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Whooper Happenings|Whoopers Happening_49 It's the Leaving... Episode
This is the 9th year that Operation Migration will be leading Whooping cranes (they guided Sandhill cranes in 2000 as a test) on a journey from Wisconsin's Necedah NWR to Florida... this year, again, the flock will be in two locations... St. Mark's and Chassahowitzka NWR. But the journey is about 1285 miles, and the weather is always the enemy! It keeps the birds and team grounded for sometimes well over a week with rain, wind, and occasionally even snow. But with any luck, this might be the year that they beat the odds and get down here... dare we even think it... by Thanksgiving or... Christmas? They are prepared to do whatever it takes, but the sooner the better for the birds, and because the resources to travel with a team of 13 plus people are not endless... nor free! In this podcast, I talked with several OM team members, the International Crane Foundation's Marianne Wellington-Doyle (who I hope isn't mad at me for calling her 'Marianne Wellington' in the podcast? I just hope I don't run into Robert Doyle, her hubby, at the flyover! He might sic a large bird on me, and I'd deserve that!). Marianne talks about the DAR program and the release of these birds, which happens after the ultralight birds leave Necedah. Brian Johns explains why past historical facts about the Whoopers indicate that this year's anticipated losses and those of last winter's are part of a cycle the birds have, and I talked with the ICF's veterinarian, Dr. Barry Hartup.This year's migration will be on the crane cam as they are able to transmit and show both departures and flyovers, so if you cannot be there at a planned flyover event, be sure to watch for it on the Operation Migration Crane Cam site. This is never a simple nor easy journey, no mater how many times this team has done it, and even Joe Duff has his apprehensions and worries. Likely Joe worries more than anyone and it might be a part of his job description, but with all the professionals and handlers he will have with him, this year's migration promises to be a most successful and interesting one! Seeing the 20 birds in 2005 off the wings of the ultralights was spectacular! No doubt, Richard, Joe, Chris and Brooke will be just as excited to be guiding these birds again this year!photo- The juvenile Whoopers are still white with mixed caramel color, but soon they will lose the caramel and become just white, showing off their red caps with gray wisps in back. Mark Chenoweth
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[ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:28:00 GMT ]
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