|
 |
| Whooping Crane Flyover |
|
|
Affectionately referred to as The Class of 2008, 14 young Whooping Cranes took flight on October 17, 2008 faithfully following their parents, better known as Ultralight aircraft (or trikes), on their first migration south. As we watchers daily checked the In The Field notes on the www.operationmigration.org website, the pseudo-family worked their way from Wisconsin toward their goal of Florida. Unlike the previous seven years that Operation Migration has worked toward rebuilding a wild flock on the east coast, this year the Class is being split and taken to two different wintering grounds. In the Tallahassee area we are blessed to have been chosen as the new home. A dedicated group of volunteers and refuge staff have worked preparing a home in the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge for our half of the class.
As the eventful day approached, I was checking the website five and six times a day, sometimes more, hungry for information on their arrival. A flyover viewing was scheduled and being the only chance to see these beautiful birds in their inaugural trip I was determined to be there. Due to weather they were delayed repeatedly but finally made it to Jefferson County, Florida where they would be split into two groups. Five males and two females in each group, they were divided. Our group was scheduled to arrive on Friday, January 16th with the flyover tentatively scheduled for 8:00 a.m. The OM group (Operaton Migration) had recommended being in place no later than between 7:00 and 7:30 Friday morning. Far too anxious to sleep, I arrived at 6:15 a.m. only to find out the winds were keeping the birds grounded, as they have dealt with throughout their trip. Flyover was rescheduled for Saturday morning ~ again tentatively. Mother Nature controls all and will control again whether bird and plane can fly together.
Saturday morning came in with freezing temperatures but not enough to prevent the crowd that turned out for this historical event. Staking out my spot on the edge of the "watchers" I waited patiently. Word traveled that they were having some problems with the birds but they were on their way. Cheers erupted from the crowd and the watch began. Finally a lady standing next to me sighted the first Ultralight. . . then two . . . then the third. But where are the birds?????? As I scanned back and forth between them finally the birds came into view. "They are off the right wing of the low trike" I called out. "I see them" was heard throughout the crowd as we all watched in awe as our seven gracefully flew over our heads then arced back off into the refuge. It only lasted a matter of minutes but it is an event I will never forget.
My family and friends are probably happy that they have finally made it so maybe I will begin to talk about something else. But I'm afraid The Class of 2008 has cast a spell over me. I want to know more, I want to do more to help them. We, mankind, almost wiped them out in the 30s. At one point there were only 15 left. Through the efforts of many dedicated believers, there is now a wild flock numbering around 270 who migrate between Canada and Texas; and the "wild" flock being brought back in the east by the fabulous work of Operation Migration is numbering around 70. If you would like to learn more, or contribute to help OM continue their honorable work, please go to the Operation Migration website. Believe me, they are worth saving.
|
The photographs below give a small representation of the event. First you see the trikes barely coming into sight, then we follow them as they approach, fly overhead and then off into the beautiful blue sky welcoming them to the refuge.
|
|
