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Timing
- The
first cranes could leave as early as the beginning of
April. The migration is usually complete by mid to late
May, 2 to 6 weeks later.
Tracking
Method
- Departure
from wintering
grounds:
The
cranes depart in small family groups.
Biologist Tom Stehn flies
over the refuge 1-2 times a month and takes
crane counts. Students can maintain a Departure
Log.
- Along
migration route:
About two dozen anecdotal reports come from visual sightings
along the migration route. Ranger Martha Tacha of Nebraska
facilitates the counts.
- Arrival
on nesting grounds:
As the cranes travel through Canada and complete their
migration to the nesting grounds, Brian Johns, biologist
with the Canadian Wildlife Service sends the news.
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Timing
- The
older cranes leave first, and they could leave as early
as the end of March. The migration is usually complete
by mid to late April.
Tracking
Method
For
traditional classroom mapping, the eastern flock is the
focus. The flock's youngest
cranes are monitored the most closely.
- Departure
from wintering
grounds:
People in
Florida monitor
the year's youngest cranes. Students
can maintain a Departure
and Arrival Log.
- Along
migration route:
The cranes are tracked by a combination of visual
sightings and signals from radio and satellite telemetry.
Trackers make every effort to track them from the moment
they leave the wintering grounds until all have been
accounted for on the nesting grounds. Their
reports and technology give us a source of data points
to map.
- Arrival
on nesting grounds:People
eagerly await the cranes' arrival in Wisconsin. We expect
frequent news as the cranes complete migration. Students
can maintain an
Arrival Log for all of the cranes.
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