An experimental flock of sandhill crane chicks is scheduled to arrive by private aircraft on Friday, June 30, to begin their pre-migration training at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Their arrival heralds the on-the-ground phase of an intergovernmental and private partnership attempting to establish a migratory flock of endangered whooping cranes in the eastern United States.
This is a rare opportunity for media to observe and photograph the chicks at a relatively close distance, as the chicks undergo a health check prior to settling in to their special training facilities at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. To ensure the birds remain wild and do not bond to people in any way, exposure to human voices and figures must be severely limited. Strict silence by all observers will be required during the health examinations.
The 14 sandhill chicks have been reared at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland, since hatching in May from wild eggs collected and brought from Wisconsin. Exposed to aircraft noise since hatching and raised in extreme isolation from humans, the chicks specialized training will continue at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge throughout the summer. If successful, the birds will follow ultralight aircraft to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in north central Florida this fall, and migrate back to Wisconsin on their own next spring. Plans call for the same procedure to be used with whooping crane chicks in the fall of 2001, and continue for the next ten years.
The recovery plan for the endangered whooping crane requires that a second flock of migratory birds be established in the eastern states. Currently, there is only one remaining flock of wild migratory birds that migrate between Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas and Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta Canada.
Members of the media interested in covering this unique opportunity to film the chicks arrival and health check are encouraged to call Necedah National Wildlife Refuge at 608-565-2551. Though attempts will be made to accommodate all requests, space and noise restrictions to protect the birds necessitate advance notice of interest in observing the procedure. Starting Thursday, June 29th, media are advised to call 612-713-5311 to confirm arrival date and locations. Flight is dependent on weather and aircraft availability. On June 30th, check the following websites for further information on the whooping crane reintroduction project: http://www.fws.gov
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 30
1. For Interviews and Photo Opportunities of Flight Training Area:
Meet at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 30. Media will be escorted caravan- to the restricted training area where interviews can be conducted with project veterinarians, wildlife biologists and bird handlers. A briefing of medical procedures, and tour of the rearing pens and flight training areas will also be available at this time.
2. Arrival of Chicks at Necedah Airport:
Following the interviews and training area visit, the caravan will proceed to the Necedah Airport to film the arrival and off-loading of the chicks. Chicks will be in individual boxes to protect them during the flight. A limited number of interviews will be possible at this location.
3. Observation of Actual Chick Health Checks
Small groups of media will be escorted to and from the health check station from a nearby waiting area. At the site, media will be able to observe a pair of birds receiving physical examinations, blood sampling and weight taking. Each bird will be hooded during the examination, which will be done as quickly as possible and with minimal disturbance to the bird. The exam should take approximately 15 minutes. Media will then be escorted back to the waiting area, at which time departure from the area is possible.
* Absolute silence is required during health checks *
It is absolutely imperative that silence be maintained by all observers while veterinarians are conducting the health checks. Strict isolation from anything human is necessary to preserve the animals wildness and enhance their chances of survival in the wild. Anyone who is unable to comply with this restriction will not be allowed into the health check area.
The Whooping Crane Reintroduction Project is a partnership effort between the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Operation Migration Inc, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
