Operation Migration Leads 2009 Whooping Cranes - Winnebago Co. Illinois IL

Migration Day #27 - November 11, 2009

Early morning email contained this information

Colder yet again this morning, just 31F. Clear starry skies and what little surface wind there is comes out of the east. Aloft, winds are abut 10mph out of the south east.

Will be be able to fly a migration leg today? We'll be putting up a test trike at sunrise to determine whether a flight is possible or not. That means everyone is moving to their respective possitions, including me - I'm off to the flyover location.

We enjoyed a flyover but later learned this:

Subject:8 MILES OUT THEN 8 MILES BACKLocation: Winnebago Co. IL
East winds on the surface and ~10mph headwind aloft, but we made a valiant attempt this morning. The birds formed up okay, but the pilots were clocking as little as 13mph ground speed at times. Brooke said the birds were flying beautifully for the most part, but with the slow going, and this being one of our longer legs, fuel could have become an issue. Discretion being the better part of valor, the pilots reluctantly turned back.

The birds are all back in the pen and camp is reestablishing here in Winnebago.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• operation migration
• whooping cranes
• 2009
• light aircraft
• winnebago county
• IL
• Illinois