Ultra-light-led Migration of Whooping Cranes on Hold in Alabama

January 6, 2012

Photo: Operation Migration.

Statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Tuesday, January 10:
“The FAA has granted an exemption to Operation Migration that will allow pilots to continue to aid the whooping crane migration. Normally, the FAA limits light sport aircraft and pilots to personal flights without compensation. Because the operation is in “mid-migration,” the FAA is granting a one-time exemption so the migration can be completed. The FAA will work with Operation Migration to develop a more comprehensive, long-term solution.”

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The 2011-2012 ultra-light led migration of whooping cranes in the eastern population is currently on hold in Alabama. 

The Service’s partner managing this portion of the effort, Operation Migration, is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resolve regulatory issues about the flight.  The group has applied for a waiver to exempt them from the FAA regulation that prohibits compensating pilots of this category of aircraft.  This waiver, if approved, would allow the flight to continue.

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One of World’s Rarest Birds Spotted in Western North Carolina

December 20, 2011

A whooping crane flies through the sky. Photo: Operation Migration.

Biologists recently confirmed the presence of a pair of whooping cranes outside Hayesville, North Carolina, marking the first time the birds have been documented wintering in Western North Carolina.

The Western North Carolina sighting of whooping cranes was reported through the BringBacktheCranes.org website on December 9, 2011 by Paul Hudson, of Hayesville, N.C. After the initial report, Jennifer Davis, of the International Crane Foundation, joined Hudson and confirmed his sighting upon finding the birds foraging in a soybean field.

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Salazar Lauds Proposed Early Restoration Projects Under Deepwater Horizon National Resource Damage Assessment

Eight projects – first set to come of $1 billion agreement with BP to fund early restoration - expected to help restore Gulf Coast’s environment and strengthen economy

December 14, 2011

USFWS walking the beach in summer 2010 during the oil spill. Photo: Tom MacKenzie, USFWS. Download.

NEW ORLEANS -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today commended the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees for proposing an initial set of restoration projects in the Gulf Coast region as part of the agreement with BP to fund $1 billion in early restoration projects. The first phase of projects – made available for public comment today – is comprised of eight projects in four Gulf Coast states that total more than $57 million and include initiatives to restore oyster beds, marshes, dunes and nearshore reefs.

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Learn more at the official DOI NRDAR site...

Critical Reach of Spring Creek Set to Get Water Boost if Drought Hits Hard Again

Wells Drilled to Help Save Endangered Species

December 7, 2011

Well water flowing into Spring Creek. Photo: Tom MacKenzie, USFWS.

The droughts of 2000 and 2007 took a heavy toll on the mussel fauna of Spring Creek, Miller County, in Southwest Georgia.  The persistent drought and water use have impacted large sections of Spring Creek, in Colquitt, about 50 miles southwest of Albany, decimating native mussel populations, including two endangered species.  A potential solution is to augment flows in a critical reach of Spring Creek with ground water pumped from nearby wells during extreme drought years.

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