Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World
Created | Updated May 7, 2008
A quirky look at wildlife. To be taken with a pinch of
salt, but with more than a grain of truth!
Come Fly With Me...
What child hasn't wished at some time that they could fly - really
fly, not in an aeroplane, but free like a bird? I know I did, and
still do for that matter! With this in mind, and conscious of the
daily diet of bad news thrust upon us about climate change, loss of
species, etc. I thought we could use some uplifting and inspiring news
for a change.
So, come fly with me far across the Atlantic to Ontario, Canada, to
learn about someone who had such a dream, brought it to fruition and
has made a massive contribution to wildlife conservation. Along the
way he has inspired many people, almost saved a highly endangered
species from extinction, and proved to detractors that
re-introduction, done properly, can work. More about him later,
however.
A Whooping Crane is a 5ft tall white bird, with black wing tips and a
red flash on its head. Gangly on land it is graceful and fast on the
wing. It would normally migrate from Wisconsin to Florida in the
Autumn (Fall) and back again in the Spring, but no birds had migrated
for many years. The only migrating flock left flies to Texas, its
feeding grounds being close to a dangerous shipping waterway, making
them vulnerable to man-made disasters such as oil/chemical spills or
natural disasters such as hurricanes. Whooping Cranes need marshy
land, estuaries, saltwater bays, swamps etc. Some of those are
disappearing too. The species was perilously close to extinction.
However, help was at hand. A Canadian sculptor, who had inherited a
love of wildlife from his mother, wanted to be a pilot. His eyesight
was not up to it so he started flying ultralight aircraft. As a boy he had dreamt of flying with birds and on one flight a flock of ducks joined him and the idea of flying with birds for real was born!
From 1988 he worked and struggled to adapt an ultralight to his needs. He battled with the authorities to allow him to try flying with
captive bred Canada Geese and eventually Trumpeter Swans. You can
imagine the faces of Officials when the idea was put to them! With an
enthusiastic colleague, a naturalist, he raised and trained Geese,
eventually flying with them successfully. He was joined by another
naturalist, a superb photographer, and their first collaboration took
18 Geese 400 miles south from Ontario, Canada to Virginia, USA,
following two ultralights. Sixteen Geese returned to Ontario the
following Spring on their own. A further 36 juvenile Geese were
trained and flew 800 miles to South Carolina, with their ultralight
surrogate 'parents'. 34 returned safely. In 1994 the charity Operation Migration
was founded in Canada to continue the work.
Obtaining the permits and agreements to fly across State lines and
international borders caused much difficulty, but eventually Sandhill
Cranes were trained to fly from Ontario to Virginia, but Sandhill
Cranes were too familiar with people and too vulnerable. The returning
birds reached Ontario, but landed on golf courses, in school grounds
and other unsuitable places causing more than a little havoc!
More Sandhill Cranes were raised, with steps taken to avoid
'imprinting' - the locking on to the first thing they see as a
'parent' - in this case humans! The growing team of conservationists
devised voluminous white costumes covering the entire human body, with
a Crane puppet head for feeding purposes etc. A sight to behold,
believe me! No human speech was allowed in the birds' hearing, a
feat in itself. Brood calls were recorded plus the sound of the
ultralights and these 'parental' sounds were introduced to the
birds from the first time the birds 'pip' or break through their
egg!! As they grew they were trained to follow the ultralights on
land, initially, and later in the air.
A team of talented, enthusiastic people gradually assembled, inspired
by the project and its leader. Supportive Landowners were recruited to
provide stopovers along the route to give the team and the birds
some R&R. These stopovers were often prolonged because of bad
weather and many new and lasting friendships were made. Fundraising
was also afoot, with some urgency. Planes, ultralights, all manner of
trucks and other vehicles, boats, pens and supplies were assembled
and moved from stop to stop along the route. The logistics of such
an undertaking are mind-boggling.
A successful Sandhill migration in the year 2000 led, eventually after
much negotiation, to permission being granted for them to use very
precious captive-bred birds, Whooping Cranes. I came across Operation
Migration in 2000 and I was hooked. Following the Whooping Crane
migration in 2001 was a roller coaster ride of emotions for the flight
crews, ground crews, their families and their many fans and followers
on the Internet around the world.
Watching as tired and disruptive birds dropped out and were crated by
road to the next stop. Following bad weather patterns and seeing the
disruption to the migration. Feeling the strain on staff and
volunteers of eating, sleeping, breathing nothing but Whooping Cranes
from early Spring till almost Christmas is very moving. The team
travel either by air or road, from Wisconsin to Florida then return
to base, and home, to await the return of the Whooping Cranes. It is a
tense time. Come Spring, flying by instinct and memory, the birds make
it back to their home base in not much more than a week compared with
the two months it took with the ultralights. Year after year I have
watched with trepidation and admiration, my faith in human nature
restored and my spirits soaring with the birds.
Every year the journey leaves us emotional, exhausted, jubilant and
sometimes sad. And that is only the supporters and Sponsors! The
trials and tribulations experienced have to be seen to be believed.
Imagine the dedication and commitment needed from the whole team and
their families, to carry this through year after year, until another
Whooping Crane migrating flock can be established safely. Of course,
we mustn't forget the Whooping Cranes themselves, with their quirks
and different personalities, and their amazing ability to find their
way home even when they have travelled part of the route crated in a
vehicle. This is a scientific project and no birds are given names,
only numbers, but it is impossible not to get attached, especially to
the wayward few of independent spirit. Perhaps one day the Whooping
Crane can be taken off the Endangered list.
The Class of 2006 already has several chicks hatched and some 54 eggs
available so far!! These are sourced from various breeding centres.
Great care is taken to achieve a reasonable balance of male and
female and to ensure, as far as possible, that there is little
inbreeding. Some 'pupils' from previous years are now breeding too,
which is a good sign for the future. There is a huge amount of work to
be done before the Class of 2006 embarks on its migration south to
Florida in October. The excitement is mounting and I shall be here,
on the other side of the Atlantic, cheering them on again this year.
I would defy anyone to follow this migration and not shed a tear, or
have a lump in their throat.
In the first five years of the programme, approximately 60 birds have
been taught a migration route between Wisconsin and Florida. This is 4
times the number that existed in the early 1940's. Against massive
odds this team of miracle workers has proved that re-introduction can
work, if it is carried out scientifically with care and commitment.
The instigator of this mammoth undertaking has much to answer for! He
already had his place in history, as a sculptor, naturalist, and
winner of an award for contributing the most to aviation in Canada,
amongst other things. He is well known as the writer of books such as
Father Goose and Father Goose and His Goslings, and inspiration for
the film Fly Away Home . Hopefully he will be best remembered in the
future as the man who 'Flew with Birds' and in the process saved a
species.
His name? William (Bill) Lishman. His initial co-conspirators were
William Sladen, naturalist and Joe Duff, photographer. Since the
beginning many dedicated people have joined them in their quest, the
success of this project being very much a team effort.
The world? Moonlit water drops from the crane's
bill.
- Zen Master Dogen, 13th Century Japan.
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