>The International Crane Foundation has announced that the 18 birds from
>the 2006 class were all found dead after the severe storms pasted through
>Florida Thursday night. The severe thunder storms and probable tornados
>were extremely unusual in Florida, especially this time of year. Cause
>of death to be determined.
>
>This loss amounts to almost 1/4 of the eastern population of Whooping
>Crane. This is a huge set back to the reintroduction, however it also
>highlights the need for the reintroduction. It is not a great leap in
>imagination to envision a hurricane wiping out the entire Texas (western)
>population.
>
>Dan
>Columbus
_____________________

I am horrified to learn this news. My heart goes out to all of those people
who have worked incredibly hard to help the cranes comeback only have this happen . . .
I can only imagine the pain and sadness they are now enduring. And the CRANES!? Poor things!!! A dark day for those who care.

Just goes to illustrate how fragile it all is.

Terrible news. I'm a member of the International Crane Foundation and I visit their facility in Baraboo at least once a year.

My heart also goes out to the ninteen families who have lost a loved one and the thousands who are now homeless

Very sorry to hear this. My biggest sympathy to all who this concerns but also to those who lost their loved one in this devastating storm.

I'm afraid that this is only a beginning of what mankind will experience if the prognosis from the climatic experts is true, which I believe!
In my part of the world we have noticed a rapid increase of temperature the last few years, which lead to more heavy storms, more rain, glaciers melting down etc.

Yes it was a sad thing to hear that the cranes didn't make it.
(Loved the similar Jeff Daniel's film "Fly Away Home" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/ )

But then again we get hit with hurricanes here in Florida nearly every year (I've been hit by 4 in the last 3 years - Wilma, Jeanne, Francis, Charley). All nothing compared to the massive devistation of Andrew on Miami back in 1990.

You have to realize that this is a part of the world that is always - and always has been- in the cross-hairs of Mother Nature.

Understood Tim, I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast, and weathered out plenty of Major Storms.

The pity of the Crane deaths lies in the fact that their numbers were NOT orignially thinned by Mother Nature, but by man. So when Mother Nature takes it's inevitable toll, it's a harder hit.

It's the combination of Human Effect and Natural Effect that creates a perfect storm in climate change and species depletion. Like I said, it's a fragile thing.

Question: Why did this thread get closed:

Answer: Because it went political (those posts have since been withdrawn from public view). DV Info Net Rule Number One: Absolutely NO politics on this forum. Thanks,