 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Signs of Spring Update: April 26, 2002
Today's Report Includes:
- Orioles on the Way! Challenge Question #24
- Some Orioles Still in the Tropics
- Link to Lesson: Life in Costa Rica
- Night Flight: Challenge Question #25
- Enjoying Orioles
- Been There, Done That: Challenge Question #26
- Sharing the Planet: Discussion of Challenge Question #23
- Try This!
 |
The oriole migration is underway! Bullock's Orioles have been turning up all over in the Southwest. One observer saw a "Bullock's Oriole in every third tree" in Rolling Hills Estates, California, on April 13, and we've had many other reports from California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Utah since the end of March.
Ina Legzdins reports a Baltimore Oriole close to the Oakville Golf Club, in Oakville, Ontario, on April 20, 2002. "I didn't see him but the song was unmistakable on Saturday morning. This is about two weeks earlier than the past couple of years (usually around May 2-5)." In Dune Acres, Indiana, an observer reported
 |
Challenge Question #24:
"Why do Bullocks Orioles always have a big migration push weeks before Baltimore Orioles do?" (Hint: Look at their range maps!)
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
Some Orioles Still in the Tropics
Even
though by late April some Baltimore Orioles had definitely returned north ,many were
still hanging out in their wintering grounds in Central America. Journey North science
writer Laura Erickson spent the first two weeks of April in Costa Rica. The first
week she spotted dozens of Baltimore Orioles, and they were about half males and
half females. By the second week they were a little less common, and almost all of
them were females. She found one group of 12, including males and females, perched
on wires above a sugar cane field, many small groups visiting feeders to eat bananas,
and some flocks feeding on insects and fruits in forests and open areas. Baltimore
Orioles seem to be very adaptable in Costa Rica, and can accept a wide variety of
habitats. Do you know the difference between an oriole call note and song? Do orioles
hang out alone or in groups? To learn this and more about orioles and life on their
wintering grounds, be sure to see:
Night Flight
Although Laura witnessed many behaviors, one thing she didn't see was any Baltimore Orioles migrating. That's because Baltimore Orioles often take their actual migration flights at nighttime. By day they feed and hang out in small flocks, sometimes moseying toward the north as they move from feeder to feeder or tree to tree, but not covering big distances until night.
Challenge Question #25:
"Why do most orioles migrate by night?"
TIP: To answer this, you might want to fold
a sheet of paper into four columns, or make four columns on a chalkboard, and title
them: 1) Nighttime Advantages; 2) Nighttime Disadvantages; 3) Daytime Advantages
and 4) Daytime Disadvantages. Brainstorm to list as many advantages and disadvantages
to migrating by day and night. Then explain what you think are the most important
reasons that orioles migrate as they do.
(To respond
to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
Enjoying Orioles
In North
America, many birders set out oranges to attract orioles. In Costa Rica, orioles
at feeders were eating bananas. Have you ever set out bananas to attract and feed
wild birds? If you attract an oriole to a banana, let us know! What are some other
fruits you might try?
If orioles settle into your neighborhood, providing quality nesting materials is a good way to ensure that they'll successfully reproduce--maybe even in your own backyard! Dog fur is a great natural fiber that is very useful when orioles nest. Journey North contributor Cathy Gagliardi gives some more suggestions: "Orange halves will attract them, however, grape jelly will keep them around. Offer them 6 inch strips of yarn, even human hair, they will use for nesting materials, they also love the "hair" from milkweed, so save your supply from last fall, when milkweed sheds. Mealworms are another delight, as they need protein also."
For more ideas of ways you can make your backyard orioles' lives easier, see
If you think of additional ways to attract and nurture orioles, let us know. And think about this question:
Challenge Question #26:
"During migration orioles often visit feeders for oranges. But by the end of May, orioles seem to lose their taste for oranges. Think of at least two reasons why orioles seldom eat oranges in summer."
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
Sharing the Planet: Discussion of Challenge Question #23
Last time we asked, "If there are 200,000 more people each day, how many days does it take for a million people to be added to the human population?" The answer is only five days! That means that every month there are 6 million more people on the planet, which is more than the population of the entire state of Indiana or Massachusetts!
Try This! Understanding Large Numbers
When talking about millions and billions, just how big is that? You'll appreciate
the subject of population growth more when you get a feel for the numbers. How long
would it take you to spend a million dollars if you spent #1,000 every day? How high
is a stack of a billion dollar bills? Is there a small or a large difference between
a million and a billion? See:
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-oriole@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #24 (OR #25 OR #26).
3. In the body of your message, give your answer to the question above.
The Next Oriole Migration Update Will Be Posted on May 3, 2002.
Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
