Bald Eagle Migration Update: February 9, 2005 Today's Report Includes: Field Notes from Peter Nye What Time is It, Satellite Time? Challenge Question #3 Statistical Landmarks Identified: Challenge Question #1 Challenge Question #2: The Science of Satellite Tracking Up, Up and Away: From Skyscrapers to Outer Space Teacher Tip: World Clocks Field Notes from Peter Nye As one of the top eagle biologists in the nation, Eagleye Nye is out in the field a lot with the eagles. This week he's taken the time to send us eagle location data. Study our map or use the data to make your own map. Golden Eagle #A20 Bald Eagle #V98   What Time is It, Satellite Time? Satellites capture the location data from the eagles backpack transmitters at various times of the day. The satellite gives scientists the time in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). GMT is an international time-keeping standard. It is based on the local time in Greenwich, England. Greenwich Mean Time is also called Universal Time (UT). When measuring time with GMT or UT, it's the same time everywhere on earth! That's why it's considered "universal time." Because satellites zoom above us at such high speeds, local time is meaningless. Read more about using GMT to calculate eagle time, then fill in todays chart for the time in Eastern Standard Time (EST). What Time is It, Satellite Time? Fill in the times (EST) from today's map locations: Eagle Date Time (GMT) Time (EST) A20 01/27/05 22:45:40   A20 01/30/05 2:58:41   A20 02/01/05 8:32:17   V98 01/29/05 18:54:45   V98 01/31/05 22:52:11   V98 02/03/05 1:36:32   Challenge Question #3: "What time is it in Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the eagle sightings above? In your opinion, is there any logic for collecting the data at these times for scientific study?" (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) Teacher Tip: World Clocks Veteran teacher Cathy Plaehn devised a great way to help students understand the differences in time zones around the world. This activity helps students compare and contrast what is going on at any particular time with students or events around the world. World Clocks (or Is it Time for Lunch Yet?) Statistical Landmarks Identified: Challenge Question #1 The Upper Delaware River is a popular wintering site for Bald eagles. Each year eagles are counted in this location and the data is studied. Responding to last weeks challenge question, students at Iselin Middle school submitted their conclusion like real scientists. They identified the statistical landmarks, and thinking like scientists, they stated their conclusion with scientific clarity. Students also made this conclusion: The highest number of eagles were sighted in the year 2000. This suggests that the food and shelter were the most habitable at that time. Minimum = 27, Maximum = 145, Mode = 28, Range = 118 (145 -27), Mean = 65 -Thank you Bhavini, Bridget, Ihtisham, Michael, Isaiah, Shahroze and Giovann. Peter Nye concludes his report of the sighting data this way, Numbers of eagles along the Upper Delaware seem to be connected to numbers seen within the Mongaup River system (a tributary to the Delaware); low numbers in one usually result in high numbers in the other; strictly a food related thing. Challenge Question #2 Answered: The Science of Satellite Tracking Last week we challenged you to do some calculations about the height of the polar-orbiting satellites that help us track our eagles. "How many miles above the earth do the polar-orbiting satellites travel?" Students from Iselin Middle School sent their response. Thanks for your calculations, Tarandip, Farihah and Patrice. These 7th graders multiplied 833 km by 0.62137 to get their answer in miles. They are absolutely right! Here is what they calculated: The polar-orbiting satellites travel at 833km or 517.6 miles above the Earth. (833km X 0.621371) Up, Up and Away: From Skyscrapers to Outer Space How high are satellites, clouds, and the world's tallest trees and buildings? How high do jets, hot air balloons, migrating birds and butterflies fly? On the highest wall you can find, make a model of the earth's atmosphere to scale. Start with our high orbiting satellites; add the tallest mountain, a migrating monarch butterfly and the Statue of Liberty. Find out more: Up, Up and Away: From Skyscrapers to Outer Space How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions: IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message. 1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-eagle@learner.org 2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #3. 3. In the body of EACH message, answer ONE of the questions above. The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 16, 2005. Copyright 1997-2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to jn-help@learner.org