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Operation Migration 2014 (1 Viewer)

December 2: A Beautiful, Beautiful, Great and Wonderful, and Joyous Day

ALL SEVEN CRANES FLEW 46 MILES!!!

Joe launched with our five faithful flyers and minutes later, Brooke moved into position and launched with cranes 4 & 10-14. They followed him out of the site and south without even glancing back toward the pen site in Chilton County!

We are now in Lowndes County, Alabama – 858 miles into the trip to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/02/success-2/

Excerpts from the lead pilot report:

…I would look at the GPS one minute and it would tell me I had an hour and 30 minutes to go. Ten minutes later it was telling me we were 2 hours out.

The temperature was in the low 50’s and was warmer higher up so the birds were feeling the heat. The last three in my line of five had their beaks open and we’re panting for the entire trip….

…Before the birds were released, Geoff and Colleen boxed numbers 4 and 10 until the other five birds were on course with me. Then they were released and Brooke took off with them. They didn’t turn back once as he climbed up behind us. This was their first real flight and he managed to get them to 2500 feet.

Every year one bird rises to the top of our favorite list but this year there is one at the bottom of mine. Number 7-14 likes to be lead and she dominates the position right behind the wingtip. She rides along, hardly ever flapping her wings while all the birds behind her have to work progressively harder. But she is never content with the prime position. Instead she likes to screw around….

…A little maneuvering and I can get them back into place but then she started pulling on the string that holds in the wingtip batten. I was afraid she would pull it out and I would lose that important part so we had a little battle at 2000 feet….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/02/lead-pilot-report-15/
 
December 3: Another Great, Wonderful, and Joyous Day

All seven young Whooping cranes flew 64 miles to Pike County, Alabama.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/03/more-success/

Yes, it was a great day, today, for Operation Migration and the seven young Whooping Cranes; however, it was, by far, not an easy day.

Lead Pilot Report

…Today we repeated yesterday, including the 25 mile per hour ground speed and boxing numbers 4 and 10.

We knew the progress would be slow and we knew it would be warm. Both of these factors take their toll on the birds. We debated releasing them all together but it was likely that 4 and 10 would lose the battle for the lead to the five that have now found an order they are comfortable with in the air. That would put them at the back of the line where they would have to work the hardest….

…I looked down the line and sure enough, number 8 was missing two or three feathers on her left side and one was still attached but sticking up like a rudder.

Already she was panting. She moved to my left wing so she was getting lots of benefit from my wake but it was not long until I remembered why I don’t like number 7-14….

…Despite being at the back and doing all the extra work caused by our Prima Donna bird, still number 8 kept up for the 1 hour and 55 minutes it took us to cover 64 miles. It’s a good thing birds don’t hold grudges like people.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/03/lead-pilot-report-16/
 
December 6: Not Today

And Still We Wait…

…for just the right conditions, which unfortunately are not present today.

On the surface we have winds of 5 mph directly from the south. Aloft, winds are 15 – 20 knots and from the south-southwest.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/06/and-we-wait-2/
Whooping Crane Update

The [linked] map below indicates the last known location of the Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population.
http://operationmigration.org/InThe...ping-crane-update-6-november-4-december-2014/
 
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December 8: Too Windy

We didn’t need to check the various weather sites this morning as the tall pines here at our camp tell the story with their swaying.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/08/standing-down-7/

Extra!

14 Whooping Cranes Flown to White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel—December 7, 2014
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wiscon...isiana-for-release-b99404678z1-285027761.html

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries—December 5, 2014
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/38703

And then there’s the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Kentucky Wants a Longer Crane Hunting Season
The Courier Journal—December 8, 2014
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...y-wants-longer-crane-hunting-season/20115109/
 
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December 9: All Seven Fly into Georgia

Georgia

We’ll have a lead pilot report as soon as one of them sends it to me but in the meantime…. We’re in GEORGIA!

And not at the first of our two Georgia stops – we’re at the last of our two stops! Yes, we SKIPPED!

All seven cranes flew again this morning, covering 117 miles. We’re currently in Decatur County, GA.
See pics: http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/09/georgia/

Georgia on my Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thls_tMuFkc
 
December 10: Yesterday Georgia, Today Florida, and Hope for a Final Flight Tomorrow

12-09-2014 Lead Pilot Report

We covered 117 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/09/lead-pilot-report-17/

12-10-2014 Update

We Can See the Finish Line!

We’re in Florida! Leon County to be precise. Just 28 miles from the final destination.

This morning’s flight worked just like the last few have. Joe moved in to pick up his five cranes and once he was on course, Brooke moved in to lead number’s 4 & 10-14 to our current stop.

There will likely be no lead pilot report today as everyone is scurrying about getting final preparations made. Joe filled me in with the following details about this morning’s flight: Total flight duration: 47 minutes. Altitude: Just shy of 2,000 ft. and a ground speed of 51 mph, courtesy of a nice tailwind.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/?n=field-journal-operationmigration

Final Flight Tomorrow

Conditions are still looking great for the final flight with the Class of 2014 to take place early tomorrow morning.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/10/final-flight-tomorrow/
 
December 11: They Made It

Operation Migration 2014 has successfully completed its mission.

And so ends another southward, aircraft-guided Whooping crane migration. Our 14th successful journey guiding young-of-year Whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida. They trusted us. We had faith in them. We got it done and very soon, once they undergo their final health check and permanent legbands and transmitters they can be truly wild cranes… Wary of people and all things ‘human.’

This morning after a flight lasting 50 minutes, our seven 7 month old Whooping cranes touched down for the first time on their new winter home when Colleen Chase and I called them down. They seemed a bit reluctant to leave the aircraft guides that safely led them here. Cutting the ties is the first step to freedom.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/12/11/its-a-wrap-2/

Thanks to all members of Operation Migration and Bird Forum: two class acts.
 
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