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October 2002 Migration shot with ultra-light plane leading cranes

The 183 Whooping Cranes that breed in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada and winter in and around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf coast of Texas are the last wild flock in existence.

While their numbers are increasing it remains a risk to have most of the Whooping Crane population in one small area. The population could be wiped out by any human or environmental catastrophe.

Fifty-nine years ago just 15 Whooping Cranes were alive. If Whooping Cranes are to survive, additional populations are needed.

In 1999, the U.S. - Canadian Whooping Crane Recovery Team recommended that a new migratory flock of Whooping Cranes be established. The new flock will breed in the wetlands of central Wisconsin at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. The flock will be taught to migrate to their new winter home on the Gulf Coast of Florida at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. They will fly over seven states on their migratory journey.

The project began in spring 2000, with a trial migration, led by Operation Migration, a non-profit organization from Canada, using Sandhill Cranes that will be trained to follow an ultralight aircraft.

The migration flight went through 7 states and covered 1,250 miles. Thirteen birds left Wisconsin on October 3, 2000 and 11 birds arrived in Florida on November 11, 2000. One bird had joined a flock of wild Sandhill cranes and one bird died from an impact with a pen.

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Photo by George Archibald. This is an aerial shot of the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, a 43,656-acre area established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. In September 1999, it was chosen by the Whooping Crane Recovery Team for a test release using sandhill cranes. Site selection was based on habitat analysis, local community support, and protection potential.

Photo by Dr. George Archibald of an adult Sandhill Crane. Sandhills are the most numerous of cranes with more than 650,000 birds. There are six subspecies of Sandhill Cranes. The subspecies living in Wisconsin is the greater Sandhill Crane. For the current Whooping Crane reintroduction efforts, Sandhill Crane eggs were collected from wild Sandhill Crane nests in and around the Necedah Wildlife Refuge this May. Fourteen chicks were reared at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland and eight were reared at the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Necedah, Wisconsin. These separate groups will be united in June when their flight training will begin. Migration will be taught using an ultralight aircraft piloted by the Operation Migration.

Photo by Cliff Nieuwenhuis taken at the International Crane Foundation Whooping Crane Wetland Exhibit in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Whooping Cranes are the tallest North American bird standing at 5 feet tall with a 7 to 8 foot wingspan. Males average 16 pounds and females 14 pounds. The Whooping Crane's name was inspired by its loud, distinctive call, audible up to two miles away!

Photo by Joseph Duff of Operation Migration. Sandhill Cranes follow the training "trike". The ultralight aircraft is referred to as a "trike" because of the tricycle that hangs from the wing. The control method is referred to as "weight shift" similar to a hang glider. They are powered by a 50 horsepower, Rotax, 2-stroke engine. They are two seaters and aviation radios are used for communication while GPS is used for navigation. They are capable of flying from 28 MPH up to 55 MPH and have a range of three hours. Cranes average about 32 MPH. Here the chicks are following the trike and learning to trust it as if it were their mother.

Photo by David Thompson of isolation chick rearing technique. Isolation reared chicks will be released into the wild. Puppets, made to look like the head of an adult Whooping Crane, convince the chicks to eat, be alert, and vocalize. The human wearing the puppet must work in complete silence allowing no indication of being a human.

Photo by Carl Sams II. This costume rearing technique is used to prevent the chicks from becoming imprinted on humans. The cranes that are pictured are Sandhill Crane chicks.

Photo by Joseph Duff. The ultralight aircraft is a guide to these Sandhill Crane chicks. Migration is not an inherent trait for birds, it must be taught. At this time, ultralights are the best technique. The fall 2000 journey to Florida from Wisconsin will use three of these aircraft, one or two flying lead and one flying in the chase position.