More than 700 people gathered at the Dunnellon Airport in Florida Tuesday to see the class of 2009 Whooping Cranes led by Operation Migration fly over.

This is the last stopover before the Whooping Cranes arrive at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Hopefully if weather permits, the cranes will arrive there in the next day or so. It is here the cranes will spend the winter before migrating back north on their own next year.

When finished, the Whooping Cranes will have flown a total of 1,285 miles all the way from Necedah, Wisconsin. Their journey began last year on October, 16th! Let’s not forget that the Operation Migration team has been a part of each and every mile. Incredible!

Right before the 2 minute point in the video, you can start to hear the engine of the ultralight aircraft. Then the Whooping Cranes appear! Kind of gets me a little choked up. Seeing the cranes and how many people turned out to watch them is really moving!

Operation Migration has been has been reintroducing endangered Whooping Cranes into North America since 2001. The birds are raised by costumed handlers with puppets and taught to follow an ultralight aircraft on their first migration from Wisconsin to Florida. Click here to learn more about Operation Migration right here on Burdr.