Cranes make way to Illinois; injured bird is euthanized

CHASSAHOWITZKA -- Finally, progress. After standing down for five days because of bad weather, the whooping cranes making their way to Citrus County from Wisconsin flew 96 miles over the weekend, reaching northern Illinois on Sunday.

Since departing Oct. 13, the 16 cranes, following ultralight aircraft, have traveled 188 miles of the 1,250-mile migration to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The news was tempered by word that crane No. 10, which was injured on the first day of the migration during a collision with an ultralight, was euthanized Friday. Barry Hartup, who was quoted on the project's Web site, www.operationmigration.org., and is head veterinarian for the International Crane Foundation, said while the bird's wounds healed, it never regained mobility or appetite.

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