Comparing Migrations Led by Ultralight Planes 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Fall 2007 Target date for departure October 10, 2007 Actual date for departure October 13, 2007 Number of birds at takeoff 17 Number of birds surviving fall migration 17 Date migration ends January 28, 2008 Total days of fall migration 97 Number of actual flight days (progress made) 24 Number of no-fly days (grounded or turned back) 73 Longest flight (in distance) 138 miles Total miles flown 1262.1 miles Days on Wintering Grounds (first departures 3/25) 57 Number of birds before spring migration 17 NOTES from the day-by-day stories: Due to weather delays, this was the longest migration in the project's 7-year history. They were grounded by unflyable weather for as many as 10 days in a row (a NEW record, set in Cumberland County, Tennessee). For the first time ever, the migration ran from one calendar year into the next; the team took a break (in December) to go home to visit families. Crane #733 went missing on the Nov. 23 flight and wasn't found until 6 days later. The cranes and planes turned back on their Dec. 17 attempt to cross the highest mountain ridge of the migration course.