Personality and History

Personality Characteristics: Most independent of this cohort. Strays farthest from trike during taxiing sessions. Small female but now dedicated to the aircraft and follows everywhere. Brian called her a super forager: "You could drop that bird in the middle of a city and she'd find something to eat!"

First Migration South: Flew all but about 18 miles with the ultralight planes. Little did they know that she would become a wandering female. Read her history to see what we mean!

History:

Photo Richard van Heuvelen, OM

Spring 2004: Began first migration north at 9:33 a.m. March 30, 2004 in a group of eight 2003 flock mates (301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 316, 318, 319). They were flushed from their roost by curious people intruding too close. The cranes took off into the darkness. That, plus a strong west wind, pushed them to the east side of Lake Michigan. On April 9 the group separated south of Celina, Ohio. The group of five (309, 301, 305, 318, and 319) was stymied by being on an unfamiliar side of Lake Michigan and they spent summer in Michigan.

Fall 2004: Began fall migration from Mason County, Michigan, on Nov. 7. with #305, 309 and 301. Perhaps spooked by seeing the death of their flock mate #305 on Nov. 13/14, crane #309 (with #301 and #318) moved northward the next day to Georgetown County, South Carolina. After several short northward flights, the three began moving south. They were found in Jones County, North Carolina on Nov. 20, where they spent the winter.

Spring 2005: Began migration from Jones County, NC March 30 with #301 and #318. But these 3 cranes again got lost. The three were confirmed in Ontario, Canada — east of Lake Huron. On May 8, #309 was alone on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Lake Ontario, just across the U.S. (New York) border. She was seen leaving the area on that morning after a one-night stop. She was next spotted in west central Vermont on June 9. The WCEP tracking team hoped to catch her if she stayed there, but she flew away on June 30th. The flooded fields where she'd been staying were drying up, so it's not surprising that she left. She was next reported on August 11-13, 2005 at a wet hayfield in Lewis County, New York. (Her wayward flock mates #301 and #318 were successfully captured June 30 in Michigan by WCEP trackers and flown by aircraft to the Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge and released.)

"She's an important bird to the program, and if we leave her where she is we eliminate any chance there is that this bird will mate," said OM pilot Joe Duff. "She's a good, wild bird, certainly independent. The only problem is she happens to be a little lost."

Fall 2005: She was reported again on October 27, 2005 near her last sighting in northeastern New York. And then—HOORAY!—reported Dec. 9 on a farm in Beaufort County, North Carolina. She was still there on December 12. Because #309 has had trouble migrating, she was captured on Dec. 16, 2005. See what migration team member Mark says about #309.

Dec. 16, 2005: #309 is coaxed, captured and moved to Florida by truck
	The wary #309 eventually got close enough to Sara and her corn so Sara could grab her and push her into a crate. They replaced her non-working radio transmitter, added a PTT, and then released her in Madison County, Florida among other whoopers and sandhills.
Richard van Heuvelen (OM) and Sara Zimorski (ICF) capturing #309. Photo Richard Urbanek, USFWS.

She was released in a cattle pasture in Madison County because yearling females #419 and #420 were there and might be a good influence. But the two yearlings threatened and chased #309. She then flew to an area with one whooping crane (#415) and more than a thousand wintering sandhill cranes. Here's hoping #309 finds and remains with other whooping cranes at least long enough to form a pair bond with a male.

See the map of 309's migration travels Fall 2003-Fall 2005.

On January 14, 2006, #309 went to the pen site at Chassahowitzka NWR. She joined the '05 chicks in the main pen on Jan. 21, 2006. Crane #309 is a very submissive bird. She appears thrilled to have some friends again, and never bothers the younger birds.

Spring 2006: Left the "Chass" pen with chick #520 on March 27. She has never found her way back to Wisconsin on spring migration, but she now wears a PTT for tracking. On March 29-30, she and year-old #520 were still together in Tennessee, right on track for Wisconsin. But then came trouble. See what happened, and how #309 got back from New York to Wisconsin:

Fall 2006: Departed undetected in the Nov. 19 mass migration of 28 whoopers. Until then, she was in farm fields and wetlands in Monroe County, near the flock's Wisconsin summer home. She was still with #520 as they migrated south. On Dec. 18 the two completed migration to the Chassahowitzka, FL pen site. HOORAY! This is a BIG DEAL because it was the first successful unassisted migration between Wisconsin and Florida for BOTH of them. Crane #309 went to North Carolina the past 2 autumn migrations, leading #520 astray with her. (See details at the Slide Show link above.)

In Florida, #309 and male #407 left "Chass" on Dec. 20 and moved around a bit, mainly to Pasco County and Hernando County. They sometimes were quite close to houses (and that means people). They landed briefly back at the Chass pen site on January 12, but then went back to Hernando County. They were often with #520 and sandhill cranes, and even with two DAR-06 chicks on Jan. 12.

Spring 2007: Began migration from Alachua County, FL on March 19 (with male #407). PTT readings indicated that the pair separated March 23 or 24 in Indiana. He went back to Wisconsin, but she didn't! She went to Michigan, New York, Ontario, back to New York, her favorite state. (Her record of NOT finding her way back to Wisconsin on spring migration seems to be holding!)

On October 3 she was safely captured (again!) and brought back to Wisconsin by Sara Zimorski (ICF) and Richard Urbanek (USFWS). After a brief health exam, #309 was released on the refuge near a group of juvenile whoopers. The next day she drove away #W601 to join male #403. (She must have been happy to be with other Whooping Cranes again!) The WCEP team hopes that #309 will migrate to Florida this fall AND that male #403 can convince her to return with him to Wisconsin in the spring — for the first time in her life! (Males are more reliable than females for returning to the area where they first learned to fly. For this flock, that's central Wisconsin.)

Oct. 3, 2007: #309 is coaxed, captured and moved to from New York to Wisconsin by plane
	Sara holds #309 as Dr. Richard Urbanek check 309 after bringing her back to Wisconsin. They put a hood over #309's head so she couldn't see the humans during the health check. It's easier for the people to work without wearing the hoods of their costumes. Photo WCEP

Spring 2008: Get ready! Wandering #309 and mate (#403) were tracked to their first overnight migration stop in Madison County, Florida, on February 28. They left the following day. They returned to Necedah NWR on March 27 and on March 30 were seen defending their territory against #213 and #218! HOORAY!! For the first time in her five springs #309 has completed migration to Wisconsin!!!! In more good news, #309 and #403 were observed April 9 sitting on a nest they made! This is #309's first time incubating eggs!

#403 and mate #309 defending their territory against #213 and #218 on March 30, 2008 Photo ICF Trackers	Aerial view of #309 nest on April 23 Photo Sara Zimorski, ICF	May 3 nest check: nly eggshells Photo Richard Urbanek, ICF

On May 3, #309 and her mate 403 were observed foraging together outside of their nesting marsh on the Necedah Refuge. "This was an indication that their nest had failed," said Dr. Richard Urbanek, "and on examination, only small eggshell fragments were found in the nest."

Last updated: 5/6/08