The annual effort to restore endangered whooping cranes to the Eastern United States is well under way. For the first time since the project began however, the rare young whoopers are being diverted around the Chattanooga area.
Every year since 2001 scientists in ultra-light aircraft have led young whoopers from Wisconsin to Florida on their historical migration route. That route came directly over the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers.
Coupled with the peak migration of sandhill cranes, it was a huge event for area birdwatchers... and even attracted many non-enthusiasts who wanted to witness the rare spectacle.
However this year the scientists in charge of the effort decided to lead the young birds across Middle Tennessee, intentionally avoiding the Tennessee Valley.
They said in spite of the path perhaps being the most historical migration route, they wanted to avoid crossing the Cumberland mountains. They said that weather and winds associated with the mountain crossing caused past difficulties and delays.
As of this weekend the 14 whooping crane chicks were in Marshall County, Kentucky.
There are now 68 migratory whooping cranes in the wild in eastern North America -- including the first whooping crane chick to hatch in the wild in Wisconsin in more than a century.
Some of those birds do still migrate on their own to the Hiwassee Refuge since that is the route they were originally taught.
For more information on the project, its partners and how you can help, visit http://www.bringbackthecranes.org.