Bald Eagle Migration Update: April 20, 2005 Today's Report Includes: Today's Map and Data Field Notes from Peter Nye Long Migration – How does it Compare? How is Animal Migration like Human Migration? Eagle Migration: A Flight Lesson Try This! Ramblin’ Y90 Compare and Contrast: Discussion to CQ #18 Eagle Glossary Today's Map and Data Have our mature bald eagles reached their nesting grounds? Oh, the stories this week’s map contains. If only maps could talk. Look at all the turns and twists of the eagle “kids.” How do their movements compare with adult eagles P04 and V98? Do you think the youngsters have a reason for their travels around the countryside? And, will the adults fly even further north? What is your prediction? Mature Eagles Juvenile Bald Eagles (Fledglings) Golden Eagle #A20 Bald Eagle #V98 Bald Eagle #P04 Bald Eagle #Y89 Bald Eagle #Y90 Bald Eagle #Y94 Bald Eagle #Y96           Field Notes from Peter Nye Lots of progress between last report and today. What a week for V98 and P04! Eagleye is on the run with activities this week. He’s gearing up for his helicopter surveys of eagle nests around the state, but he did take a moment to send his greeting: Hello Eagle Trackers: On the run-But for now, looks like V98 and P04 are "home", settling in to "usual" area in/near Labrador. Cool. The eagle "kids" seem to really be testing out their wings, going here and there and everywhere! Eagleye New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation Delmar, NY Long Migration – How does it Compare? Spring 2004 Migration Map V98 traveled long and hard this past week. How does her location compare with last year’s nest site? Are the dates similar? Study this week’s map and compare V98’s location and arrival dates with last spring’s migration. What kind of weather patterns could have affected both P04 and V98 last week?   Time 1 period and updates throughout the season Materials Sample Chart (for teachers) Blank Charts (for students) How is Animal Migration like Human Migration? Speaking of travel, how is a human vacation different from an animal migration? For example, have YOU ever traveled without a suitcase? When people go on a trip, a lot of planning and preparation takes place. How about a bald eagle? Compare and contrast the purpose of travel, the preparations required, and the consequences of any mistakes. You're sure to appreciate an animal's remarkable journey even more after comparing their abilities to our own. Exploring Migration Eagle Migration: A Flight Lesson Eagles have very long, large wings. It takes a lot of energy to flap such large wings. That is why when eagles are flying long distances, especially on migration, they often soar on thermals until they reach a great altitude, and then use the gliding/soaring method of flying to cover the longest distance using the smallest amount of energy. How Eagles Fly How Birds Fly: An In-Depth Primer About Flight Enjoy this primer about bird flight. Learn about "lift" and airfoils--then try these activities: How Birds Fly: An In-Depth Primer About Flight Try This! To see how an airfoil works, hold a narrow strip of paper near your mouth and blow across the top. The air moves faster above than below, and the paper will rise. Does this work with a larger piece of paper? Why or why not? Design and build an eagle kite using our eagle silhouette design, or create your own. Go outside and fly it. Ramblin’ Y90 It has been interesting to track the “kids” this season. Let’s take another look at Y90. Where has this bird been since we last connected the dots between her sightings? Take a close look at this special map and answer these: Journaling Questions: What is the name of the Great lake where Y90 was sighted between 04/04 and 04/09? What resources might be available in that location? How many days did it take Y90 to fly from south-central PA to the NY border? What direction is Y90 traveling from 04/09 to 04/14? Where do you predict Y90 will go next? Compare and Contrast: Discussion to CQ #18 Do birds follow habitual patterns in their migrations? Studying the migration maps for bald eagle V98, we can definitely see some similarities between this spring and spring 2004. We can only imagine the trees and rivers where she stops along the way. Chances are there are other migrating eagles following the same path. We know one thing – the migrating Bald eagle is ready to begin their nesting chores for the season. How would you compare the migration maps? At Iselin Middle School students Gerard, James, Stephanie and Nicole F. think they are very similar, “V98 seems to be going in the same pattern in 2005 as in 2004. It is following the same path except, this year, it is a little ahead meaning closer to Quebec.” Eagle Glossary Build your vocabulary with terms used in our reports as we study eagles this season. Find the following terms from this weeks report and define them in your eagle journals or portfolios: habitual patterns, thermal, and airfoil. Bookmark the Journey North Bald Eagle Glossary The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 20, 2005. Copyright 1997-2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form