Bald Eagle Migration Update: March 1, 2006

Today's Report Includes:

• Field Notes from Peter Nye
• Today’s Map and Data
• Challenge Question #4: "Can You Complete Pete's Sentence?"
• Geography Sleuthing: Discussing CQ #3
• Winter Birding: Eagles at the Kinzua Dam
• Ask the Expert Now Open!

Hello Journey North!

Peter Nye

In a couple of days, it will be March, the month when all of our winter visitors head back north. As you saw from last week's data, and from the data I am now passing along, some of the eagles have started to move already.

Looking over the data, there is not much interesting movement to report, except perhaps for adult female ___, who made quite a southern movement this week. It will be interesting to see how long she stays down there.

As far as our nestlings go, all seem to be staying in their same general areas. We should begin to see some interesting movements in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, no new eagles to report being outfitted with satellite radios this week, but we will have our usual two crews out this coming week.

Another week has shot by; not sure if you were off school this past week. My sons were off for President's week and we enjoyed some snowboarding and skiing at Jay Peak in northern Vermont.

Good luck in school; June is coming fast!

Eagleye
New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation
Delmar, NY

This week's eagle map.

Look closely at today’s eagle map. There are only a few new data points for you to find. Which birds have been moving around? Why would an eagle move around or stay in one area? Think about these things as you study this week’s map and data.

• This Week's Migration Data
  (in a printer-friendly format)

Tracking with your own map? Use your Bald Eagle Journal and map each week.

Challenge Question #4:
" Looking over the data, not much interesting movement to report, except perhaps for adult female ___, who made quite a southern movement this week. It will be interesting to see how long she stays down there."

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Eagle wearing satellite transmitter (PTT)

Oliva, from Minnesota Connections Academy dug in and found information. She wrote, The Aberdeen Proving Grounds is a center for Army material testing, laboratory research, and military training. I don't think this would be a safe refuge for the eagles. There are many hazards for the eagles such as weapons firing, bright flashes of light, detonations that generate sound and vibration, and chemical exposure.

Students from Highview Elementary uncovered more details. They found that for almost 100 years the Aberdeen Proving ground has been an important place for testing equipment and training U.S. soldiers. In addition, thinking about eagle habitat they wrote, "We think that the Aberdeen Proving grounds are not safe. One big reason is that there are chemicals all around the area, even in the ground."

Sounds like a pretty loud and busy place for eagles! I wonder why they're staying...

Journal Idea
What is the ideal habitat for Bald eagles? Remember: Habitat is the place--and the conditions--where an organism's needs for life are met. Describe the ideal eagle habitat in your journal.

Take a quick look before they are gone!

Open water in winter can provide some fabulous eagle viewing. Enjoy these wintery pictures sent to us by Hugh Feiro. Thanks, Hugh!

• Eagle Watching at the Kinzua Dam

What do the photographs tell us about eagle habitat? Look closely: Which are immature and which are adult Bald eagles?

Eagle Expert "Eagleye" Nye and P04 with PTT.

• Ask the Expert Information