Whooping Crane Update (2)

Total Miles 1171.9

The following update was provided late Sunday by Liz Condie, spokesperson for Operation Migration:

"We are not thinking tomorrow is going to bring us flyable weather at either of the locations where we are holding the Class of 2010 young cranes. Very high winds are projected to blanket Jefferson County where the St. Marks Five are penned, as well as Gilchrist County where the Chass Five are also waiting for their next chance to fly."

This year`s journey for ten juvenile whooping cranes being introduced to their migration pattern will be completed as soon as the flight team deems the weather suitable for flying. Up to the minute information can be learned by visiting the website of Operation Migration at http://www.operationmigration.org.

As of today, the whoopers have been divided into two groups of five. One group is in Jefferson County waiting for clearance to fly to their wintering site in St. Mark`s National Wildlife Refuge. That will not occur before Monday, as hunting season still is underway.

The second group of five birds made it to their Gilchrist County stopover on Saturday. Now they will wait for good weather to make the final leg of their flight over the Dunellon Airport in preparation for their final leg to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge south of Crystal River.

Cedar Key News will post an update as soon as one is issued. Operation Migration invites interested people to attend their flyovers, as it is part of their educational mission to inform the public about the reintroduction of a whooping crane population in Florida.