h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Every since grade school I have followed the story of the whooping cranes. It became one of my personal symbols. I dreamed of them. Two years ago, I went in search of a whooping crane. I'd heard two whooping cranes come through Colorado's high valley wetlands. There are 100,000 birds migrating to the area each spring to feed. On my birthday I headed further west to see the two remaining cranes. I cannot get over the joy of seeing what ended up being the last chance to view one on that path. The next year, was one killed on the way up from Texas, its partner never showed. Not one has flown over Colorado since. The nearest flight for the cranes is now East of here,in Kansas. I have always heard when the crane meets its soon to be mate, they first duplicate each others dance. The next step is creating a "couples dance" of their own, afterwards bonding for life.

Fascinating about the Whooper. I've never seen one here in Ontario although, I know people who have. There is a man who lives not too far from here by the name of Lichman (please excuse the spelling) who's work with birds inspired the movie Fly Away Home. After his project dealing with teaching Canadian Geese to migrate -which the movie is based on- he delved into flying his ultralite with a flock of Sand Hill Cranes, trying to help them migrate in their natural flight south. I saw him flying from my property quite low over the water. What an incredible sight! Those cranes were massive! There is a pair of Great Blue Herrons living on the trail along the waterfront adjasent to my home and when I see them fly, I'm in awe. One year, this enormous bird flew into a large tree on our property, sat for a few seconds, and flew away. I called a friend who is a bird watcher, described the sight and she told me it was a Stork! And I was lucky to have seen it. Very rare in these parts of the woods. Another bird I saw in the marsh nearby was a Glossy Ibis. A native of Florioda. It must have been caught in a tailwind as Ontario is VERY FAR from Florida! Birders came from all over to see it once it was posted on the web. Not related to birds, but Peter saw a female Moose along the Lakeshore one morning recently, contacted ONE person and it made the National News. No Moose has ever been sighted this far south in Ontario and it remains a mystery as to how it even got here. Motorists were warned. Cheers K

How I have seen many sandhills,egrets,Blue herrons,eagles here. The big birds are amazing to see fly/land. I you saw a stork! I keep thinking I should get into the bird thingy just cause I seem to be very lucky in my timing/spotting! I saw a condor when in Cal. ,it flew over our moving car. Casted quite a shadow! I do love Moose. They are so goofy yet regal looking. Seen moms and calf here, several times. A large male once here in Co. Up in Yellowstone Park theres quite a large herd. I hope the Ibis found warmer weather!

Kasese --Saw that bird documentry and movie. There are more gliders/people doing that now. I love that kind of injenuity! What a great dream come true too!