Ground fog this morning slightly above tree top level. The thousands upon thousands of Sandhill Cranes, the thousands of ducks and geese, and the five Whooping cranes were quietly enjoying breakfast along side with the small Whitetail Deer herd. This pastoral scene was rudely interrupted by a novice balloonist and friends gliding just above tree top level using the loud propane burners to keep the balloon aloft. First to scatter were the ducks and geese, then the Sandhills and the deer. Fortunately the Whooping Cranes remained within their area as the balloon past overhead with the "pilot(?)" not using the burners over the those birds. Finally after the balloon had past over the Headquarters area the majority of the wildlife had left the area and their morning feeding had ceased. It is unfortunate that these (so called) balloonist can not calculate wind direction prior to their lift-off or when lifting gain altitude with their burners so as to not frighten and endanger the wildlife within the Refuge's Closed Area set aside for feeding......but then again to use prevention methods and flight planning would entail basic math and intelligent planning at least at the original lift-off sites.