Operation Migration Class of 2013

The other day we were traveling home from Berlin, WI on the back roads.  We noticed that Operation Migration was beginning to set up their base camp for the class of 2013.  I wrote a blog about last years cranes Operation Migration.  This year they have eight young ones that they are going to raise in the White River Marsh.  Last week I thought I saw a big white bird fly over our marsh.  I don't think it was a whooping crane, but it could have been from this report I got today.   Apparently two of the people out setting up the pens for the young ones went into our town for lunch.  When they returned they noticed two big white birds.  They stopped immediately and took photos.  It turned out that they were two of the birds who were raised there last year.  They had migrated back from Florida and found their way back to this area.  Here is the journal entry describing what the men saw.  If anyone wants to follow Operation Migration and like their facebook page, it is fascinating. 

http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/2013/07/08/whooping-cranes-4-12-5-12-stop-by/ 

I think this is an Egret, I don't see any black tips on the wings.

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress of the new Whooping Crane Class of 2013, and maybe the one year olds will show up at my house some time this summer.  Stay tuned.