Journey North Whooping Crane Migration

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Dividing the Flock

Factors: Class of 2008 Two Groups

Females: 813, 818, 824, 830

Incomplete Route Knowledge: Four birds missed 55 miles of flying the route on DATE. They were 819, 828, 829, and 830. On the same day, 803 grew tired after such a long start and dropped out 20 miles short of the new destination. Seven birds dropped out once again on the January 9 flight: 803, 804, 805, 824, 828, 829, and 830.

Siblings:
Cranes with no siblings in the Class of 2008: 804, 805, 812, 814, 818, 826

Male 803 and female 824 are siblings.

M 813, M 827 and F 828 are siblings.

M 819, M 829 and F 830 are siblings.

St. Marks group: 829, 812, 826, 805, 830, 813, 828

Chass group: 824, 819, 804, 803, 818, 814, 827

The group that winters at Chass will need to fly a greater distance in the spring than the group from St. Marks. The team believes the Chass group should include a greater number of birds that completed the entire southern migration.