Whooping cranes grounded in Alabama by government red tape

Every year a flock of young whooping cranes flies to the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County to spend the winter, but this year the birds might not make it.

They make the trip 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.

It turns out that the pilots of the ultralights are being paid and federal rules say only pilots with commercial pilot licenses can fly for money.

Ultralights are considered sport aircraft – which are banned from being flown to benefit a business or charity.

The group has asked for a waiver, and the FAA is considering the request, but that process could take until the spring to finish and by then it will be too late to bring the birds to Wakulla County.

If the waiver doesn't come through, the birds may have to finish the last part of their migration by truck, or wait in Alabama until its time to fly back to Wisconsin.

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