News, Whooping cranes spending Christmas in Crossville. (Pleasant Hill: home, living)

[John1960]

CUMBERLAND COUNTY -- A group of endangered whooping cranes are grounded in Crossville through Christmas after what was intended to be a short stopover stay on the way from Wisconsin to Florida became a much longer stay because of imperfect flying conditions.

The 17 birds are part of an effort called Operation Migration founded by Bill Lishman and Joe Duff back in 1994 as a way to increase the population of whooping cranes by assisting them with the migratory patterns necessary for their survival.

http://www.herald-citizen.com/index....D6241160D5B578

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by John1960

CUMBERLAND COUNTY -- A group of endangered whooping cranes are grounded in Crossville through Christmas after what was intended to be a short stopover stay on the way from Wisconsin to Florida became a much longer stay because of imperfect flying conditions.

The 17 birds are part of an effort called Operation Migration founded by Bill Lishman and Joe Duff back in 1994 as a way to increase the population of whooping cranes by assisting them with the migratory patterns necessary for their survival.

http://www.herald-citizen.com/index....D6241160D5B578

I would love to read their resumes or listen to the paid people explain to someone else what they do for a living.

"The Operation Migration birds are reared in isolation, and the staff and volunteers who work with them do so in white costumes with bird-like hand puppets to interact with the birds."

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by John1960

CUMBERLAND COUNTY -- A group of endangered whooping cranes are grounded in Crossville through Christmas after what was intended to be a short stopover stay on the way from Wisconsin to Florida became a much longer stay because of imperfect flying conditions.

The 17 birds are part of an effort called Operation Migration founded by Bill Lishman and Joe Duff back in 1994 as a way to increase the population of whooping cranes by assisting them with the migratory patterns necessary for their survival.

http://www.herald-citizen.com/index....D6241160D5B578

Wow! That is amazing! The whooping cranes actually follow ultralight pilots and a Cessna aircraft when migrating.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by jguillot

Wow! That is amazing! The whooping cranes actually follow ultralight pilots and a Cessna aircraft when migrating.

There was a movie about it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

There was a movie about it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/

I've never seen that movie. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for pointing it out.

Merry Christmas!

[gemkeeper]

The story Fly Away Home is a true (although altered, as always, in the movie version) account of Bill Lishman and his 14 year old daughter trying to help some stranded geeseorphaned on their Canadian farm to learn the migration pattern South in time to escape the harsh winter ahead.

It is really a very moving story and the movie was an excellent family movie - just right for the holiday season!

[Tinman313]

Fly Away Home is a great movie!! If any one in the Crossville area has a chance they need too take some photo's for posting...... What a neat Christmas Gift.......

[Lucky Eddy]

I didn't realize it was time for this already. Last year we went to the airport at Dunnellon, FL to watch the cranes fly overhead. (Not much excitement around here, lol.) A local group has a pancake breakfast and everyone then stands around watching the skys to spot the first ultralight. The ultralights led the cranes over the runways and then land them in an isolated area not too far away. But a few weeks later most of the cranes in the group drowned in a freak accident. Don't remember exactly how it went, but they were in caged pens at night for either protection or so they wouldn't wander off, and a bad storm came through, the pens ended up in the water and the cranes couldn't get out. It was so sad that after such a long journey it ended badly.

Anywho, go to this site to see the entries in the journal that is kept for the flight. Also has some neat pictures. They have been on the road, or in the air, for about 70 days now.

http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by gemthornton

The story Fly Away Home is a true (although altered, as always, in the movie version) account of Bill Lishman and his 14 year old daughter trying to help some stranded geeseorphaned on their Canadian farm to learn the migration pattern South in time to escape the harsh winter ahead.

It is really a very moving story and the movie was an excellent family movie - just right for the holiday season!

This is a great movie. In fact, my daughter came home from shopping the other night and she had bought it. We will most likely watch this tomorrow night.

[creeksitter]

I was visiting my mom in Pleasant Hill (west of crossville) today and asked what is that noise? She said it was Sandhill Cranes. Quite a distinctive call. They circled around directly overhead for a few minutes, then headed off to the north. I'm confused, I thought Sandhill cranes would be going south this time of year.