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Migration
Update: April 15, 2009 |
Welcome
to the 2009 Journey North Bald Eagle Study! |
Did you know that these gangly baby birds grow faster than any other bird
in North America? >>
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Maps
and Data |
Conditions
seemed to be great for eagle migration this past week. Eagle U25
continues to hop-scotch up the map. When will she reach the end
of the road? Will that be the coast of Labrador/Newfoundland, where
she was in 2008?
Eagle
U21's migration path is quite different from U25. How would you
describe their differences? Both S28, and U27 must be sitting on
eggs, or feeding eaglets now. Their positions haven't changed in
quite some time.
Let's
learn more about eaglets this week. |
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Questions about this week's map >>
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Highlights:
Tupper Lake, NY
Our mated pair has been on the nest for at least three weeks now,
and mom's head is regularly visible with her expectant mate attending
her nicely. The recent snows and cold weather must be a real challenge
to nesting birds. 04/08/09
Heathsville,
VA Eagles live year round here, on the Great Wicomico River
near the Chesapeake Bay. Just noticed an nest being build in our
back yard, on the River. 04/07/09 |
Nestcam:
See It Live! |
Norfolk
Botanical Garden Nestcam |
The
third egg in the nest successfully hatched in late March and the adults
are very busy keeping the 3 young eaglets fed. All three of the eaglets
are doing well. They are growing very fast. In their first month of
life, bald eagles grow rapidly, more than any other bird in North
America. Females gain as much as 130 grams of body weight each day.
Males average about 105 grams each day. Picture the weight of a cup
of flour, or a small Razr cell phone - added every day! |
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A
Nestful
Northfolk Botanical Garden Nestcam >> |
Feeding
Frenzy
Both eagle parents are working hard to feed the 3 hungry eaglets.
They hunt 14 hours a day. Some viewers of the Nestcam captured film
of the eaglets getting some feisty food. Check out the excitement
in 2 small videos: |
- A
Squiggly Eel Escapes >>
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- Floppy
Fish in the Nest >>
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*
Notes for Viewing *
Watch closely as the parents interact with the food and the eaglets.
What lessons can the eaglets learn about hunting from their parents?
How does the adult move about the nest? Notice the eaglets. How would
you describe them at this stage in their lives (21- 28 days)?
* Thanks to VDGIF Wildlife Biologist for link
to the video. |
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Focus:
Eaglets to Eagles
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Take
a close look at baby eaglets in the nest. It is hard to believe
these little creatures will grow to be magnificent bald eagles!
How would you describe them? Learn how the eaglets beaks, talons,
and wings will be used to help them survive.
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Eyeing
Eaglets >> |
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Explore:
Eagle Adaptations |
Eagle
babies have many important physical characteristics to help them
stay alive. Look
closely at an eagle chick. Learn how each part of the chick is designed
to keep the eagle alive.
- Survival
in a Wild Habitat >>
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Links:
This Week's Eagle Resources |
- Active
NestCams:
- Cornell
Lab of Ornithology >>
- Sutton
County >>
- WVEC
Norfolk Botanical Garden >>
- Project:
Eagles A to Z >>
- Lessons,
Activities, and Resources >>
- Journey
North for Kids:
Eagles >>
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Class
Eagle Book >>
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The
Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 22, 2009.
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