Gerald Murphy Gerald Murphy joined the migration crew as a volunteer in 2004. This year he and John Cooper will swap off as top cover observer/spotters. In addition, Gerald drives the diesel truck pulling the big travel trailer where many of the migration crew live during migration. His interest in Whooping cranes goes back to elementary school when he read The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings. Before retirement, he was a public school teacher, a civilian education specialist, and a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He was named Operation Migration Volunteer of the Year in 2009. Journey North is pleased to feature this educational adventure made possible by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP). Search Journey North Copyright 1997-2012 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.