12/7/04: Standing Down
Whooper Reintroduction Updates

Current Trip: Fall 2004 Eastern Whooping Crane Migration
Entry December 7

12/7/04: Standing Down

Monday, Dec 6, Day 59: Birds did not fly.
Current location: Gilchrist County, FL.
Miles traveled today: 0; Total miles traveled: 1124

The planes and cranes were grounded again today due to strong head winds. The crew is approximately 70 miles from the Chassohowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

Update on the Older Whooping Cranes
The following information covers the week of Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2004. The persistent mild and wet weather has not been conducive to migratory activity. ICF and all the WCEP Partners want to thank Windway Aviation and pilot Mike Frakes for their assistance this week!

Nos. 11-02, 12-02 & 17-02 remain in Wisconsin. They have moved off the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) but have not yet started to migrate.

Nos. 2-01 & 8-02: Kankakee County, Illinois (began migration from Necedah NWR on Dec. 1).

No. 2-03: Iroquois County, Illinois. He departed Necedah NWR with no. 17-03 and they flew to southern Wisconsin on Oct 17. On Oct 24, he separated from No. 17-03 and has been in Iroquois County since Oct 25 or 26.

Nos. 3-02, 15-02, & 16-02: Greene County, Indiana (departed from Wisconsin on Nov 21).

Nos. 3-03, 12-03, & 16-03: LaPorte County, Indiana (began migration from Necedah NWR on Nov. 20).

Nos. 1-01 & 2-02: Jasper County, Indiana (began migration from Necedah NWR on Nov 28).

Nos. 1-03, & 9-03, & 18-03: Jones County, North Carolina. These birds remain off the main migration route. They began migration from Michigan on Nov 7.

No. 17-03: Colleton County, South Carolina (departed from Wisconsin on Nov 7).

No. 7-03: Beaufort County, South Carolina. (He left Necedah NWR on Nov 7 with No. 18-04).

Nos. 10-03 & 13-03: Nelson County, Kentucky (departed from Wisconsin on Nov 7).

Nos. 9-02, 13-02, & 18-02: Franklin County, Tennessee (began migration from Necedah NWR on Nov 21).

Nos. 7-01, 1-02, 5-02, 6-03, & 18-04: Hiwassee State Wildlife Refuge, Tennessee. No. 18-04, 5-02, & 6-03 have been associating closely as a group. They move and forage among the many thousands of Sandhill Cranes on the reserve.

Nos. 4-03 & 11-03: Liberty County, Georgia (began migration from Necedah NWR on Nov 5).

No. 5-01, 4-02, & 14-02: Florida (near Chassahowitzka NWR).

Photo: Nos. 10-03 & 13-03 wade across a shallow wetland in Kentucky.

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