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A bird seeing a human face or hearing a human voice while under the staff's care could 'imprint' on humans, losing its natural fear and dramatically decreasing its odds of surviving in the wild. So when teaching the cranes to follow the ultralights, when they are around 5-7 days old, aviculturalists disguise themselves in a white smock and hood with goggles while wearing a hand puppet that looks like the head and neck of an adult crane and introduces each chick to an ultralight aircraft. The aviculturalists also bring a recorder with recorded crane brood calls to reassure the youngster. Only people wearing these costumes are allowed to get near the birds, even while flying with the flock.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Thomas W. Haas We All Fly at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Thomas W. Haas We All Fly
Object Details
Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Helmets & Headwear Physical Description White fabric hood with attached plastic googles and mesh Dimensions Clothing (On Mannequin): 38.1 × 25.4 × 25.4cm (15 × 10 × 10 in.)
 Materials Fabric, Plastic, Elastic, Foam
 Inventory Number A20060594006 Credit Line Gift of Joseph Duff Operation Migration. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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