On October 27, 2001 the first whooping crane family group of the fall in Texas

was sighted on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  Based on the general

location of where it was seen, and Canadian data on what pairs still had

chicks in August, the family could be the N.  Sundown Bay family group from

nest 34/01.  I'll try to confirm this on my next aerial census flight on

November 1.

At present, 12+1=13 whoopers are accounted for at Aransas.  We had good

migration conditions for cranes to arrive October 25-27, with the first

whoopers of the fall sighted October 25th.   I heard geese flying overhead

during that period and saw white-fronts this morning (Oct. 29th) at

Aransas.

The Pacific low currently in the central U.S. is NOT pushing into Oklahoma

or Texas.   The next front expected to reach the Texas coast is forecast to

arrive  on November 4.

Tom Stehn