From
the moment that a whooper chick can see outside of its egg, it will be
handled only by a person wearing a crane costume to prevent the chick from
imprinting on humans. Carlyn is wearing a poncho-like body costume and a
hood which covers her face. The camouflage netting on the hood allows her
to see, but disguises her face from the chick. The puppet head she's
holding will be the "parent" to the chick. Once we're in these
costumes, we have trouble telling each other apart! (Photo by Carlyn
Williamson, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center) |