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The First Family
in the New Eastern Flock
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On September 11, 2006, the chicks were 81 days old. The largest chick fledged (clearing 100 meters without touching the ground) on September 5. This was 75 days after hatching—so right on schedule. The smaller chick will soon be flying too!

Once they have fledged, experts on the Tracking and Monitoring Team will attempt color banding and radio tagging the two wild-hatched chicks before the First Family begins its autumn migration. Even thought the chicks are wild and free, banding will be done for both biological and legal reasons.

Photo Chris Gullikson, Operation Migration