Whooping cranes make annual journey to Fla.

Nov 17, 2009 1 min read

ST. MARKS, Fla. (AP) – A group of whooping cranes is making its way from Wisconsin to Florida for the winter.

The flock of endangered birds is headed for St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in north Florida. The cranes are being guided by the nonprofit group Operation Migration, an organization that works to reintroduce the cranes to eastern North America.

Since 2001, researchers with the group have used ultralight aircraft to lead young cranes on a migratory route from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to Florida. From then on they migrate on their own.

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