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Meet
the New 2007 Whooping Crane Chicks! Hatch-year 2007 of the Eastern Flock |
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Crane
# 733 |
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| Date Hatched |
June 8, 2007 |
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| Gender |
Male (previously misidentifed as F) |
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Egg Source: USGS Patuxent WRC |
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Permanent Leg Bands Weight
09/05/07: |
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Personality and History
Migration Training: From the start #733 was a bully, and quickly became the dominant bird in cohort 3 despite being smaller and having a leg problem. He pecked anyone who got in his way until they moved! When he met the other 3 chicks in his group, #733 quickly declared himself the new sheriff. He didn't seek anyone out to pick on, but if he wanted to go somewhere or do something and another chick was in her way, look out! He ignored little #735, which is a good thing as 735 is the smallest of all.
He came to Wisconsin in Cohort 3, the group of 4 youngest chicks that arrived July 18. Despite #733's spells of crankiness, training with Cohort 3 went well. He is one of the two youngest birds and by July 31 was still developing his primary flight feathers. He ran behind the trike with his heavy wings held out, but still unable to fly. (He'll be able to fly when his primary flight feathers grow in.) Chick 733 had foot/leg problems (rotated hocks) that were slow to improve. The team hoped that would change. Even though he and her young pal #735 can't keep up with the others in their group, the two youngsters always try. And they always come up to the trike at the end of the training session.
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On
Aug. 22, #733 flew the length of the runway! Photo OM |
By mid-August, the team was still concerned over 733's rotated leg, but he was doing very well. Being able to fly relieved stress on the leg caused by running to keep up. By Aug. 22, #733 flew the length of the grass runway!
Chick 733 was not afraid to stand up to the two adults (pair 211 and 217) that visited the runway. He took courage from his bold pal #727. The adults showed aggressive displays, but chicks 733 and pal 727 were bold enough to fly at them with necks stretched out and beaks snapping. The adults got out of their way! (The pilots tried to get between the aggressors so the birds don't hurt one another.) By mid September his leg and foot were much better. He walked well and landed fine. He became one of the better followers, too, always right on the wing. He tried to keep up with the new combined group of nine chicks in all.
First Migration South: Chick #733 left Wisconsin for his first migration on October 13th, 2007. He flew the whole first leg of the journey and landed safely at Stopover #1! Find day-by-day news about the flock's migration and read more about #733 below.
Nov. 3, Day 22: Little #733 was doing his very best to stay in the lineup of 11 behind Brooke's plane. But pecking order put him at the back of the line, where he had to flap his wings harder to keep up. He got tired and dropped, so Brooke dropped down to keep #733 with him and help coax him onward. It worked for 10 to 15 minutes. Then the tired #733 dropped another 15 feet. Again Brooke dropped to stay with him and again he was encouraged to keep trying. Brooke said, "He hangs on with everything he's got." But the tired bird dropped again with just 8 miles left to the stopover. Chris moved in to give him an easier flight as the only bird with his ultralight, but his spirit and wings just couldn't kee up any longer and he went down for a landing. Charlie came to his rescue with a box and drove him the few miles left to the new stop. Three cheers for brave little #733 for a truly great effort!
Nov. 9, Day 28: 733 seemed to be afraid of something flying below the wing. Pilot Richard said, "He began to get tired as he tried to keep up. He would fly on the wing for a bit but then, screaming, he would duck under the wing and refuse to get back on top. After many attempts and many miles, we lost altitude and soon we were being bounced around in the rough air down lower." He dropped down to tree level but Richard kept going with the other tired birds. Soon Chris zoomed in to help. Eventually with Don and Paula’s help, Chris located and landed with #733 to keep him company while he waited for Brian to arrive to box him up and drive him to the Boone County, Indiana stopover. It was a long, tiring flight at 89.6 miles.
Nov. 10, Day 29: He did great, flying the whole distance of 55.2 miles.
Nov. 18, Day 37: The birds are grounded today. Young #733 is easy to spot because he still has the many rusty-colored feathers of a younger crane. He has caught up with the older cranes in flight endurance, and has been flying really well!
Nov. 23, Day 42: #733 couldnt' keep up and dropped out of today's flight from Morgan County, Indiana on the way to Kentucky. The tracking team was unable to find him, but the search continued. They will make every effort to find and rescue him.
Nov. 26, Day 45: The full-scale search continues for #733 on this no-fly day in Kentucky. The news made the radio, TV, and newspapers as people were asked to report any sightings.
Nov. 28: Day 47: #733 is found!!!
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Megan of Operation Migration
with #733 at the Cumberland
County, TN pen site in December,
2007 Photo Nathan Hurst, Operation Migration |
Dec. 29, Day 68: This was the day they flew over the Cumberland Ridge! Pilot Chris said, "#733 kept getting distracted by ponds, peeling off to descend and taking other birds with him." This caused Chris to drop lower in order to round up his group, giving up precious altitude that he had worked so hard to gain. But they made it over!
Jan. 28, 2008: The longest journey south in the flock's history is complete!
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Tracker
Eva
Szyszkoski took
this
photo of
#733
in DeKalb
County,
Alabama. |
Spring 2008, First Journey North: On April 1 the last five members (733, 713, 712, 706,