Just a tiny bit of good news (environmental)

I missed Cheers and Jeers this morning, so I thought I would make this into a short diary.

   
Picture of newly hatched Whooping Crane from USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

On Tuesday, 19 December, after a 76 day, 1,234-mile trip journey, 17 Whooping Crane chicks (approximately 6 months old) arrived at the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve in Florida, with the guidance of three ultralight planes.  The chicks are trained to follow the ultralights, which are piloted by humans dressed in whooping crane costumes. The costumes are used to keep the chicks from imprinting (or becoming attached) to people.

The troupe left the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin on Oct. 5 with 18 birds. All 18 chicks successfully followed ultralight planes until Monday, when four broke ranks about two miles from the Gilchrist County stopover. Three of the birds were recovered, but chick 615 was nowhere to be found.

Missing Whooping Crane chick has been found.  

Liz Condie of Operation Migration today happily reported that chick 615, which she had dubbed their "juvenile delinquent," was found and has been safely returned to the flock at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve, a temporary landing site, two miles from the airport.

In 1941 there were 21 whoopers left on the left on earth and they were listed as Critically Endangered.  Now there are around 453 as of last year according to Operation Migration. You can check the IUCN Red List for a good listing of all endangered species.