2001 Fall Whooping Crane Migration

High cover and Other observations with Paula Lounsbury

Adams County, WI - 19 October, 2001

By: Robert Manwell, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Photo of OM pilot in plane. Seven birds took off and followed one ultralight this morning. The one wayward crane that left the flock on Wednesday is back with the flock but didn't take off this morning. Unfortunately, soon after take off they encountered a headwind. About half way to the next stop, three of the cranes split off and started flying back. The pilots decided to do the same and turned around with the remaining birds.

Details about the day's events are in the following report.

Flying cranes to Florida isn’t always about flying low and slow. Being close to the ground has its problems. For one, it’s difficult to see other aircraft in the area and two, it’s not always possible to communicate with all ground crew members and local air traffic controllers.

That’s where pilots Paula and Don Lounsbury and their Cessna 182 come to the rescue. Each day, the Lounsburys leave the overnight camp a half- to one-hour before the rest of the flight and ground crews even get up - well before sunrise.

Don and Paula drive to where they have their Cessna parked and begin their preflight checklist. Today, the process is completed quickly because they were able to park the airplane in a hanger loaned to them by a project sponsor. They take off at first light in order to be overhead when the ultralights and cranes lift off.

Flying at around 2,500 feet, Paula, who is piloting today, guides the Cessna on a parallel course above and to the side, keeping an eye on the ultralights below. From her vantagepoint, she can see other aircraft that may be approaching and is able to relay communications between ultralight pilots and the ground crew if necessary.

That’s if it’s a routine flight. Today is a little more exciting.

Twenty minutes into today’s flight, increasing headwinds splinter the flock of seven birds into two groups. With three birds off on their own, Deke closed in and managed to pick them up. Just when everything seems to be all right, the group of three decided to turn around and head back to their traveling overnight pen.

Deke immediately turned 180 degrees and began chasing the birds who, with the wind now at their backs, were flying a lot faster. Paula banked the Cessna around and moved to the side where she could see the group of three and Deke’s ultralight. She radioed down to Deke asking if he could see the birds ahead and with the information that if he maintained his heading, he would fly right up to them.

Now that Deke had the cranes back on his wing, he needed someplace to land and confine them. Paula radioed ahead to the ground crew that Deke had turned around and was only minutes away. The ground crew had packed up about half of the overnight pen and was now scrambling to reassemble it!

With Deke on final approach, Paula turned again and began to scan the skies for Joe who had also turned around.

For several minutes she searched below noting how difficult it was to spot the small aircraft and birds. This writer can attest to that difficulty. Joe was in radio contact and called out landmarks as he flew. Soon, we spotted him over the Wisconsin River.

He was on course heading toward the overnight pen but one bird was lagging far behind. Paula radioed that he was losing one bird and should turn around to pick it up. Joe responded quickly but now, flying toward the bird, he had difficulty picking up its narrow profile against the sky. From her vantage point, Paula could see the trailing bird and Joe’s aircraft with the three cranes behind it. Knowing he was on course, she patiently waited for the distance to close.

The crane quickly tucked in behind the others following Joe almost as if it was returning to family.

After escorting Joe’s ultralight back the overnight site, Paula turned around once again and set a course back to the airfield and hanger.

“Gosh, it looked so good this morning and the cranes were flying so well at the start, I thought sure they’d make it to the next stop,” she said. “This is my fourth migration trip with the ultralights and days like this are so disappointing. At least everyone is safe, people and cranes, and tomorrow is another day.”

Tomorrow, the little Cessna will once again be high in the sky shepherding its own flock of bright yellow ultralights, white cranes and costumed pilots to their next destination.

The Lounsburys are volunteers that have been assisting Operation Migration, Inc. since 1993. Hailing from South Central Ontario, this is their 7th migration.

Cast of characters:

Don and Paula Lounsbury - Cessna 182 pilots and project volunteers
Deke Clark - Operation Migration Inc. director and pilot
Joe Duff - Operation Migration co-founder, migration team leader and pilot
Robert Manwell -Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Public Affairs Manager, and Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership outreach team co-chair.

For the pilot's perspective see Operation Migration, Inc. website

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Last updated: May 7, 2009