Migration Update, November 20, 2008

The fall migration of older whooping cranes and the 2008 DAR (Direct Autumn Release) birds is in full swing!  The migration began on Saturday, when nine birds departed the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.  Fourteen additional birds left on Monday, including four of the 2008 DAR birds, and five birds left on Tuesday. 

Today saw a mass exodus of whooping cranes from the Necedah NWR.  The remaining 24 cranes on or in the vicinity of the refuge left on their fall migration this morning.  One group contained 10 whooping cranes, including DAR bird #37-08 and #10-08 (the whooping crane chick pulled from the ultralight cohort).  Another group of five whooping cranes flew directly over ICF and circled for awhile--causing quite a stir with our captive population of cranes! 

The four DAR birds that left on Monday are currently in northern Illinois--not too far from this year’s ultralight-led cranes.  The ultralight-led cranes and crew with Operation Migration flew Tuesday to their current stopover location in LaSalle County, Illinois.