December 2006

One of the two chicks which hatched in June has survived. With its parents, it started the flight into the wintering grounds in Florida in November, using the route which the parents had learnt a few years ago by following the Ultralight Airplane. On Dec 11, I got the following email which electrified all of us:

9 December: At 1608 today nos. 11-02, 17-02, and W1-06 landed at the Chassahowitzka NWR pensite, where they remained to roost.

10 December: At 0935 the family took flight from the refuge and headed southeast toward the winter territory of nos. 11-02 and 17-02 on ranchland in Pasco County. The family landed on their winter territory at 1102.

Photo by: Richard Urbanek, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

See savingcranes.org for further information.