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2002 Migration North

April 18 , 2002

Richard Urbanek found the birds near a gravel quarry in a forest preserve in Cook County, Illinois around 6 am. Data indicate that the birds initially came to roost at this location at about 5 pm on April 16th and then spent April 17th there on the ground. Several ponds were present harboring numerous Canada geese and gulls.

The birds left the gravel pit to resume migration on April 18th. The sky was clear to partly cloudy, and winds were South Southwest at 5 to 7 mph increasing to 12 to 18 mph. The whooping cranes crossed the Illinois-Wisconsin state line into Walworth County, Wisconsin. Weather conditions began deteriorating with increasing clouds, scattered light showers, and severe thunderstorms approaching from the west.

On the morning of April 19, the whooping cranes were found in a State Wildlife Area in Dodge County, Wisconsin, just a few miles north of where the ground search during the previous evening was discontinued. This location and previous tracking data indicate that the birds probably went down at this site about 2:15 pm, as weather deteriorated, and that they roosted there during the rest of the afternoon and evening of April 18.

Approximate migration distance (straight-line within Illinois plus straight-line within Wisconsin) and time on Day 10, 18 April: 123 miles, 5.0 hours

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Bird #7: On April 18th, Anne Lacy reported that the bird resumed migration from Jasper County, Indiana, and went down to roost near the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, possibly in Rock Co, WI.

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