Ultra-Light Guides Whoopers South

A history-making flight of endangered whooping cranes could begin its trek over the Midwest soon. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach has the story:

Transcript

A historic flight of endangered whooping cranes could begin its trek over the Midwest soon. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach has the story.


A team of wildlife experts in central Wisconsin has been teaching some whooping crane chicks how to fly by using ultra-light aircraft. Now it’s time for at least eight of the birds to hopefully follow the planes to Florida. Pilot deke clark of the group operation migration says the pace of the flight will depend on the strength of the cranes each day.


“The birds will let you know. Pretty much the judgment will be made on how they stay with the aircraft and kind of formation they maintain.”


The cranes are expected to fly over Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida, but could veer over adjoining states.


Scientists hope the birds will become the first migrating flock of whooping cranes in the Eastern United States. For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Chuck Quirmbach reporting.