Federal governemnt allows Whooping Crane migration to continue

The federal government has decided to let the ultralight-led migration of nine whooping cranes continue on to the St. marks Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County.

For the past few weeks the birds have been held up in Alabama because of a federal rule that bans ultralight pilots from being paid.

The migration is done with the help of a group called Project Migration, which actually leads the birds using an ultra-light aircraft until the cranes learn to make the trip themselves.

The group is trying to re-establish migrating flocks of whooping cranes.

This year the birds and the plane started their migration on time, but only made it to Franklin County, Alabama before the federal government stepped in and stopped the flight.

The FAA 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.

Operation Migration said that as soon as the weather clears, they will be back flying.

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