Operation Migration 2014 (1 Viewer)

[Mitchelle]

October 23: Both Four Letter Words Today—Wind & Rain

…on the ground today on day 14 of the migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/23/wind-and-rain-and-a-milemaker-challenge/

I do not understand the selection of the word engender in the headline of the subsequent article, but it is an uplifting account of independently migrating Whooping Cranes.

Endangered Whooping Cranes Engender Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
October 22, 2014

Four juvenile whooping cranes arrived to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in mid-September. An unusual occurrence for even early birds that may have ridden the first fall cold front 2,500 miles from their nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in North West Territories, Canada.

Maybe they were just curious at a young age and instinctively ready to soar away. It is hard to say what caused the early birds to arrive, as it could also signal increased competition for nesting areas up North.

Nonetheless, the early birds will be joined by a few more than the 304 whooping cranes counted last year….

“The food chain for the whooping crane looks very good as we had rains in September and through early October and the wetlands conditions are such that we have more water in them now than we have had over the past three years,” Harrell said.

“The wolfberries are aplenty and as we look forward to conducting the annual whooping crane census in December, many of the cranes will be in areas we have never seen them in before….
http://www.aransaspassprogress.com/lifestyles/article_9c8cab3c-5a36-11e4-9376-130458b009a4.html

 

[Mitchelle]

October 24: Fog

Even if the fog were to clear soon after sunrise, it’s quite warm at 67 degrees and we have 100% humidity, which would make it difficult for the cranes to breathe. We’re down for day 15 of the migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/24/fog-monster/

Impressions of a Volunteer

…Then we wait… We wait for the wind to blow at just the right speed and from just the right direction and be stable enough to allow the birds to surf behind the wing….

…We wait for the frost to melt off the wings of the trikes. We wait for the fog to lift. Conditions have to be just right to give the cranes their best chance of getting to their next stop. The last two weeks the weather just hasn’t cooperated. You can hear the frustration and disappointment over the radios when the pilots are aloft and find fog or turbulence or a headwind, which will not allow the birds to fly today.

But you know that the conditions will, one morning, then another, then another, all come together and the cranes will fly south – getting closer and closer to their new winter home in St. Marks NWR in Wakulla County, Florida….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/24/impressions-of-a-volunteer/

 

[Mitchelle]

October 25: Still Down

Lingering Fog

Yesterday’s fog was predicted to dissipate by 10am. In actuality, it hung around till noon and it reappeared quickly last evening and is still here this morning.

By the time it moves on, winds will have picked up to be too strong to attempt a flight today so we’ll be standing down for day 16.

*Note: last year on Day 16 we arrived in Columbia County, WI, (our next planned stopover) so we’re not too far off of last year’s pace.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/25/lingering-fog/

Kansas Birders Warned to Keep Distance between Themselves and Whooping Cranes

Don’t go near the whoopers.

Barry Jones, visitor services specialist at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford County, issued a caution to Kansas birders Wednesday to keep their distance — at least a half-mile between humans and whooping cranes, an endangered shorebird.

“Remain on public roads or at or near your vehicle,” Jones wrote in an email addressed to the Kansas birding serve list.

“Under no circumstances should you approach the birds on foot.”
http://www.kansas.com/news/article1127579.html

 

[Mitchelle]

October 26: Preliminary Report

Between coffee, the dog, laundry, and breakfast, I was able to catch a glimpse of two Whooping Cranes flying with the ultralight via FlightCam. That was at approximately 9:10 Eastern Time. Minutes later, I could still see them following, and chatters reported that they were approximately twenty minutes into the flight. Chatters also reported that the other five Whooping Cranes landed in a field shortly after takeoff, and would be crated to the next stopover.

 

[Mitchelle]

October 25: Official Report

Only two of the seven young Whooping Cranes made the flight.

Two out of Seven

Whooping cranes 3-14 & 8-14 successfully flew to our Columbia Co., Wisconsin stopover this morning. Total flight time 42 minutes.

The other remaining cranes will be crated.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/26/two-out-of-seven/

 

[Mitchelle]

October 27: (Aviation) Unable to Fly, (Idiom) Having a Firm Foundation, (Electrical) an Established Return Path

Grounded

South winds – both on the surface and aloft will keep us grounded for the day in Columbia County, Wisconsin.

