The Whooping Cranes are on their way back to Florida

With the cold chill in the air all over the United States even here in Florida we are hearing word about the Whooping Cranes heading back home to Florida for the winter.

With a great organization like "Operation Migration”, this organization has played a leading role in the reintroduction of endangered Whooping cranes into eastern North America since 2001. In the 1940s the species was reduced to just 15 birds.

Whooping Cranes are the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound and call. Along with the Sandhill Crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America.

Adult whooping cranes are white with a red crown and a long, dark, pointed bill. Immature whooping cranes are pale brown. While in flight, their long necks are kept straight and their long dark legs trail behind. Adult whooping cranes' black wing tips are visible during flight.

The species stands nearly 5 feet with a wingspan of 2.3 meters 7.5 feet. Males weigh on average 17 lb, while females weigh about 14 lb.

The whooping crane is still one of the rarest birds in North America. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that 266 whooping cranes made the migration to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in 2007.

To follow more about the Whooping Crane check out Operation Migration

For live web cam feed check out Operation Migration Crane Cam

Oil Companies pull workers as Ida approaches

Oil companies evacuate workers as Ida approaches

By Thomas Johnson

Oil companies are evacuating workers from operations in the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Storm Ida approaches.

Chevron Corp. said Monday it has removed enough employees to affect oil production in the Gulf. The company said in a news release that it is closely watching its Pascagoula refinery, located on the Mississippi coast between Mobile, Ala. and New Orleans, and taking "all necessary steps" to secure it ahead of the storm.

Ida was moving north-northwest about 185 miles off of the Mississippi River early Monday with winds reaching 70 mph. It was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane earlier in the day.

The storm trajectory would put it east of New Orleans and the majority of oil and gas facilities in the Gulf, but that can change quickly. Oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico account for about 25 percent of U.S. crude production and 15 percent of natural gas production.

Oil and gas producers pull workers off of platforms and from other facilities as a matter of policy if a serious storm threatens. How that affects production, and energy prices, depends on the severity of the storm.

Source

Hurricane Ida aiming for Florida

Hurricane Ida with eyes set on Florida

Hurrican Ida is setting the stage to hit the western beaches of Florida within the next 24 to 48 hours. Some predictions are that the storm will weaken before it hits landfall. The projected area that Ida will come ashore is located in the panhandle area of Florida

Govenor Crist has declared a State of Emergency for the State of Florida. "Governor Charlie Crist issued Executive Order Number 09-243 to declare a state of emergency due to the threat that Hurricane Ida poses to the state of Florida".

Hurricanes are strange and can do weird things. So it is just a matter of time to see what Ida is going to do, and how much damage it will inflick.

These late blooming storms can be some of the worst. This hurricane season has been quit for Florida , but this season looks to be extended. We all will be watching the next few days to see what happens with Ida.