While there, I had the pleasure of seeing our juvenile Whooping crane Class of 2009 training for migration behind their ultralight parents--Operation Migration's (OM) pilots and planes--and participating in Necedah's Cranefest, as well as, reuniting with Operation Migration crew members, volunteers and fellow Directors.Saturday morning (Sept 19th) was chilly and cloudy, but overall the weather was wonderful for both training and the Necedah Whooping crane festival that followed. Above you see Richard Van Heuvelen testing the wind and visibility prior to the morning training. And below, (left to right) Heather Ray of Operation Migration and several of OM's volunteers, Dale Richter, Director; Bob Rudd, Director; and Nan Rudd, a volunteer in many capacities, including the layout and design of OM's InFormation magazine.
And the moment we were all waiting for?--ultralight migration training and a wonderful look at the fledged juveniles who will soon be making their way south, learning the migration route they will use in future migrations.
Low light and thick overcast in the early morning didn't make for award winning images but the excitement of seeing juvenile Whooping cranes , who will soon add their numbers--21 in the class of 09--to the eastern population of migrating Whooping cranes, always brings both spine tingles and smiles of awe.
Against all odds, Whooping cranes have been returned to the eastern flyway and this year will mark the ninth ultralight-led migration, with an estimated departure date of October 10th. Having numbered only 15 in 1941, Whooping cranes have taught us many lessons about the fragile nature of species ecology and survival. That we continue to enjoy Whooping cranes in our world today offers a powerful symbol of hope and tenacity.Let's hope that we, their human guardians, continue to examine these lessons--both the historical ones and those currently unfolding--and in doing so, become wiser in our efforts to protect and preserve the richness of our natural world.
Next: Necedah NWR's meadow! (then back to my visit to Ijam's meadow in TN!)
That must be really fun to see. I remember quite sometime ago seeing a moving about that. The picture of the ultralight in the red sky is neat too!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a really neat experience!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, Vickie!
ReplyDeleteA question: How do they get the young whooping cranes to follow the ultralight the very first time?
Thanks for everyone's comments on this post and on other recent ones. I am behind in reading blogs and responding to comments, but I do want everyone to know I read and appreciate them!
ReplyDeleteHi Frebblebit!
Conditioning to follow the ultralights begins with imprinting when the Whooping cranes are newly hatched chicks. Imprinting is instinctive for precocial birds, those that follow their parents soon after hatching in order to survive. These young birds follow the first thing they see moving within hours of hatching.
The ultralight training actually begins with the chick imprinting on and following the puppet, designed to look like a Whooping crane's head and attached to/held by a caretaker in a white costume which disguises the human form. The brood call of the Whooping crane is also played from a speaker inside the costume.
Once the chicks learn to eat and drink by following and mimicking the puppet, the ultralight trike without the wing is introduced. The chicks are offered treats released by the puppet trigger mechanism and soon they are following a puppet held by the costumed pilot inside the ultralight trike while it moves on the ground (conditioned response reinforced by food).
Flight is a natural urge that occurs as a bird's flight feathers develop and wings become stronger. Because they have practiced by following on the ground, the chicks naturally follow the ultralight in the air, as well, as they fledge and become eager to fly.
Pretty amazing and fun to consider that a combination of human ingenuity and nature's natural instincts have helped us re-introduce and protect an endangered species!
Thanks for your question and glad to see you here!
This is so cool...I've seen shows about this, but seeing it in person must be really neat.
ReplyDelete