Whoopers Happening

Whoopers Happening_57 One Last Time

2010-02-21T14:36:00Z

We began things on an up note, reporting the flyover of the Class of 2005 the first time at Dunnellon, and we end things in anticipation and with great hope for the future of the Class of 2009. Knowing changes are pending that may also make propagation possible this year at Necedah is part of this optimism, and we honestly will look for the best year ever this summer with a few new wild chicks becoming part of the Eastern Introduced Flock.

I talked with Papa Crane, Brooke Pennypacker (Yes, he also flies with the chicks on occasion as well.) about how the chicks are doing at St, Marks. Do you think the young Whoopers missed their flockmates when they were divided into the 2 groups of 10 just before the first half was led to St. Marks? Brooke answers that question.

I checked in with Vicki Muller, Wildlife Refuge Specialist at Aransas and spokesperson for Tom Stehn to find out how the birds are doing there this winter.

Dr. Ron Outen is the Regional Director of The Aransas Project, and their pending lawsuit blames the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the deaths of 23 Whooping cranes last winter at Aransas. He will explain how what they do resulted in the loss of these birds and could affect a number again this winter at the refuge.

In the weeks to come, Whoopers Happening will offer highlights of interviews and chats from past podcasts with those who have helped make this work successful. If you've been listening since January 2006, it won't be anything you haven't heard before, but perhaps you will enjoy listening again.

Thank you to all our listeners, and your comments are welcome as always... just drop a note to whoopershappening@earthlink.net .

photo: Wild Whooping crane family at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on Texas' east coast taken by Donald Auderer.

Whoopers Happening_Remembering the Class of 2006

2010-02-01T04:36:00Z

This year, the largest flock ever of 20 young Whooping cranes was led to Florida by Operation Migration. Joe admits his hair is a bit grayer and it was the longest migration (by a day I think) so far; but just 3 years ago, 18 birds had arrived at Chassahowitzka. Their fate was quite different, as nature brought the 2nd worst storms to Central Florida in recorded history, killing 20 people in Lake County that same morning. Many homes were damaged by tornadoes, but it was the heavy rains and storm swells that took the Class of 2006 at their Chass pen site.

Beverly Paulan shares her thoughts about the birds recorded just days before this all happened. Joe Duff talks about the loss of these birds and one family who mourned their loss turned their sorrow into a sizable contribution to help the next generation of young Whoopers. Also, a short highlight with many of those who worked with those chicks that were lost early that morning, February 2nd, 2007. For a list of who said what with their comment, click here.

Whoopers Happening will have 'highlights' and some of the interviews done with those who created Whooping crane history and made the Eastern Introduced Flock possible in the months ahead.

photo: Richard Van Heuvelen leads most of the Class of 2006 as they fly over the Dunnellon Airport on December 19, 2006. Mark Chenoweth photo

A few photos of the Class of 2006, taken by USGS biologist Robert Doyle, can be seen here.

Whoopers Happening_56 All Flown Home!

2010-01-20T15:24:00Z

The second half of the Class of 2009 have now been safely lead to their winter home at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River, FL. They completed the last, shorter leg of this trip this morning, and now the endless details of packing, storing trikes, materials and getting things together to head back north, where in June this will all begin again at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin!

They say practice makes perfect, and since Joe declares that they are the experts on leading bird migration (with little competition, save possibly one 'retired' guy named Kent Clegg out west!) they have this all down to both a science and procedure.

Now, it's up to those who make such decisions to do what they can to encourage and support propagation and successful fledging of chicks this year at Necedah. That means, if the other members of the WCEP team could become as good at what they do as Operation Migration has in leading the birds south each year, we should have many chicks out there and this flock will become self-sustaining! There has to be an answer, and with so much experience and expertise about these cranes and birding on the WCEP team, there must be a solution... but it really needs to happen this year!

So, to the other organizations who comprise the WCEP team... let's get it together and make 2010 THE year that perhaps 5 or 6 new chicks fledge and make it to migration this fall! This is the goal and has been all along... self-sustainability. They know what the issues are, and surely there are solutions that they can turn to. Black flies, climate, food supply... whatever the problems may have been, let's make this year the year it all turns around and proves this huge effort has been truly worthwhile!

Photos: Richard van Heuvelen leads the 2nd half of the Class of 2009 Whooping crane chicks over Dunnelon Airport above a waiting crowd January 19th 2010. The birds are now safely in their winter pen site and will return to Wisconsin on their own this spring.

Whoopers Happening_55 Hello Whoopers, Farewell Mama Crane!

2010-01-18T20:39:00Z

This podcast comes almost on the eve of the Dunnellon flyover, so depending on the weather, the other half of the Class of 2009 is about to be introduced to their wintering site at Chassahowitzka NWR. By the time you hear this, they may be there. Again, many hours and individual efforts went into this migration for these 20 birds, and this brings the total Whooping crane count in the Eastern Introduced Flock to near 100 (with the 9 DAR chicks).

Beverly Paulan who has left Operation Migration talks about her experiences, and since she gave us so many moments here, I would like to present just a few of those. We wish Beverly all the best!

Check back very soon... the Dunnellon Flyover is perhaps only hours away, and we plan to be there!

Beverly Paulan with ultralight pilot and 'Dad Crane', Brooke Pennypacker. Taken January, 2007. Mark Chenoweth photo

Commitment...

2010-01-17T19:15:00Z

It's going on 5 years now that I have done Whoopers Happening; hopefully it has made a small contribution by bringing the voices and thoughts of a few special people to you these past 4 years. Not every podcast has been notable, perhaps only a few even memorable. In the next few months I will offer excerpts from a few of the episodes of Whoopers Happening, with the people who made things work and kept this project close to all of us. These are not people you find in just any vocation, but fortunately their dedication and hard work has helped bring the Whooping cranes to a much more comfortable population in North America, and extinction further from the reality it was not many years ago.

There are many species deserving of conservation... some even closer to complete loss than our Whooping cranes. All any of us want to do is help in some way... even a small way, to bring a reality check to others and motivate and educate, bringing awareness to what can be done to save these creatures.

In the weeks ahead, I hope you will enjoy some reminders of past individuals and what they have done to make this work successful... giving us nearly 100 birds in the Eastern Introduced Flock. If you have a comment or question about anything, do send an e-mail to whoopershappening@earthlink.net .

Thanks for listening!

Mark