Last Friday afternoon this note arrived from Peter Nye:
"Attached find the latest data on #32, for March 6th and March 8th. Like :) Out this weekend to try to get another eagle. I'll let you know." Eagleye Nye
Challenge Question # 30
"Why do you think Peter Nye likes the satellite data he sent today?"
Date Latitude 1/Longitude 1 OR Latitude 2/Longitude 2
02/24/96 41.588 N, 74.790 W OR 40.796 N, 78.832 W
02/22/96 41.607 N, 74.827 W OR 34.575 N, 40.595 W
02/19/96 41.531 N, 74.858 W OR 40.037 N, 82.693 W
03/06/96 41.504 N, 74.894 W OR 33.090 N, 117.740 W
03/08/96 41.707 N, 74.835 W OR 32.556 N, 27.751 W
Eagles on the Wintering Grounds
Why do eagles congregate where they do during the winter? Students had different ideas about this. However, as you'll read in their comments below, there is something students mention in almost every report! After you read their ideas, see if you can complete this sentence:
"Because an eagle's diet is made up primarily of ( ) eagles are almost always found near open ( )."
(Remember this fact! It's a clue you will need later.)
A Word About Our List of Winter Eagle Locations
In our February 12th report, we listed the ten largest U.S. wintering locations for eagles. Each of these places commonly has 200 or more eagles, all concentrated in one spot. However, eagles do winter in other places, as Tommy and Kathy East pointed out: "Utah was not listed as one of the major winter grounds for bald eagles, but according to the Utah Division of Wildlife, there are 1,000 or so that spend the winter in Utah!"
Many states and provinces have eagles in the winter time, but the eagles are spread out and not concentrated in groups as large as those listed. In fact, students from Ontario, Wisconsin and Minnesota wrote recently about eagles in their areas. You'll find their comments below.
Here are students answers to Challenge Question #5:
"Why do you think eagles congregate at these places during the winter months?"
From FLORIDA:
We think eagles congregate at these places because they all have mountains from which they can scope out the fish that swim in the water below. All these places have similar habitat. Michael and David, Mrs. Beck's Journey North Class, Academic Resource Center Tallahassee, Florida beck@wane-leon-mail.scri.fsu.edu
From NEW JERSEY:
We think that the reason that bald eagles congregate in these places during the winter is because there are lots of bodies of water for them to find food in. Ms. Schaum's Class Oradell Public School, oradell@intac.com
From OHIO:
We think that bald eagles congregate to other places because all the places you listed were by water. By water there's forests and they can use the forests for shelter. And they can eat the fish in the water and the animals that go there to drink. Sincerely, Pod Three, Mrs. shepherd's 5th grade class jshep@freenet.columbus.oh.us
From ONTARIO:
My partner and I think that the bald eagle likes to stay up in the mountains because they prefer the cool climates, the higher up in the mountains the colder it gets. Scott Young Public School syoung@web.apc.org
From FLORIDA:
The sites are all in the north and are at water sites. Sebastian and Stephen, Mrs. Beck's Journey North Class Academic Resource Center, ARC Journey North Classes Tallahassee, Florida journeyn@wane-leon-mail.scri.fsu.edu
From MINNESOTA:
I think that the eagles like to go to these places each year because they are the best fishing places with lots of meadows and cliffs so they can find the rats and small animals and fish. Evan Hall and classmates- 3/4 class- Pillsbury Elementary, Minneapolis, MN 001pel@informns.k12.mn.us
From MARYLAND:
Mark Gradoni says that in the winter, eagles migrate to their breeding areas. Jimmy Cross says that "The main reason I think eagles congregate is for food. In some of the states salmon migrate to lay eggs. When the salmon come together it is easier for the eagles to catch their pray." Kelley Cooper thinks that" bald eagles like to congregate in tropical places in the winter because it is warm. The water is not frozen in these places so they can catch fish. " Sarah Lahman says that "Eagles congregate at these places during the winter months because there are forests and mountains for them to build their nests." Lauren Knippenberg believes that "Eagles congregate in these areas to build their nests near the water." Jeremy Kesner thinks that "Eagles like to live in the high mountains where it is cold. They like to prey on small animals and the snow will make the small animals an easier prey." Last but not least Derek McGee thinks "Eagles migrate in the winter to the mountains or hilly regions to find better living conditions - where it is warmer, has more hours of sunlight, enough food, and better shelter." Ms.Gerwig lgerwig@fre.fsu.umd.edu
From FLORIDA:
Eagles congregate in these places during the winter months mostly because the higher elevations give them an "eagle-eye" view of the streams below for catching fish and hunting other prey. Mrs.Beck's Sixth Grade Journey North Class Academic Resource Center Tallahassee, FL
From NEW YORK:
We think they congregate at these places becaus the climate is better and there is good rations of food for them to survive. Jeff and Tim, Mr. Wysor's Biology Class Norwich High School, Norwich, New York Monrob@aol.com
Comments About Eagles From Various Regions:
From ONTARIO:
We found an article in the newspaper that said there were up to 24 eagles spotted, 15 adults and 9 fledglings. They're mostly on the islands in the Canadian waters. This group is working with the New York State Dept of Environmental Conservation in tracking the eagles. The water in this part of the St. Lawrence river is very fast and hardly ever freezes. People travelling over the International bridge have seen the raptors circling overhead. They have been known to hunt and fish in the open waters and also scavenge deer carcasses along the shore. A number of groups are involved in the tracking from the Kingston Naturalists to Brockville naturalists. It is creating quite an interest with people along the Canada/US border. Mrs. Malcolm's grade six class. Gananoque, Ontario vivwhite@limestone.kosone.com
From UTAH:
There were 2 eagles at Willard Bay (off of the great Salt Lake), one of their wintering places. But the bay had recently frozen over, so they had moved (2/4/96). We saw 5 more along I-15 back into the city. (Willard Bay is just north of Salt Lake City - about 20 miles). At the Salt Lake City airport, we saw 10 different eagles. Some were in trees near the airport, and some were on lightposts and exit signs along the freeway. They like to fish in the canals and river that runs near the airport. People driving by usually don't even notice them because they just sit and watch most of the day! teast5@ibm.net Tommy and Kathy East, Eastwood Elementary City, Salt Lake City, Utah
From WISCONSIN:
We are a group of students from Mrs. Kerska's 6th grade class, from Bangor,Wisconsin. We are near La Crosse, Wi. The eagles nest and fish along theMississippi River, which is close to Bangor. We found it very interesting that Bangor, Wi. can see the eagles by the Mississippi River, while people in Bangor, Pa. can see the eagles by the Delaware River. KERSKA@aol.com
From MINNESOTA:
February 27, 1996
Hello, my name is Michael. I am a 4th grade student at Pequot Lakes School. I recently saw two bald eagles between Nisswa and Brainerd MN on the 25th of Feb. We are very fortunate to have an eagle nest very close to main highway 371 between Nisswa and Pequot Lakes. On February 18th one student spotted 3 swans migrating north. They were seen by Nisswa, Mn. Mr. Minerich, Pequot Lakes Elementary Pequot Lakes, MN jmineric@informns.k12.mn.us
How to Respond to Journey North Challenge Question #30:
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of the message write: Challenge Question #30.
3. In the body of the message, give your school's name and location and answer this question:
"Why do you think Peter Nye likes the satellite data he sent today?"
The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will be Posted on March 18, 1996
 |
|
|---|
