bird. These tall birds have long legs and long necks, and get their name from the iconic whooping sound that they produce.
Contents show
Interestingly, they are one of only two crane species which are native to North America.
However, they are under threat of extinction because of a loss of habitat, as well as down to unregulated hunting. After some effort by conservationists, the whooping crane population has increased to more than 800 birds.
Appearance
An adult whooping crane can be recognized by its white plumage, red crown, and a dark, long, pointed bill. The whooping crane’s bill is stout and straight.
When the cranes are in a standing position, they can be recognized from their slender body which then widens into a plump collection of feathers at the tail.
Their necks are long and elegant, and during flight, these are kept straight, with their equally long legs trailing behind them. The whooping crane’s wings are broad during flight.
Immature whooping cranes have a mottled brown upper plumage, with a whitish belly.
These are elegant birds which are very agile, lightweight fliers, despite their impressive height. They are actually the tallest North American bird that is capable of flight.
There isn’t all that much difference in height between the male and the female, and they both have the same plumage. This is in contrast to many birds where the males and females have different markings.
Size Measurements
Wingspan: 7.5ft, 90 inches, 229cm
Weight: 13.3lbs to 17.2lbs, 6kg to 7.8kg
Body length: 4.9ft, 59 inches, 150cm
Male Vs Female
Interestingly, there isn’t much difference between the male and female birds. The male whooping crane can be slightly larger than the females, but this is mostly where the difference ends.
Both males and females have the same plumage.
Are They Aggressive?
Whooping cranes will only tend to be aggressive when it comes to defending their nest and their young. Both parents will defend their offspring and their nest, however, the males are usually more aggressive than the females.
Whooping cranes are naturally very wary of humans, and will likely defend themselves if you were to get too close to their nest.
Impressively, the whooping crane will use their aggressive behavior as a defense to get predators away from their nest. Juveniles are more likely to fall prey to a predator as they aren’t as experienced at fighting them off.
What Adaptations Do They Have?
The whooping crane has been adapted for flying. They have a lightweight frame of around 15lbs (6.8kg), even despite their impressive height.
Unlike humans, the whooping crane has hollow bones to help make them even lighter when in flight. They also have special flight feathers to help aid them when in the air.
Because they are only active in the daylight, they have piercing yellow eyes to help them move around their surroundings. Their beaks are long and slender to help them forage for food in weeds and grass.
Their long necks also allow them to forage for food from the bottom of streams and lakes without getting the rest of their body feathers wet.
Whooping cranes also have fantastic hearing, which is covered by their feathers.
Breeding/Reproduction Behaviour
This is a bird that will tend to form a pair bond for life. The adult whooping cranes will form into pairs around 2 or 3 years of age.
They will find their mates by performing elaborate displays which often include leaping, flapping their wings, flinging grass and features, and tossing their heads.
Once a pair has bonded, they will then lay between one to three eggs, most likely two.
However, only one baby crane will typically survive to adulthood. This juvenile bird will become independent early on, but will stay with its parents during its first year.
Their Calls/Sounds
This bird is known for its whooping call. That’s where it gets its name from, after all! The whooping crane will give a single note, very loud bugle when it’s disturbed.
It will typically only last for a second or two. Whooping cranes will call in unison to one another when courting. Their loud call can be heard from as far as 5 miles away.
When the birds are feeding, they will often give off a low purr to help them stay in contact with one another.
What Do They Eat? (Diet)
Whooping cranes typically eat a diet of aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans, insects, and invertebrates. They also eat small vertebrates such as amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals.
They are also known for eating berries, acorns, grains, marsh plants, and roots.
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Where Do They Live? (Habitat)
(https://operationmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Whooping-Crane.jpg)
Typically you will find whooping cranes in marshes, mudflats, wetlands, fields, and wet prairies.
They are native across North America, and can be found at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas during the winter months. In the summer, they can be found at the remote Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada.
During the migratory period, you may notice whooping cranes in certain stopover locations such as Nebraska’s Platte River.
What Are Their Nesting Habits?
Once an adult pair has bonded, they will choose a suitable nesting ground. This will typically be in the shallow water of sloughs, marshes, lake margins, or often on small islands.
The cranes will make sure to take advantage of any natural vegetation which could hide the nest from predators. The pair will choose a new nesting site each year.
How Long Do They Live? (Lifespan)
The whooping crane can live for an impressive 22 to 30 years in the wild. They have been known to live for anywhere between 35 to 40 years in captivity.
What Predators Do They Have?
The most common predators for the whooping crane are black bears, cougars, coyotes, eagles, foxes, and wolves.
However, the one predator that has completely decimated their natural numbers is humans.
What Are Their Feathers Like?
The plumage of a whooping crane is white. These body and wing feathers are a bright white, apart from the tips of the wings, which are black.
These black primary feathers won’t show until the whooping crane is in flight.
What Does Their Poop Look Like?
Whooping crane scat is rather substantial in size, and fairly different from other bird species so that it is easy to recognize.
You can typically tell which foods the whooping crane has been eating from what their poop looks like. Whooping crane scat tends to have a salty aroma.
Do They Migrate?
