Cripp and Josephine

Here's a story about N.O. without me as the main character for a change:

Cripp and Josephine were our heroes from way back. They resided in the New Orleans Zoo, if not quite the equal of the Washington Zoo, then a good second. Elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, panthers, a wonderland for any child. But the whooping cranes were the piece de resistance (spelling???).

In the old days there were fantastic flights of whooping cranes, but in the 1960's they had dwindled down to one pair, Cripp and Josephine-- another priceless treasure of New Orleans.

But Cripp and Josephine were very prolific. Today their progency has increased to a modest flock. In 2000 "The wild whooping crane population at last count was 182." (quoted from Wildlife Sanctuaries & the Audubon Society: Places to Hide and Seek University of Texas Press.

Yesterday's local paper, the Ocala Star Banner, had this item: "A group of visitors on their way to Marion County from the north soon will give a new meaning to the term "snowbird." These birds come from Wiscosin, led by an ultralight (airplane). We're invited to go to the Dunellon Airport on the day they arrive. They will be led to the nearby wintering area, and the pilot will return to answer our questions about the flight.

It is so good to keep in touch with the greatx grandchildren of our old friends, Cripp and Josephine.