Whooping Crane Update: December 9

After several long delays on the way, the Operation Migration flock of Whooping Cranes is about 200 miles from its over-wintering grounds in Florida's Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The Whooping Cranes were hatched in captivity and trained to follow disguised human pilots in ultra-light aircraft.

On December 9 the ultra-light pilots guiding the flock of eighteen Whooping Crane chicks to Florida pushed the young birds past one potential over night stopping place in Marion County, GA to spend the night in Terrell County GA. That 99 mile leg of the migration route puts the flock four stops from its refuge near Crystal River. (See map for the complete migration route.)

The organizers of Operation Migration plan a "fly over" with the flock as it approaches its destination. If weather conditions are good the "fly over" may occur about the time the print edition of Cedar Key News reaches readers on December 14. Please check Cedar Key News/Online for the latest report of the "fly over" schedule.

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