Whooping Crane Migration Sets ‘Down Day’ Record

November 17, 2011 — It’s a record Operation Migration would have rather not set. On November 17, Day 40 of its journey to Florida from nesting grounds in Wisconsin, 10 whooping cranes and their light-sport aircraft surrogate “parents” were still in Livingston City, Illinois. They’ve been there for 13th straight days, which is more consecutive down-days than the group has ever experienced since they started in 2001. It’s where they’ll remain until better weather and less windy conditions allows them to resume their 1,285-mile migration route to Florida’s Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. As Liz Condie wrote in the Operation Migration field journal on that 13th down day: Even the birds are starting to get restless. Caleb Fairfax writes in the November 16 Field Entry: “As our time in Livingston County continues to grow, our cohort’s frustration and aggression develops as well. Over the past few days it seems the pumpkins and corn, used as enrichment and distraction, are fulfilling their purpose less and less. The birds have shown decreasing interest, and it is clear what they really want is to get out and expand their wings.” Pilot Joe Duff wrote that beginning a migration is always challenging since many of the chicks are reluctant to leave the only home they have ever known, and the concept of migration has yet to sink in. “Many of them turn back when we get too far away and each failed attempt only reinforces their resolve,” Duff wrote. That is apparently what happened to chick No. 2-11. Only weeks into the migration, No. 2-11 launched with the rest of the birds when the group attempted to leave its first stopover site. But it hasn’t been seen since. A tracking antenna attached to its leg has been silent, and after multiple searches by both air and land, the group was forced to move on without the chick. Operation Migration has played a leading role in the reintroduction of endangered whooping cranes into eastern North America since 2001. The species neared extinction in the 1940s when their numbers dwindled to just 15 birds.

On one of the flying days, pilot Brooke Pennypacker leads six of the Class of 2011 birds strung in a line off his right wing. Photo: Operation Migration When the whooping cranes can’t fly because of weather, they are sometimes given pumpkins and corn, which are used as enrichment and distraction. Photo: Operation Migration The Operation Migration crew is hoping for better weather as it teaches a group of young whooping cranes the migratory route to Florida. Photo: Operation Migration

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