Looking back at last year, we were at the same location on Day 18 of the 2013 migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/?n=field-journal-operationmigration

Report from October 26:

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Considering cranes 2, 7, and 9 had backpacks attached in mid-September and number 4-14 has been having leg issues which resulted in major setbacks in training opportunities, as well as disrupting their trust and willingness to follow us.

That left us with only 3, 8 and 10-14 unaffected although the disruption did slow them down as well. Whooping cranes 3 and 8 were the two birds that climbed out of the trashy air at our previous stop and again today they persevered and were able to get to the stop in Columbia County…. http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/26/two-out-of-three-aint-bad/

 

[Mitchelle]

October 28: Wind

Winds are currently blowing on the surface at a healthy 10 mph and from the west. Aloft at 3,000 ft. they’re much stronger at 25 knots (28.7 mph).
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/28/strong-winds/

Here’s my a-bit-early Halloween trick or treat.

Why Are These Biologists Dressed Up as Whooping Cranes
http://earthsky.org/earth/why-are-these-biologists-dressed-up-as-whooping-crane

 

[Mitchelle]

October 29: Wind Again

Standing Down

Winds were causing the RV to bounce most of the night. We’ll be staying put in Columbia County, Wisconsin today….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/29/standing-down-5/

From too much wind to not enough water, there is no doubt that the quest to save the Whooping Crane is at odds with Mother Nature and human nature. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of the great successes that have been achieved toward the restoration of the Whooping Crane population; and watching a trickle of water flowing slowly from a well hose, implemented to marsh up a big ol’ dried up field, precipitates one of those times. See video linked to the below article.

Wildlife Advocates Enter State Water Wars

Wildlife advocates are joining cities, agriculture and industry in search of water to make up for a lack of rain.

Historically, lower salinity marshes and man-made rain collection hallows on the Blackjack peninsula have provided whooping cranes with drinking water. But an ongoing drought has instigated a search for more secure water sources across Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where the only wild flock of whooping cranes winter. [MORE]:
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2014/oct/28/wildlife-advocates-enter-state-water-wars/

Hope springs eternal.
http://www.operationmigration.org/

 

[Mitchelle]

October 30: Head Winds; Down Again

Stuck In Lodi Again

Once Brooke and Richard were airborne this morning they encountered a headwind, which decreased their speed to 20 mph, which would have made for a two hour flight to Green County, WI.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/30/stuck-in-lodi-again/

 

[Mitchelle]

October 31: Wind & Snow

I don’t need to wait for a pilot to wake up this morning to provide an opinion on flying conditions. The wind buffeting the RV tells the tale. Winds aloft are a rather hefty 40 knots and as if that’s not already enough to keep us grounded, it’s snowing.

There will be no planes, cranes, ghosts or goblins flying today. Happy Halloween everyone!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/10/31/w-i-n-d/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 1: I Saw a Whooping Crane Flying

At 9:10AM Central, I managed to sneak a peek at one of the crane cams, and got a glimpse of a Whooping Crane flying. That made me feel better, but now it’s time to see what happened.

Anyone Familiar with the Movie Groundhog Day?

…Brooke took off from the pen site with seven crane colts….

…All of them are now back in their enclosure in Columbia County.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/01/anyone-familiar-with-the-movie-groundhog-day/

Not good.

I did like the pic of Peanut, though. I just wish he had been standing in Green County.

 

[Mitchelle]

November 2: Today and Yesterday

Today, the wind was the reason.

Down for another Day

…Looking at the winds aloft for 7am, we’ll have 25 knots from the southwest and increasing throughout the day.

We’ll be standing down in Columbia County, WI on day 24 of the southward migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/02/down-for-another-day-2/

Yesterday turned out to have been worse than I had thought it had been. Fortunately, it had not been tragic. You’ve got to read this:

Yesterday…

This is not the update I wanted to write. I don’t consider it my finest hour in all my years with Operation Migration. In all the years I’ve handled birds, after all the goofs, biffs and “learning experiences” I’ve ever had with them, I’d classify this as one of my worst....

…When I did roost checks last night, I packed extra grapes, figuring I’d need to butter up the birds a whole lot after their eventful, ultimately, nonproductive day. I expected to see #2 at one end of the pen and myself at the other, forever separated by this thoroughly unpleasant experience.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/02/7741/

One last thing about today: It was 26 degrees on the ground, this Kentucky morning, when my dog and I left our home for a walk. Cold.

