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Eastern Bald Eagle Migration Update: March 21, 2000
Today's Update Includes:
- Latest Migration Map and Data
- Field Notes From Biologist Peter Nye
- How Long Does an Eagle's Migration Take? Challenge Question #12
- Heading Off the Migration Map: Challenge Question #13
- How Much Do Eagles Weigh? Discussion of Challenge Question #6
- And How About Those Transmitters? Challenge Question #14
Latest Migration Map and Data
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Field Notes From Biologist Peter Nye
"Interesting! Looks like our new female Eagle #K58 may already be 'at her spot', near Alberton, Prince Edward Island! This is the extreme northwest tip of the Island, and would be our first eagle to nest in this Canadian Province. I wonder if the local residents know about a nest there. I smell a field trip! (When possible, we travel to the eagle's nest and band the young for future study.) Assuming she has reached her destination:
Challenge Question #12
"How many days did Eagle #K58's migration take? On average, how many miles per day did she travel?"
- Try the online "Distance Calculator" to help calculate the distance.
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
Heading Off the Migration Map
"Meanwhile, Eagle #K72 is also on the move! According to her reading on Sunday the 19th, she's heading off the map...
Challenge Question #13
"In which direction in Eagle #K72 heading? How does this compare to the heading of the other eagles so far?" (Clue: Put a compass on your map. Try to give your answer in degrees.)
(To respond to this question, please follow
the instructions below.)
"Keep your eyes on Eagle #F81. Remember, he's the eagle who arrived so late on the wintering grounds, and
his behavior last spring and summer suggested that he's a young, unmated bird without a definite breeding territory
yet."
Cheers,
Eagleye Nye
New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation
How Much Do Eagles Weigh?
Discussion of Challenge Question #6
New Jersey 7th graders Jason & Marc of Iselin Middle School translated kilograms to pounds and then found other things that weigh the same as an eagle:
"Eagle #K72 weighs 5.5 kilograms and that is 12.1 pounds. The Eagle #K58 weighs 6.6 kilograms and that is 14.52 pounds. Something that weighs as much as the eagles is a bowling ball." Kathy of Timster School in Plano TX added: "My thought for what weighs 12 pounds would be a 1 month baby, and a 4 month baby weighs 14.5 pounds."
And How About Those Transmitters?
Challenge Question #14
Have you ever wondered about the effect
the satellite transmitters might have on the eagles? As you can see from this picture, the transmitter is worn
on the eagle's back--almost like a backpack. These backpacks are known as "PTTs", or "platform transmitter
terminals". Each PTT package weighs approximately 100 grams (3 1/2 oz.), which is less than 2 percent of the
body weight of an average bald eagle. How would it feel to carry such a backpack?
Challenge Question #14
"If you wore a backpack that weighed 2% of your body weight, how heavy would your backpack be?"
How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions
Please answer ONLY ONE question in EACH e-mail message.
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-eagle@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #12
(#13 or #14).
3. In the body of EACH message, answer ONE of the questions above.
The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will be Posted on March 28, 2000.
Copyright 2000 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
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