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Eastern Bald Eagle Migration Update: March 28, 2000
Today's Report Includes:
- Latest Migration Data
- Field Notes from Biologist Peter Nye
- Even the Expert Has to Guess Where They'll Nest
- The Reasons Behind Eagleye Nye's Guesses
- Challenge Question #15
- Which Way Are They Heading? Discussion of CQ#13
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Field Notes from Biologist Peter Nye
"Eagle #F81 is back online--and he's moving!! YIPPEE! I was concerned that something may have happened to him, because I didn't get any good readings between March 11th and 20th. (The reading I got on March 13 was a bad fix--yet it looks like he might have been in New Hampshire at the time.) I had to check back in the office about the battery voltage readings--and luckily the voltage looks good. As of Saturday, he was continuing his northerly rambling--a relief!
"The biggest surprise of the week: Both Eagle #K70 and #K72 are headed way, way west! These are interesting moves, considering that they are both captures from the St. Lawrence this winter. Eagle #K70 embarked on a major move on 22 March, putting her to the north and way west of the Wellesley Island capture site. Looks like she is following the path of #K72, and is wasting no time! She seems to be on a mission, and as of Saturday she'd leapt beyond #K72.
Even the Expert Has to Guess Where They'll Nest
"Hey, nobody will really remind me of these guesses later on will they? Eagle #K72 has already moved beyond my prediction! (See below.) Of course, you realize that I already know where last year's birds are headed--and I think #K58 is already on her nesting territory. But here are all my predictions, including those for the two new birds that haven't yet arrived on their nest sites, #K72 and #K72:
| Eagle | Latitude | Longitude |
| # K58 (Female) | 46.80 N | -64.07 W |
| # F83 (Male) | 56.58 N | -67.38 W |
| # F81 (Male) | 47.75 N | -68.84 W |
| # F43 (Female) | 47.75 N | -68.84 W |
| # K70 (Female) | 47.05 N | -76.63 W |
| # K72 (Female) | 49.02 N | -80.02 W |
"Here are some of the clues I watch for:
Early departure: Suggests an eagle is not going far to the north (where fish
are not available in early spring, due to frozen ice)
Late departure: Suggests an eagle is going far north (to area where water is
still frozen--and without food--in early spring).
Quick trip: Suggests the eagle "knows its stuff", is a mated bird
that has nested before, knows the route and the routine, so doesn't take long to get there.
Slow, stalled travel: Suggests the bird is unmated and is in no hurry. Probably
a young bird, that will search for a mate in the region where it was born.
Challenge Question #15
"Carefully read my predictions about the nest-site of each eagle. What reasons do I give for the guess for Eagle #F43, #F81, #F83, #K58, #K70, and #K72?"
(To respond to this question, please follow
the instructions below.)
Eagleye Nye
Peter E. Nye
New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation
Which Way Are They Heading?
Discussion of Challenge Question #13
Last week we asked Challenge Question #13: "In which direction in Eagle #K72 heading? How does this compare to the heading of the other eagles so far?"
Timmy of Plano, Texas responded:
- "Eagle K72 is flying Northwest at a heading of 313 degrees.
- "K58 flew Northeast at a heading of 61 degrees.
- "K70 is flying Northwest at a heading of 343 degrees.
- "F43 is flying Northeast at a heading of 43 degrees.
- "F81 hasn't started to migrate yet.
- "F83 is flying north at a heading of 7 degrees.
- "Some eagles go northwest to Ontario and some go the other way to New Brunswick and Quebec but they all go north."
"Sign that boy up!" exclaimed Peter Nye. "I could use him in my office!"
How to Respond to Today's Challenge Question
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-eagle@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #15
3. In the body of your message, answer the question above.
The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will be Posted on April 4, 2000.
Copyright 2000 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
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