Personality and Training:

Notes from the captive breeding "hatchery" at Patuxent WRC in Maryland:
Chick #830 was the last of the class to hatch. She was also the latest hatch in the history of the ultralight-led chicks for the new Eastern flock. Barb says that #830 and #829 (the two youngest in the Class of 2008) are little buddies. They walk together and get trained together. On July 14 Barb said, "#830 is our little munchkin in the group. Seems so tiny. She is a real cutie and the group's little "peeper." Every group has one, and in group three, she is it. She has become a little more independent lately, leaving the costumed technician to explore the large outdoor pen where the group is currently being socialized. We are happy that she has become a little less clingy. At the end of July Barb noted, "She is so good about staying away from any trouble that may be brewing with the other birds. She always knows where every bird is and where she needs to be. She's like a little navigator trying to stay in calm waters. When I look at her watching the other birds, I can see the little wheels turning in her head, planning her next move. It's quite comical to think of how she just squeaks through all the commotion that may occur."

Notes from "flight school in Wisconsin:
Arrived at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge July 29 in cohort 3, the youngest group in the Class of 2008. Pilot Brooke complimented her by saying, "Little 830 is every inch the princess. She literally glides from one end of the wet pen to the other without dipping so much as a toenail in the water." She weighed 4.3 kg at her pre-migration health check.

She is always a sleepy bird. She would rather sleep than train with her group. Some days Bev has to wade out into the wet pen to poke #830 and wake her up when the ultralight comes to get her group of chicks for training.

October 25, Day 9: On this no-fly day, #830 investigates Heather's puppet to see if it has any treats to offer.

November 21, Day 36: Crane #830 and 12 others flew with Brooke over the Twin Groves wind farm with no problems at 2,000 feet altitude. They flew 114 miles! Today's lead pilot Brooke summed it up: "I don’t know if it was my imagination or what, but I swear our birds looked as proud of themselves as we were of them. They had been in the air 2 hours and 20 minutes, withstood teen temperatures the whole flight, and performed beyond our greatest expectations."
Photo Joe Duff, Operation Migration

Nov. 26, Day 41: She wasn't very willing to fly today and tried to turn back to the pen upon takeoff. She and 812 and 819 were mavericks the whole distance to Cumberland County, IL. The three uncooperative birds kept the pilots busy, while the other 11 flew well with Richard.

 

Photo Operation Migration

November 27, Day 42: Much better! She flew all 108 miles without leaving Joe's wing!

December 29, Day 63: Guess who is in the lead? It's #830, the youngest bird — FIRST on Richard's wing!

Photo Richard van Heuvelen, Operation Migration

January 9, Day 74: After being grounded for 9 days in a row, #830 was one of the seven dropouts when they left Chilton County, Alabama. She was crated and driven for the second (Day 57) time during this migration.

January 17, Day 82: Migration to St. Marks NWR Complete (cranes (805, 812, 813, 826, 828, 829 and 830)!