Training of the Class of 2009 ultralight-led Whooping Cranes at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is in full-swing.  Staff from Operation Migration and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center are training three separate cohorts of chicks.  The three groups are divided based on age.  Once the youngest group is flying, they will be combined with the middle-aged group, and once these two groups are socialized they will be joined with the oldest group of birds. 

Sadly, during training on Monday one of the chicks collided with an ultralight.  The bird was rushed to ICF and treated by veterinarian Barry Hartup, but unfortunately, the chick died as a result of trauma due to the accident.  While an unfortunate loss, the ultralight crew is currently training the largest cohort of Whooping Cranes to date-22! 

Update by Joan Garland, ICF Education Outreach Coordinator/WCEP Communications & Outreach Co-chair.