Bald Eagle Migration Update: April 5, 2006

Today's Report Includes:

• Today’s Map and Data
• Field Notes from Peter Nye
• Measuring the Migration
• Traveler U21: Exploring Reasons for Erratic Flight Pattern-CQ#11
• Building a Nest
• Answers to Challenge Questions #8, #9 and #10

• Maps for Individual Eagles
  (click event box for scroll down menu)
• This Week's Migration Data
  (Reported April 5 – 11, 2006)

Credit Hugh Feiro

• Do you think V98 is "home?”
• How does her location compare to her nest site in 2004 and 2005?
• How about the timing?

You can see some really neat intra-day movement for V98 in this data, allowing you to calculate how far she moved over how much time, and even calculate a speed!

Watching U25
You can see some really neat intra-day movement for U25 in this data. I've included several intra-day movements for her as well for 10 April; look at how far she moved in just a short time! What is it about 10 April? This appears to be a day eagles were on the move!

Then there is U21; what happened to her? Blown off course? Why am I saying this? Take a look at her surprising "backtrack". Especially take a look at her flight on 3 April. What do you think this circular pattern might be caused by?
And, what about U27; what can we confirm by looking at this week’s data?
Do you think U21 and U25 are still on the move? Stay tuned!

And our youngsters? There’s still not a whole lot of movement from them. It is like they feel there is no hurry or need to get anywhere in particular!

Until next week, do some digging into the maps and enjoy the data!

Eagleye
New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation
Delmar, NY

Study the latest data for U25's migration.

Try this! There’s a special surprise waiting for you. When you click on the Eagle Distance example you can try calculating how far Eagle U25 traveled on 10 April.
But don’t peek until you set up the problem yourself!

• How to Use the On-line Distance Calculator

What could cause this erratic flight pattern?

• NOAA Daily Forecast Map Archive

What happens AFTER 3 April? Look carefully for the next few day's path. Then see if you can answer this:

Challenge Question #11:
“ 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?”

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Build your own eagle nest. Take a good idea from veteran Journey North teacher Cathy Plaehn, and try it in your classroom!

Imagine you are a researcher who has just been hired to find facts about eagles’ nests. What fascinating facts can you find about eagles’ nests?

• Nesting Phenology

• About Eagle Nests (and a Reading and Writing Connection)

• Discussing Challenge Question #8

Several students submitted their research findings. Great research work!

Challenge Question #10
Which of our satellite tracked eagles have begun their migrations? List them and note whether male or female. Which birds left the earliest? Who leaves first, males or females?

• Read all the answers

Great observations! I guess we will have to wait and see what the next few weeks will bring.