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Pen goes up for arriving cranes
By ALEX LEARY CHASSAHOWITZKA -- Jim Kraus was joking when he said he was going to blindfold visitors before leading them into the heart of the massive wildlife refuge here. But as he dug an anchor into the black mud, near a sign that said "Government Property," Kraus turned serious. The location, he said Monday, is not to be disclosed. With seven endangered whooping cranes scheduled to arrive this week, the area is being guarded with extraordinary care as workers scrambled to prepare a 1.5-acre pen. Over the course of an hour, they used at least six cans of spray paint, covering metal posts in shades of black, green and tan. The camouflage keeps the birds at ease but mostly hides the pen from the view of fishermen or the daring birder. "The whole premise is that they don't have any contact with humans," said Kraus, manager of the 31,000-acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. "There is so much invested in the project," he added. "We want to make sure it goes smoothly." The cranes are participants in an ambitious experiment to establish a migratory flock in the eastern United States. Trained to follow ultralight aircraft since hatching in a laboratory, they are completing a 1,200 mile journey from Wisconsin. Scientists believe the cranes will spend the winter and then return north on their own. They crossed into Florida on Saturday, and on Monday flew nearly 21 miles from Hamilton to Suwannee County, not far from Live Oak. It took 38 minutes to go that far due to a steady head wind and heat. That could delay arrival in Citrus County to Friday, said Chuck Underwood, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman. Chassahowitzka was chosen over several other sites because of its remoteness and rich aquatic habitat. That much was evident Monday. Getting to the site requires a lengthy ride on an air boat. The mud is so thick in places it can swallow a man's leg. Trying to land an ultralight would be next to impossible so the pilot will simply circle as a person on the ground, covered in a white costume that prevents the cranes from "imprinting" on humans, coaxes the birds to land with a recorded crane call. From there, they will be led into the pen, which surrounds a shallow waterway researchers hope will become a roosting area. The pen is not covered, so the cranes could fly to areas they find more suitable. This may prove useful as more cranes are introduced to Chassahowitzka. Researchers plan to repeat the ultralight experiment several times, with the goal of having 125 birds by 2020. "Despite all of our planning, they will decide what is best," said Marianne Wellington, a biologist from the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin who will monitor the cranes daily from a stand about 250 feet from the pen. She will use a solar-powered video camera that is mounted on a pole overlooking the area and can rotate 360 degrees. Though free to roam, the cranes will be enticed to stay near the pen. Food and fresh water will be provided. "This is their safety net," Wellington said. More than a place to eat, the 8-foot-tall pen protects the birds from predators. Wire charged with electricity runs along the outside. Metal fencing is stuck in the ground to keep out rooting hogs. When at all possible, plastic ties were used to secure the fence. Cranes are attracted to shiny objects and could get sick, even die, from eating a screw, nut or bolt. Much of the dense black needle rush that defines the salt marsh has been burned away to give the cranes a clear view of their surroundings should, say, a bobcat approach. -- Staff writer Alex Leary can be reached at 564-3623 or leary@sptimes.com.
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