 

[Mitchelle]

November 3: Head Winds

Winds from the south will keep us grounded for another day in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/03/still-stuck-in-lodi-again/

Whoopers vs Eagles (Video)

…showing who is very likely 24 & 42-09 recently fending off five Bald eagles in Adams County, WI...
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/03/whoopers-vs-eagles/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 4: Wind

Stuck… Still

One look at the winds aloft map and the 3 wind barbs tells the story.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/04/stuck-still/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 5: No Movement Again Today

Grounded Still

Winds from the south-southwest will keep us grounded for another day – Day 27 of the migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/05/grounded-still/

I have learned that no matter what one does, there will be some other one who doesn’t like it. I will spare you an historic list of good doers who have been criticized and attacked throughout the ages; however, albeit to a much lesser degree, I can now add Mike Rowe and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to that list.

Mike Rowe Defends Himself after Whooping Crane Show

When CNN's Mike Rowe visited a bird sanctuary on his new series "Somebody's Gotta Do It," he drew some heat from viewers.

Ryan Thompson, of Chandler, Arizona, posted this on Rowe's Facebook account:

"Hey Mike, love the new show ... I watched the last episode with the cranes and the birds suits (little weird ... but whatever). One question came to mind though -- is that place funded privately or by the government? I kept thinking it's one of those places that costs the tax payers millions each year to keep the doors open."

Another viewer, Panier De Fraises, wrote:

"You did a disservice to Operation Migration and the whooping crane project on "Somebody's Gotta Do It." You came across as bored and disdainful. You say you work for the people who watch you and not the people who pay you -- OK. You're on probation."

Rowe's response:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/opinion/mike-rowe-animal-protection-controversy/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 6: No Movement Again Today

4-Letter Words

Today we’ll be dealing with WIND, RAIN, SNOW & COLD.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/06/4-letter-weather-words/

Operation Migration offers you a couple of short essays by Brooke Pennypacker and Jo-Anne Bellemar to ponder while we wait out the wind and the rain and the snow and the cold. Below is an excerpt from each essay, but I advise you to skip them and just open the links.

Crazy Person
by Brooke Pennypacker

…All was well until suddenly the birds, as if shocked by an electric current, stood bolt upright and weather vaned towards the hill in unison. With my headset still on under my helmet, they were my ears as I turned on the trike vocalizer, threw out some grapes to keep them by the trike, and scurried up to the top of the hill to investigate. There, coming up the hill, was a bus load of school kids on a class trip to what I soon realized was some kind of Nature Park. I waved my arms in a panicked frenzy for them to stop… which they did. Who wouldn’t! And I swear that’s when I saw the teacher turn to the class and say, “What you see before you is an example of the most dangerous thing you are ever likely to encounter in the wild. More dangerous than Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster or a politician running for public office. I present to you a genuine….”Crazy Person.” When you encounter such a creature, do NOT make eye contact and forget the pepper spray. Simply turn around and slowly walk away while singing your favorite rap song. And if it pursues you, just fall to your knees, wrap your body up in a ball and play dead… just like you would in the New York City subway.” And with that, they all turned solemnly and made their way back down the hill towards the bus. Gosh! That teacher really has her finger on the pulse, I thought….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/06/crazy-person/

Another Perspective—A Really Good Show!
by Jo-Anne Bellemer

…I headed for the flyover about a quarter mile up the road in a small cemetery. There were already about 20 people there when I arrived, and many more showed up. I pulled out my merchandise kit and set it up on the ground so people could browse while we waited for the show. I’ll fast track and say that, by the end, we had sold over $175 worth of stuff, plus taken in some donations! Not too shabby! OM has coloring books for young children that tell the story of the cranes and the program. We sell them for $1 each, but I have decided that I want to give them to any kid that shows up and make that my meager contribution. Three kids got them on this beautiful but cold day.

Keeping the aircraft radio tuned in and talking to folks, trying to answer questions, we waited for the trikes to appear. Finally someone pointed over the trees to the south and sure enough there were Brooke and Richard flying, testing the wind. After a bit of pilot chatter, they decided to go for it and Brooke flew towards the pen site. The viewers waited with bated and steamy breath until suddenly we saw Brooke emerge low over a corn field with all the birds strung out behind him. That was the best part of the flight, unfortunately, but not nearly the whole show…!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/06/another-perspective-a-really-good-show/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 7: A Smile at the End of the Day

First morning report:

We’ll try to execute a short 5-mile trip with four of the seven Whooping crane colts: 2, 3, 7 & 8-14 and then make a return trip to get the three remaining cranes: 4, 9 & 10-14.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/07/going-to-try/

Second morning report:

Four cranes just arrived at the new 5 mile site!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/07/plan-b-part-one/

Third morning report

…all 7 cranes flew to the interim 5 mile site!
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/07/plan-b-part-2/

Lead pilot report with pics:

Divide and Conquer!

