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Checking online for fly over information
Whooping cranes in Lasalle County predict an early cold winter and took it upon themselves to head south.
Every year crank weatherman look for some strange sign for how warm or cold the Chicago winter will be. In the past some strange prognostications have been advocated to predict the harshness of the coming season. These include the thickness of the wholly caterpillars coat or the denseness of the husks protecting ears of corn. We have heard it all before here in Chicago.
Twenty cars and approximately forty bird enthusiasts hovered near the Sheridan, Illinois cemetery awaiting the possible fly over of twenty whooping cranes guided by ultra light aircraft on Friday. The crowd was tense and anxious in anticipation of the planned fly over scheduled for 7am. Operation Migration raises whooping crane chicks and then guides them south with ultra light aircraft. They post on their website viewpoints for the public to check out the cranes in flight. The gathering hoped to see twenty cranes in flight behind ultra light aircraft on their way to their winter home in Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.
Bird watchers wait in front of the Sheridan, Illinois cemetery for a possible crane fly over
It seemed like a perfect day for flight although it was a little chilly. Rumors were rampant among the hopeful crane watchers. Two viewers brought laptops and monitored the Operation Migration website and surfed for news. Time of the planned fly over came and went, but delays of this kind are normal. Every gravel truck or loud car with muffler problems caused binoculars to scan the horizon in hopes that the planes and cranes were on their way.
Hopes began to fade as news from the website began to detail problems of fog, high humidity, and chilly conditions which can make it difficult for the birds to breath high up and not ideal for flight. The hardy crew of bird watchers still hoped it would happen. News was posted about a possible test flight and then maybe a 10am launch. The fly over did not materialize on this morning. The website attributed fears of having to abort the flight and emergency land on the first day of deer hunting season, which made the decision not to fly an easy one.
This seemed a little odd because as the sun began to rise the day was turning out to be one of the most beautiful of the fall. If this day was not a good day to fly then when would it be? Obviously the staff at Operation Migration knows best and needs to err on the side of caution with these precious endangered species, but it was worrisome because there may not be that many optimal days left in Illinois to fly before really cold weather sets in.
After all the bird watchers went home an amazing thing occurred. The birds were let out of their pen for a little exercise, which is something their handlers do frequently on days when they do not fly. Usually they go on their little crane walk and return to their pens, but not on this day. 16 cranes decided they had had enough of waiting and were looking forward to warmer climes and who could blame them.
The cranes did a jailbreak and started to fly south on their own without aircraft escort. The ultra lights frantically tried to find them and eventually did and led them to their next stop along their migration route in Livingston County over sixty miles south. The websited stated in the nine years of this program the cranes have never headed south on their own like this
Bad news from Operation Migration via a blackberry flight cancelled or maybe not
One can only speculate why the cranes decided it was time to go. Perhaps they know something that the staff at Operation Migration does not know. All animals have a sixth sense ingrained in them that helps them survive. Just like any animal knows without being taught that it needs to avoid predators maybe these cranes knew that they need to avoid Chicago winters and the sooner they headed south the better.
Whatever the reason, I am joining the ranks of amateur crank weathermen and predicting a cold early winter this year. No, I did not inspect the density of the husks of corn, nor have I noticed the wholly caterpillar having a thick coat this year, and I have never studied a jet stream. However, there are 16 whooping cranes that given a chance high-tailed it out of town in a hurry, so break out the winter coats and the long underwear and the cross-country skis.
Operation Migration is a non-profit organization and could use your support. They have several options for donation on their website including one option of being a mile maker where you can pay for a mile, half-mile, or quarter-mile of this amazing migration.
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Comments
Things people gather to do, birds of a feather. It always amazes me that more people don't take time to enjoy the simple life.
What a fun article. Amazing how nature takes care of itself.
I finally checked the Operation Migration website to see the path of the cranes as they fly over Kentucky. Alas, they will make the trip over Kentucky in the far western part of the state; no where near me.
A night "owl" like myself could not even conceive of getting up as early as you must have to witness the possible fly-over of whooping cranes! That is pretty cool that they took off on their own, without escort. I hope the early cold winter projections don't reach as far as north Texas. Maybe some of the cranes will stop here on their way farther south!
So that must mean that 'up north' in Minnesota we'll be sunny and in the 60s most of the winter?
Oh wow, how nature works! I have really enjoyed following these stories, and have been looking forward to hearing if operation migration had been successful- it is magnificent and amazing that these creatures have entered their natural element and found their instincts. I only wish that I could have witnessed it.
Excellent coverage, wonderful story!
Those are no bird brains! They know when it's time to get the heck out of Dodge (or in this case, Chicago). Wish I could head south myself!
I wonder how they get the cranes to follow the ultra-light. Fascinating!Love the jail-break image, does that make them jail-birds?
Great article anyway, whether you got to see them or not. Sounds like fun was had by all. A good social event as well. Congrats on #100
Ha! 'forty bird enthusiasts hovered' that is a great phrase!
I think I saw a movie based on this bird escort operation!?
A wonderful article for your 100th, entertaining as always. It would really be a success story if the cranes started migrating on their own.
Wow, this article generated a lot of comments! Great story about the whooping cranes. Incredible that they tried to fly on their own...maybe they're more confident than ever now and the ultra lights will become a thing of the past. Thanks for opening the window to this amazing adventure!
Your predictions are at least as good as the farmers almanac. Long cold winter is a pretty safe prediction. For me, two weeks is long enough.
Your predictions are at least as good as the farmers almanac. Long cold winter is a pretty safe prediction. For me, two weeks is long enough.
Another of your yarns had me laughing aloud in middle of the night. Who said those bird brains were off topic? Actually the handlers have done a good job that the instincts are still so strong.
You point out some aspects of how members of mother nature sometimes exhibit smart behavior..or at least exhibition of some 7th, 8th, or nth sense that us humans can't fathom. Neat article...
Cheers...
I knew about the groundhog predicting spring but never about a crane predicting winter. Very interesting!
Interesting that the cranes tried to make a break for it. I wonder where they would end up if they kept going without an escort? Sounds like a fun new hobby, Ted!
I caught a phrase someone else did...that the bird watchers hovered. Very clever.
My bet is with the cranes. They know what they're doing, and are cranes, not chickens. Those ultra lite pilots were wimps. Enjoyed this very much. Thanks!
Ted, you should write your own Farmers Almanac...Congrats on #100
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