Yes, whooping cranes do migrate. They will tend to migrate south towards Texas during the fall, typically around mid September. They will then migrate to back up north to Canada during late March or early April.
They have been known to migrate more than 2,400 miles each year.
It is estimated that around 1,400 whooping cranes were known to migrate across North America during the mid-1800s. Unfortunately, this population has now dropped down to an estimated 600 to 800.
Conservation Status
The whooping crane is considered to be highly endangered. Even though they had a booming population back in the 1800s, thanks to a loss of habitat, as well as overhunting.
It is thought that before the interference of humans, there were as many as 15,000 up to a whopping 20,000 whooping cranes in the wild. This population was then reduced down to a mere 15 wild birds in the 1940s.
These birds all belonged to a single flock, which was then protected by governments and conservationists to encourage them to survive and breed.
Thanks to extensive conservation efforts, the whooping crane population has now been boosted up to around 600 to 800 wild cranes. However, they are still considered to be an endangered species.
Fun Facts
Whooping crane hatchlings aren’t capable of flight, however, they can still swim to escape from predators
There is a program known as Operation Migration, which used ultralight aircraft to teach whooping cranes to learn migratory paths
The trachea of a whooping crane can coil to around 9 inches within their sternum when they call out, which helps to increase the volume of their call as well as the variance in pitch. This call can be heard from up to 5 miles away
These birds are considered to be elegant fliers and catch wind and thermal gusts to fly for long distances without flapping their wings
The whooping crane is actually the rarest of all the crane species
They are the tallest North American bird that is able to fly
Thanks to a loss of habitat and overhunting, the whooping crane was nearly made extinct in the 1900s
Despite their impressive height, whooping cranes are lightweight and excellent fliers
Whooping cranes tend to nest in shallow water during the nighttime so that splashes can alert them to any nearby predators
The chicks of whooping cranes sleep while standing up
A collection of cranes is called a construction, dance, sedge, siege, or a swoop
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Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – October 2023
https://savingcranes.org/2023/10/whooping-crane-eastern-population-update-october-2023/ (https://savingcranes.org/2023/10/whooping-crane-eastern-population-update-october-2023/)
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/whooping_cranes_harvested_sweet_corn_field_dodge_co_paul_hettenhaus.jpg)
Two Whooping Cranes strike a pose in a harvested sweet corn field in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Paul Hettenhaus
Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In September, the first captive-reared crane has been released! A huge thank-you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation, and all the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. This report was produced by the International Crane Foundation.
Population Estimate
The current estimated population size is 71 (38 F, 31 M, 2 U). Seventeen of these 71 individuals are wild-hatched and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 October, there are at least 59 in Wisconsin and 1 in Michigan. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. Their last known locations (in the past month) are on the map below.
(https://savingcranes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/whooping_crane_locations_1_oct_2023_600.jpg)
To view our interactive “Where are the Whoopers” map for more details, including bios on each crane.
Click here:https://whoopermap.savingcranes.org/?_gl=1*1fmfgfh*_ga*MjExODI1MTc4OS4xNjk2OTQ1ODIz*_ga_50YYYG9GP8*MTY5Njk0NTgyMy4xLjEuMTY5Njk0NTgyMy4wLjAuMA.. (https://whoopermap.savingcranes.org/?_gl=1*1fmfgfh*_ga*MjExODI1MTc4OS4xNjk2OTQ1ODIz*_ga_50YYYG9GP8*MTY5Njk0NTgyMy4xLjEuMTY5Njk0NTgyMy4wLjAuMA..)
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Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – October 2023 (cont.)
2021 and 2022 Cohorts
W2-21 (M) is still in Green Lake County, Wisconsin with W3-17.
W14-21 (M) is at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and was seen with W3-20 (F).
84-21 (F) and 85-21 (M) are still together in Green Lake County, WI.
W1-22 (U) is still in Adams County with another Whooping Crane. They did take a short trip to Necedah during September.
2023 Cohort
W9-23 (F) is still in Juneau County with her mother 15-11, but we have not seen her father 29-08 recently. Instead, male W6-18 has been hanging out with this family. Additionally, since late September, parent-reared bird 15-23 has been with the family (see below).
W12-23 (M) is still with parents 24-08 and 13-02 in Juneau County.
W13-23 (U) is still with parents 12-11 and 5-11 in Juneau County.
15-23 (F) was parent-reared at the International Crane Foundation this summer and was released at Necedah in late September. She has been associating with W9-23, 15-11 and W6-18.
Mortality and Long-term Missing 74-18 (M) has not been seen for over a year and is now considered long-term missing. We have removed him from the population totals above.
Story submitted by Hillary Thompson, North America Program Crane Analyst.
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Thank you.
I used to watch them raise those chicks then take them south on migration.
Aint a-gonna study war no more
Lay down you burdens ...
https://youtu.be/A-2yOFCuC2o
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The harrowing 5,000-mile flight of North America's wild whooping cranes
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/whooping-cranes-migration-flight-endangered (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/whooping-cranes-migration-flight-endangered)
(https://i.natgeofe.com/n/18c2ec21-b083-4071-85a4-43e6d2be38f1/STOCKPKG_MM9969_20230416-1226_16x9.jpg?w=718&h=404)