Cranes! A Flight Today (+64.4 Miles)
They're now in Russell
County, the last stop in Kentucky! Joe led today's takeoff with
all 17 birds. Oh, happy day! The birds charged out of the pen,
to fly despite 8 days on the ground, and none turned back. But
the flight was not without its challenges. The birds followed
well for a few miles, but started to break up as they climbed in
altitude. Soon all four pilots had birds on their wings. Their
ultralights were only a few hundred feet apart. "That split the
birds following us, and they
moved back and forth between us," explained Joe. The planes got
some distance between them and eventually 9 formed on Brooke’s
wing and 6 on Joe's. Joe
altitude because he had to continually chase #703, who wanted to
lead. (More>> ) As a result, Joe and his 6 birds stayed below
1000 feet, where a tailwind
progress. Richard and Brooke climbed higher and caught a tailwind.
Richard landed first with two birds, then Brooke with 9 and Joe
with 6. Oh, it's good to be moving again!
In the Classroom
North is pleased to feature this educational adventure presented in
cooperation with the Whooping
Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP).