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[shep]

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

[baziunc]

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

[shep]

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

[shep]

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

[baziunc]

Pretty pic of dawn, Shep.  Thanks.  I saw that it was too windy for flight training this morning.

[shep]

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

[shep]

September 18, 2015       NoFlyday  Shepnotes
Too cloudy, crazy winds

Auction items
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField

[shep]

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

[shep]

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!

[shep]

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.

[shep]

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!   


Heather was on the cam today so I was able to get screen pics

[shep]

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

[shep]

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

[shep]

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   


Dont forget to watch the *almost* once in a lifetime
blood moon supermoon eclipse tonite (Sonday)






OM photo

[baziunc]

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