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17 Whooping Cranes Stop In Georgia On Migration South

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The Associated Press

Published: January 5, 2008

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A group of 17 endangered whooping cranes landed in north Georgia after a weeklong rest stop at a wildlife refuge in Tennessee.

The birds lifted off at dawn Friday from the Hiwassee refuge near Cleveland, Ga., following an ultralight aircraft on the next leg of their migration south.

The cranes had arrived at the Hiwassee refuge Dec. 29.

The rare birds are being led south by a dozen volunteers from Canada-based Operation Migration.

The cranes summer in Wisconsin and winter on Florida's Gulf Coast.

They landed on private property outside Calhoun, Ga., Friday after a two-hour flight.

The project, which is aimed at establishing a migratory flock, is recovering from an accident last winter when a Gulf storm killed all but one of 18 young cranes that had come south. The survivor died later. With several other deaths from various causes, the adult flock in the wild is at 52 cranes.

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