Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:11 PM CST
Whooping crane project migration takes flight
By DAVE SHILEY
You know fall has arrived in Illinois when migrating flocks of birds move through neighborhoods and small towns in central Illinois. A unique migration, which began on Oct. 17, involves a partnership of man and nature.
A team of scientists from Canada and the United States, using ultralight aircrafts, is leading 14 young whooping cranes from Wisconsin to their new wintering grounds at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in central Florida. These scientists have raised the whooping cranes on the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin. They have been extremely careful not to allow the cranes to see humans, so they have worn costumes to disguise their human form when working with the birds. As soon as the birds can fly, they are trained to follow an ultralight plane, thinking that it is just another crane.
So, why go to all this trouble? Whooping cranes are one of the world’s rarest birds. In fact, the whooping crane population in the United States had fallen to 21 birds in 1941. The problem, scientists are trying to solve, is related to the fact that the entire wild migratory flock of whooping cranes existed within one group, which nests in Canada and migrates to Texas each year. Scientists are concerned that a natural disaster or other factor could eliminate the whole flock, by being located in only one place.
Therefore, they are attempting to reestablish a flock in the eastern United States, where they once occurred naturally. This would help reduce the possibility of losing all the wild whooping cranes, should a disaster occur to the western flock. The eastern United States reintroduction project which began in 2001 has been quite successful, as the eastern population now totals 75 birds.
New this year, residents of east-central Illinois will have an opportunity to witness this unique migration first hand because the migration route has been moved westward. In past years, the migration path has only included the northern tip of Illinois. However, this year the migration route will go the length of our state, with planned stopovers located in Livingston, Piatt, and Cumberland counties in east-central Illinois.
If you would like to track this year’s migration check, visit operationmigration.org then go to the “In the Field” link.
The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program is recruiting applicants for the 2009 training. The program is a volunteer horticulture program for those who have no experience and want to learn about all forms of gardening to those who have some gardening experience and want to learn more. More important than gardening experience is a desire to learn new things, meet new people and a willingness to share your experiences and knowledge with others.
If you would like to know more about the program in Coles County you may check out the Web page at www.extension.uiuc.edu/coles or call the Extension office in Charleston at 345-7034. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 21 for the 14 week training which will begin on Jan. 14. If you reside in a neighboring county, call your local U of I Extension office for details about the program.
Dave Shiley is a University of Illinois Extension educator, natural resource management.
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