11/16/04: All Fourteen Flying Strong!
Whooper Reintroduction Updates

Current Trip: Fall 2004 Eastern Whooping Crane Migration
Entry November 16

11/16/04: All Fourteen Flying Strong!

Tuesday, Nov 16, Day 38: Birds Flew!
Current location: Adair County, Kentucky.
Miles traveled today: 55; Total miles traveled: 589
Today, amid calm winds and overcast skies, all fourteen Whooping Cranes took flight behind the ultralights. The flight lasted 1 hour and 33 minutes and ended at the last scheduled stopover point in Kentucky.
Photo by Heather Ray.

Update On the Older Whooping Cranes
As of Nov 13, 2004, roughly half of the reintroduced Whooping Cranes in the eastern flock have started to migrate from Wisconsin. None of these birds have reached a final destination. The other half of the flock is still in Wisconsin and have not yet made any southerly movements.

In the spring of 2004, Nos. 1-03, 5-03, 9-03, and 18-03 were prevented from flying to Wisconsin from Florida when they encountered the obstacle of Lake Michigan.

On November 7, 2004 these birds left Michigan and traveled southeast into north-central Ohio. On Nov. 11 and 12, the birds were observed along the Atlantic coast and landed in Charleston County, South Carolina. This migration route parallels the migration route used by the ultralight birds, but is 200 miles to the east.

On Nov. 14, the birds separated; Nos. 1-03, 9-03, and 18-03 moved northward to Georgetown County, South Carolina. No. 5-03's signal continues to be detected from Charleston County, South Carolina.

On Nov. 15, Nos. 1-03, 9-03 and 18-03 departed northward along the Atlantic Coast and are currently in New Hanover County, North Carolina.

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