Whooping Crane Training at
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
August
6, 2002
by Colleen B. Robinson,
Park Ranger, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Seventeen whooping crane chicks continue their training on three sites at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge this week. Although windy weather has interfered on a few occasions with regular flight training, trainers are delighted with the progress the chicks are making.
 |
| Whooping
cranes are not the only endangered species flying at Necedah National
Wildlife Refuge. The Karner blue butterfly (on the right) inhabits
Necedah's oak savannas. Photo courtesy of Deanne Endrizzi |
The oldest four birds are flying in circuits behind the ultralight and are very focused. Up to ten feet off of the ground, these birds may already be visible from the refuge observation tower while they are training at dawn.
The next oldest group of four cranes are flying in smaller circuits, closer to the ground. They will soon be flying higher and ready to join their older classmates.
The youngest group of 6 cranes continue to work on their flight skills from the ground and will be airborne in a short time. They have overcome their adolescent quest for independence and are learning quickly the traits of wild whooping crane chicks.
All seventeen birds are water roosting. This is a very important skill for them to have, as it keeps them much safer overnight in the wild.
Like this year's seventeen chicks, the "Class of 2001" Whooping Cranes remain healthy. Most of these birds are spending more time apart from one another, but for two exceptions. Two of the birds, a male and a female, remain in close proximity to one another most of the time.
Staff from Operation Migration, Inc., USDA Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, and the International Crane Foundation are training the whooping cranes at Necedah. See Operation Migration's field reports for additional updates and photographs.
Reintroduction Project Updates
This Whooping Crane Migratory Reintroduction project involves many public and private partners, sponsors, and donors who give their time, money or resources in support. Check out how you can help reintroduce migratory whooping cranes to eastern North America.