[TN-Bird] More Crane News

TN-Birders:

I just returned from the North American Crane Workshop in Wisconsin, and I
am passing along a couple of items that might be of interest.

Crane Hunting: The US Fish and Wildlife Service has declared that all 3
migratory populations of Sandhill Cranes are considered to be game species,
even if states have considered them to be non-game. Therefore, the
Mississippi Flyway Council (the group that would oversee the Hiwassee birds)
must develop a management plan for the Eastern population of cranes. Once
the plan, which will outline population status, seasons, bag limits, etc.,
is finished, then each state along the flyway will individually decide if
they want to establish a hunt. As a member of the Council who will be
working on the crane plan, I am going to urge them to recommend that no
hunting take place at Hiwassee, based on the area's importance for crane
viewing, as well as it being a place where many Whooping Cranes stop.

Operation Migration: The ultralights will be taking a different route this
year; one that avoids mountains and will therefore bypass east Tennessee.
They will travel through western TN, western AL, and when they reach
southern AL they will turn southeast towards the Florida panhandle. The
reason for the change is twofold. First, the mountain passes, especially in
KY, are very hazardous for the pilots. There is one section where if a pilot
ran into trouble, he would either have to land on a lake or land in the
trees on the mountainside. The second reason is that weather conditions
basically have to be perfect in order for them to fly over the mountains.
This often results in long delays on the ground while they wait for the
weather to cooperate. These delays result in financial hardships for the
organization, as well as keeping the crew away from their families. I know
many of you will be disappointed at not being able to see the birds come in
and talk with the wonderful people with Operation Migration, but I hope you
understand that this is what is best for the project.

David Aborn
Chattanooga, TN

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