Whooping Cranes St. Marks 2009

DSC00736

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Youngster awaits historic Whooping Crane flyover in St. Mark's, Florida on a frigid January 17, 2009.
About 2000 people celebrated the arrival of 7 young Whooping Cranes being led south from Necedah, Wisconsin by Operation Migration pilots. The 1113-mile journey to St. Mark's took 82 days. The goal is to reestablish an eastern migratory population of wild Whooping Cranes.
Details at www.operationmigration.org

IMG_0289

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Packed parking lot at dawn on St. Mark's, FL heliport. Whooping Crane flyover viewers crowded along river (left) and near Operation Migration trailers (top).
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00749

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

St. Mark's, FL Volunteer Fire Department and National Wildlife Refuge Association volunteers organize visitor parking on St. Mark's, FL heliport. License plates were from over 30 counties in Florida, 6 states, and Canada.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0271

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Chilled visitors crunch across frosty grass to their cars to warm up, awaiting arrival of Whooping Cranes. Dawn temperature settles near 26F - - good for birds' flight, but frigid for pilots and viewers.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0293

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Frost on the ground at St. Mark's, FL heliport/parking area. Dawn temperature is 26F as crowd awaits arrival of Whooping Cranes guided by Operation Migration pilots.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00744

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Excitement grows as sunrise warms crowd gathered near Operation Migration displays and trailers in town of St. Mark's. OM's Liz Condie announces "cranes are on the way" from their overnight stopover in Jefferson County, Florida.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0285

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Ultralight aircraft exhibited beside Operation Migration (OM) equipment trailer. Each autumn since 2001, young Whooping Cranes follow OM ultralights to learn the migration path from Wisconsin to winter habitat in Florida.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00740

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Costume worn by Whooping Crane handlers and pilots to disguise the human form. Behind (top-center), Scott Tidmus of Disney Animal Kingdom tells visitors about Disney's support for Operation Migration. Education is key at flyover events, where visitors can meet team members of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP.)
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0287

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Costume worn by Whooping Crane handlers to disguise the human form and avoid imprinting on humans. Young cranes interact with the "crane head" puppet, shown here. Visitor education is an important part of Operation Migration flyover events.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00762

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

"Craniacs" stock up on gear from Operation Migration and the St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge Association, to show support for Whooping Cranes and the dedicated people who help them. Hot coffee was an attraction on this cold morning.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00758

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

"Craniacs" of all ages scan the horizon along the St. Mark's River, squinting for a view of the approaching Whooping Cranes and Operation Migration ultralights.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00774

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

"The plane, the plane!" All eyes, binoculars, scopes and recorders focus just over the tree-line on the St. Mark's River tidal marsh, as the first Operation Migration ultralight aircraft (upper-center) flies through the haze.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0298

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

"The cranes, ooooooohh!" intones the crowd as 7 young Whooping Cranes follow Operation Migration pilot Richard Van Heuvelen into view over a Sabal palmetto along the St. Mark's River in north Florida.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00777

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

The first 7 young Whooping Cranes to fly over St. Mark's, Florida in over a century follow Operation Migration pilot Richard Van Heuvelen over admiring crowd. Early morning sunlight lit up the birds' secondary feathers as they flew west to their winter pen site on St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0300

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Seven young Whooping Cranes follow Operation Migration ultralight pilot Richard Van Heuvelen west toward their winter pen site on St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00805

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration team hosts a question-and-answer session in St. Mark's, Florida, after leading 7 young Whooping Cranes over the village. Brown-uniformed individuals at rear of crowd work at St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, winter home for the 7 Whooping Cranes.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00794

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration team ebullient after completing first ultralight-guided migration of 7 young Whooping Cranes to St. Mark's Natonal Wildlife Refuge, north Florida. L-R: pilots Joe Duff (CEO), Richard Van Heuvelen, Brooke Pennypacker; and support/communications crew Liz Condie (COO), Bev Paulan, and Heather Ray.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00801

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration team in question-and-answer session with visitors, after leading 7 young Whooping Cranes to St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, north Florida. L-R: pilot Joe Duff (CEO), Heather Ray (Development), top-cover pilot Don Lounsbury, Dale Richter (OM Board), and pilot Chris Gullikson.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0310

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration team celebrating with visitors, after leading 7 young Whooping Cranes to St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, north Florida. The crew and birds covered 1113 migration miles over 82 days. L-R: pilots Joe Duff (CEO), Richard Van Heuvelen, and Brooke Pennypacker; with Liz Condie (COO), and Heather Ray of support/communications crew.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0315

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration team members answer visitor questions during Whooping Crane arrival event in St. Mark's, north Florida. L-R: Heather Ray (Development), pilot Don Lounsbury (Cessna top-cover), Dale Richter (OM Board), and ultralight aircraft pilot Chris Gullikson.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0320

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Operation Migration ground-support vehicles at St. Mark's Whooping Crane event. The white personnel carrier and maroon tracking van travelled many times the 1113 migration-miles flown by the birds from Necedah, Wisconsin to St. Mark's, occasionally carrying young birds in crates when they could not complete a leg of the trip.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

DSC00840

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Yagi antenna specialized for wildlife tracking, atop Operation Migration tracking van. Migrating birds, such as the eastern migratory flock of endangered Whooping Cranes, are tracked using radio telemetry. Every leg of the 7 young Whooping Cranes' 1113-mile flight from Necedah, Wisconsin to the northern Gulf coast of Florida in 2008-09 was tracked by wildlife technicians using this well-worn antenna. Mast swivels to aid in pinpointing signals.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0319

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Joe Duff (at lectern), pilot and CEO of Operation Migration (OM) team, answers visitor questions at Whooping Crane event in village of St. Mark's. OM team graciously met and greeted the public for several hours after leading 7 young Whooping Cranes to their winter home in St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge, north Florida.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0324

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) team members during question-and-answer session with visitors in St. Mark's, Florida. L-R: Operation Migration's Heather Ray (Development), volunteer top-cover pilot Don Lounsbury, Dale Richter (OM Board, volunteer) with son Taylor Richter in bird-handler costume, and pilot Chris Gullikson; from Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland, Jane Chandler (Crane Flock Manager) and Brian Clauss (Crane Trainer/Tracker)
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.

IMG_0327

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:56:52 -0500

Joe Duff (right), Operation Migration co-founder, CEO, and ultralight pilot, answers questions for reporters in St. Mark's, north Florida. The OM team had just completed 1113 flight miles over 82 days, teaching 7 young Whooping Cranes the migratory pathway from Necedah, Wisconsin to St. Mark's on the northern Gulf coast of Florida. On trailer, team members Bev Paulan (upper left) and Brooke Pennypacker (left of lectern) answer visitor questions, while youngster Taylor Richter (in white crane handler costume) looks on.
Whooping Crane flyover, St. Mark's, Florida, January 17, 2009.