Bald
Eagle Migration Update: April 26, 2006
Today's
Report Includes:
Today’s
Map and Data
JGlancing at
today’s we see a couple of things clearly: first, the birds have
really spread across the NE quadrant of the map, and the long distance
fliers have continued to move. Some birds appear to be searching out nesting
sites, some have signaled from their nesting sites, and the younger birds
are all keeping us wondering. Try to imagine the view from above as the
birds search out safe and productive habitat this week. Compare this week's
movements of the mature birds with the movements of the immature birds.
Field Notes from Eagleye Nye
Hello Journey North:
Another
busy week here in New York and with our eagles! Seems like it was
a week for the immatures to be moving around, as you'll see from
the data.
Let’s Start with Immature Eagle News
Both of our 2004 fledglings moved this week. Y94 made a pretty substantial
southerly move, leaving southern New York and traveling south into
southern PA. You’ll see this bird is now along the Susquehanna
River just north of the Delaware Bay.
Why? (I have no idea!)
Y96 also moved, from where she had been for a while in eastern NY near
our Hudson River. She has traveled west and north a bit into south-central
NY. I was glad to see this move, indicating that Y96 appears ok.
Three of our four 2005 fledglings moved this week also.
P88 made a NW move, and is still in NY.
P89 moved north only a bit, and is still in NW PA. She is apparently
enjoying the area around the Allegheny Reservoir which borders both
PA and NY. The land and water in this region provides good habitat
for quite a few wintering and nesting bald eagles.
P90 is the only one of this cohort who really didn't seem to move,
also apparently content on Pymatuning Reservoir, a large water body
straddling PA and OH, and also a favorite eagle nesting spot.
P91 made the biggest move of all our youngsters, making a big trip
back south to the northern Delaware Bay in southern New Jersey, and
area he is quite familiar with as he spent considerable time there
this past winter! (Which bird is the furthest north? What is the latitude
of this location?)
Adult Eagles
Now on to our adults, some of whom you know are already (we believe)
sitting tight on their Canadian nests!
Adult male P04 is one that has not yet settled, moving north a bit
more in Quebec, not far from the south-western Labrador border. We
have yet to see where he is going to settle in.
Female V98 is secure on her nest, as you know!
Ditto with U27.
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U21 sightings |
U25 appears to be homing in on her area, either that, or she is wandering
around what may be her natal area. As a young adult (just 4 years old),
she may not breed this year. She remains generally in central Labrador.
And finally, adult female U21 made a pretty significant
slightly northward but mostly westward move in Ontario. Again, we'll
have to wait and
see if this is "home" for her. That's
it for now from New York Eagle-central; appears we still have some
more "watching" to do to see where everybody
settles. Good luck to all of you as you finish off your school year;
it's almost
over!
Eagleye
New York State Dept. Environmental
Conservation
Delmar, NY
Like a Battery, U25 Keeps on Going
U25
wintered around the Aberdeen Proving grounds. Today she is roaming around
central Labrador. There is a big distance between these 2 areas.
Study today’s
map to answer today’s Challenge Question.
Challenge
Question #12:
“U25 wintered around the Aberdeen Proving grounds. Today she is roaming
around central Labrador. How would you describe this bird’s range (total
distance traveled in 2006)?”
*
Hint: find the latitude/longitude for north and south locations and estimate
distance using the scale of miles, or try the online
calculator.)
To
respond to this question, please follow these instructions.
Raptor Adaptations
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Find out amazing facts! |
An ornithologist
seeing an eagle for the first time could instantly guess that this bird is
a predator, it can catch fish by plucking them from the water
with its feet, it flies long distances without a lot of flapping, nests
in trees, and mates for life. You have learned about many of these fascinating
adaptations this year. Dig a little deeper with these amazing facts. You’re
sure to learn something new.
Survival in the Wild: Eying Eaglets
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How do all parts provide protection for the eaglet? |
Eagle babies have many important physical characteristics to help them stay
alive. As an embryo inside the egg, the baby eagle formed a body built for
survival in its wild habitat.
Look closely at an eagle chick. Learn how each part of the bird is adapted
to help the eagle baby survive.
Bald Eagle Glossary
How many new vocabulary words have you learned this year tracking
the Bald eagles? Here is a list of words we have gathered from
this year’s
reports.
Did you learn any new ones from today’s report?
How about brood patch, cohort and natal?
Weather
Affects Migration: Discussion of Challenge Question #11
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Precipitation
Map from April 3, 2006 |
“U21 made a dramatic flight on April 3, 2006. What weather event might
have caused her to make such an interesting day’s travel? Can
you use weather as a tool for predicting eagle migration?”
On
April 3, 2006, weather maps of North America showed a strong low
pressure cell in U21’s location. This system brought rain
and snow to the area and strong winds. These kinds of conditions
can stop
a migrating bird in their tracks or, as in the case of U21, make
her turn around!
Track today’s
weather, or look back into what happened earlier in the year with
the Daily
Weather Maps available from NOAA: Hydrometeorological
Prediction Center.
The
Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will Be Posted on May 3, 2006.
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1997-2006 Journey
North. All Rights Reserved.
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