Note: These Challenge Questions coincide with the Spring 2006 Reports Whooper Challenge Question #7 From: by way of Journey North <dfirmani@earthlink.net> Date: Fri Apr 07 2006 - 17:53:09 EDT Dear Journey North, There are probably several reasons that contribute to the slower pace of the whoopers' first journey south. Perhaps it takes longer, because they are younger, and not as strong yet, and because migration is new to them. Another possibility is that there are more headwinds when they are going south than when they are headed north, and these often make them have to stop. Also, when they are heading south, they seem to stop at a staging area for several weeks to eat lots of food. They don't use staging areas on their way north, probably because they are already pretty well fed and are anxious to get back to their nesting ground and stake out their territory for the season. Also, maybe there are more thermals available to them on their spring migration than on the fall one. Marcus F. Home schooled, 6th grade, Mount Airy, MD Received on Fri Apr 7 17:53:10 2006 Copyright 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to jn-help@learner.org