Operation Migration Whooping Cranes are now migrating

I think most of you are aware of the Operation Migration program where captive-hatched whooping crane chicks are conditioned to follow ultralight planes from Wisconsin to Florida, but did you know that you can watch then via the 'Crane Cam'?

Today is the first day of their migration and they're live right now: http://www.ustream.tv/migratingcranes
You can tune in each morning and have literally a birds-eye view as the volunteers lead the young cranes south.

Enjoy!

Thanks, Melody for the reminder. Even though I have seen the flight in the past, I continue to find it absolutely amazing to observe the interaction and think about what it must be like to spend days dressed like a Whooping Crane and not communicate using the human language. And then when someone asks you, what do you do for a living ? Oh, I'm a Whooping Crane by day ! It's a wonderful project which requires a great deal of dedication. Best wishes to Operation Whooping Crane for another successful migratory journey.

I live very close to the Patuxent Research Refuge where they raise Whooping Cranes on the Central Tract. The Central Tract is not open to the public but I did visit one time on a guided tour. I took this photo from the bus window. The Whooping Cranes were no where to be seen because they obviously keep them sheltered from human presence.

There are only 6 young cranes in the cohort this year due to obligations to hold back genetically important chicks and a couple of other projects, but I'm thrilled to report that the 6 juveniles had a flawless flight today and actually skipped the first stop and went on to the second one. This is almost unheard of because it is difficult to convince the birds to leave the area they are familiar with and head out to parts unknown. Crane 'rodeos' aren't uncommon with the ultralights trying to round up birds determined to turn back and keep them flying south. Once they get a few legs of the migration completed, the birds will be ready to stick with their big ultralight 'mother' since it is the only familiar thing they see.

You can follow the trek south by reading the Field Journal here: http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

One of their stops is just a few miles from my house and I hope to be able to go out for the fly over later this year.