The Four Rivers Environmental Coalition program on whooping cranes scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday (tomorrow night, Oct. 10) at Severson Dells Nature Center has been postponed.

Operation Migration’s plans to be in the region this week with the young whooping cranes have been changed due to the weather. The flock has been grounded. The itinerary is at least a week behind and there could be further delays, considering the weather forecast for this week.
I’ll post info if/when the talk by OM co-founder Joe Duff is rescheduled by the Four Rivers Environmental Coalition. Here’s the latest from Liz Condie from the OM website:

The frustration level shot up a few levels this morning. Really windy again today but while strong, the surface winds were at least coming out of the right direction - the northwest.

While they had less than optimum conditions for flying, the team thought a flight might be doable. The ground crew headed out to the travel pen while all four ultralights and top cover lifted off at the airport. Once aloft however, the pilots found themselves faced with different conditions. Up top the still strong winds were out of the southwest. They were half way to Stopover #1 when Joe (Duff) called it off, and everyone stood down.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, looks like it could be the last weather window the team might have for a few days because the forecast for the area calls for SNOW!

In 2001, the very first year for the ultralight-led Whooping crane migration, departure was on October 17. Departure in subsequent years occurred on: 2002 – Oct 13; 2003 – Oct 16; 2004 – Oct 10; 2005 – Oct 14. So, although no consolation, at this point I guess we are still ‘ahead of the game’ despite being stuck on the ground at Stopover #1 for the fourth day running.

http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html