Divide and conquer was the plan. Try and fly the best fliers to the destination first. Then come back and fly the others. And the destination was a field only five miles away. It was Joe’s idea. As every good teacher knows, a student must be given the opportunity to experience a series of small successes, which in time, will hopefully build into larger ones.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/07/lead-pilot-report-divide-and-conquer/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 8: This Morning was a No Go

Grounded

With winds currently blowing from the northwest at 17mph, we’re grounded for today….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/08/grounded-4/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 9: Nope, Not Today

Wrong Way Winds

On the surface, winds are from the southwest at 10mph and aloft, from the west at 23mph. We’ll be standing down another day in Dane County, WI.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/09/wrong-way-winds/

Heads up Oklahoma!

Whooping Cranes Passing Through State

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation reports whooping cranes arrived in Oklahoma on Oct. 30.

Each fall, the large white cranes, an endangered species, cross Oklahoma on a 2,500-mile journey from their nesting grounds in Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast. About 300 of the birds are expected to pass through central and western Oklahoma. The department is interested in all whooping crane reports. People who see whooping cranes are asked to take note of the number of birds, the time, date, location and habitat of the area. Call the Wildlife Department at 405-990-7259 or email [email protected].
http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/spo...cle_91e190db-f191-52cf-b356-90ff980dae6e.html

Climate change impacts on Whooping Cranes:

Global warming poses a great threat to the whooping crane’s fragile recovery. Warmer temperatures may lead to decreased rainfall and drought, shrinking their Canadian wetland habitat while giving land predators, such as foxes and lynx, easier access to chicks. In the crane’s Texas winter habitat, decreased rainfall coupled with rising sea levels would limit freshwater inflow, flooding its fragile marshes with seawater and harming blue crabs and other prey.
http://earthjustice.org/irreplaceab...V7s-W5njcMij0A5IgjaPyG-XLvbLrgc-GSBoCGs7w_wcB

On November 7, 2014, Louisiana waterfowl hunters were advised to be cognizant of Whooping Cranes.

November 7, 2014—State of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wildlife/news-releases

As waterfowl hunters prepare for the start of waterfowl hunting season in November, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is reminding all hunters to be alert for whooping cranes in marshes and fields that contain legally hunted game birds.

LDWF’s whooping crane reintroduction program has released cranes into the wild from White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area each year since 2011. The birds have dispersed over time to locations that include east Texas, but there are whooping cranes situated in Acadia, Avoyelles, Rapides, Vermilion, Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.

Anyone encountering whooping cranes in the wild is advised to observe them from a distance and minimize any disturbance. Hunters are cautioned to positively identify their targets as game birds before shooting. Although whooping cranes in Louisiana are considered an “experimental, non-essential population” under the Endangered Species Act, they cannot be pursued, harassed, captured or killed and are fully protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act.
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/38547

Whooping Crane Brochure
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/...8-Whooping Crane Brochure /whooping_crane.pdf

Whooping Crane Fact Sheet
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/...tion-fact-sheet/whooping_crane_fact_sheet.pdf

The photo gallery is a tad bit out of date, but nonetheless interesting insomuch as a lot of people work hard to save Whooping Cranes.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/08/safeguarding-whooping-cranes/

 

[Mitchelle]

November 10: No Flight, But Fright

What follows are the reasons for no flight.

Still Waiting for Better Weather

At sunrise this morning winds aloft are expected to be from the east at 20 knots. On the surface winds are blowing at 10mph. There’s a large blue blob of snow just to the north and we’re hoping it stays north of us.

We’re grounded in Dane County, WI on Day 32 of the migration.
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/10/still-waiting-for-better-weather/

What follows is about the fright.

An Intruder

…We were not back in camp more than ten minutes when Heather rushed in to tell us that someone was near the pen and the birds were hitting the top net….

…It was not until we returned to camp and Heather showed us the archived CraneCam clip that we realized just how fearful the birds were. You can see from the video (below) how far away the intruder was and how the birds reacted to a non-costumed person. It appears that a man came out of the woods onto private property….
http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2014/11/10/an-intruder/

It took me a couple refreshes, starts, stops, and starts to get the video to work, but eventually it did.