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Hummingbird
Migration Update: February 10, 2005
Today's Report Includes:
- Welcome to Hummingbird Migration 2005
- Tracking Two Species: Which is Which? (Link to Lesson)
- Where Are They Now?
- Rufous Hummingbird Migration Underway
- A Tricky Prediction: Challenge Question #1
- Try This! Julian Days and Journaling
- Viola: A Rufous Hummingbird Out of Place
- Teacher Tips: Assessment Strategies
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| Distribution of Breeding and Wintering Rufous and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Notice that this map doesn't show the migration between! |
Welcome
to Hummingbird Migration 2005
We're
glad you're here! With your help, Journey North is tracking both Rufous
hummingbirds and Ruby-throated hummingbirds again this spring.
Tracking
Two Species: Which is Which?
Rufous
hummingbirds and Ruby-throated hummingbirds have the widest ranges
of North American hummingbirds. Ruby-throats are generally seen in
the eastern half of the continent and
Rufous hummers in the western half. Which
hummer species are YOU watching for? How can you tell a Rufous from a
Rubythroat? See our tips, and then make a Venn
diagram
to show how they are alike and different:
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The tiniest birds on the planet don't stick around in places where ice and snow are the normal scene in winter. That means Ruby-throated hummingbirds are on their tropical wintering grounds. They're enjoying sunny skies, toasty temps, and plenty of food. The first migrating Ruby-throats usually start appearing in March. No Ruby-throat news today!
Although most hummers fly to the tropics in the fall, some Rufous (and other western species) migrate to the southeastern states in winter. Now it appears that a very few are starting the journey north. A BIG thanks to Mr. Mike Patterson for sharing Rufous sightings and news with us once again this spring. Here's the latest:
Rufous Hummingbird Migration Underway
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Rufous
Hummingbird (c) Jerry Blinn, AviSys |
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Much to Mike’s surprise, several reports of returning males came in this week. Click on the map for a closer view and count the states where Rufous hummingbirds have been seen. When was the season's first sighting? What do you notice about the location of the sightings? (Click on the link to Migration Data for exact locations and dates.) Where do you predict most of the next sightings will come from: coastal or inland? South or north? Explain your thinking—and then watch the data in upcoming reports. You're sure to see patterns emerge. Welcome back, Rufous males!
Mike carries out his "Hummingbirds and Flowers" study at Oregon's Neawanna Wetland Ecological Observatory. For more, or to report Rufous Hummingbirds, see:
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Mike
Patterson
(That's NOT a hummingbird!) |
On January 31 our Rufous hummingbird authority, Mike Patterson, made a prediction: “My prediction is that first arrivals will be late this year, because of nasty weather to the south.” Mike based his prediction on the weather at the time, saying, We've been having record setting, warm, spring-like weather on the North Coast, but lots of rain in California. The jet stream is tracking farther south than in the usual winter."
Being a person of science, Mike added, “We'll see if what I think I know is close to what really happens.” Here's what happened:
On February 8, Mike reported, “I just heard (but haven't seen, yet) my first Rufous hummingbird of the season. I was getting out of my car in the driveway and heard the unmistakable wing-whine.”
Challenge Question #1:
“ Why might some Rufous Hummingbirds be arriving this year much earlier than expected? Explain why you think so.”
(To respond to this question, please follow instructions at end of
report.)
Try This! Julian Days and Journaling
How much earlier was Mike's 2005 first Rufous than other years? Below are Mike's dates going back to 1998. Mike is using the Julian Day numbering system, and you can too. For example:
February 8 is 39 (31 days in January + 8 days in February = 39.)
To get a handle on Julian Days, list the calendar dates of all Mike's Rufous sightings. When was the latest first arrival? What is the average date of Mike's first Rufous sighting? After you're done, tell why you think scientists use the Julian Day numbering system. What more can you learn by Googling “Julian Day?”
Mike Patterson's First Rufous Arrivals (in Julian Days):
| 1988: 52 | 1992: 74 | 1999: 62 | 2003: 54 |
| 1989: 52 | 1993: 62 | 2000: 55 | 2004: 64 |
| 1990: 69 | 1994: 69 | 2001: 62 | 2005: 39 |
| 1991: 53 | 1998: 66 | 2002: 63 |
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Viola Photo Laura Erickson |
Viola: A Rufous Hummingbird Out of Place
Imagine sitting at your computer one cold November day, and
suddenly hearing through your window the hum of beating hummingbird
wings! That's what happened to Laura Erickson, who lives
in c-c-cold Duluth, Minnesota-where no Rufous had ever been
recorded! What did Laura do? Read her story of the tiny bird
she named Viola. Learn how Laura found out that Rufous Hummingbirds
can survive in far colder conditions than most people realize.
- Viola: A Rufous Hummingbird's Story, by Laura Erickson
Teacher
Tips: Assessment Strategies
Journey North’s new Assessment section gives you a wide range of specific
strategies and tools for weaving in continuous assessment, in alignment with
the approach called for by The National Science Education Standards and other
subject area standards. It’s there to help you! See:
Try
This! Easy-to-Make Project Portfolios
This lesson shows how to create a 9 X 12 project portfolio where students collect,
record and display qualitative and quantitative observations, life cycle studies,
weather and mapping information, research findings, and more--all in one convenient,
creative package. It’s a great way to start a new Journey North season:
How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message.
1. Address
an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-humm@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge
Question #1.
3. In the body of EACH message, give your answer to ONE Challenge Question.
The Next Hummingbird Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 24,
2005.
Copyright
1997-2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our
feedback form.
