While this is intended to be a migration update, according to the last satellite reading our eagle was not yet migrating! Here is the data for March 16th:
Date.......Latitude 1/Longitude 1..OR...Latitude 2/Longitude 2
03/16/96...41.548 N, 74.865 W......OR...32.441 N, 31.721 W
Many students responded to Challenge Question # 41 in which we asked, "Why might an eagle that nests far in the north wait longer to migrate?" As you'll read below, students all knew it would be colder up north and so the eagle should wait. But imagine, how does an eagle know this?
The eagles that nest in New York are already laying their eggs. How does a northern eagle know it's too soon to return to her nest? Of equal importance, how does she know how long to wait? Remember, timing is very important. Summers are short in the north and, in a few brief months, this year's young eagles will have to fly back to New York. Just think, they're not even eggs yet!
Will our eagle remain in New York or will she head far, far to the north? This seemed to be our only concern--until the following note arrived late Friday afternoon from Peter Nye:
"Dear Students,
"I have some potentially bad news. I haven't been able to get any
data out of the transmitter PTT unit since the March 16th data.
I've got the fellow who built it trying some different commands
through the satellite, to see if it is the unit or what. Could be
that the unit has simply failed due to some fluke!! I hope not.
Will let you know just as soon as I learn anything, which could be
as early as today.
Regards,
Eagleye Nye"
Now What?
We'll send you a note just as soon as we hear back from Peter Nye.
Let's hope for some good news soon! In the meantime, discuss what
this technical problem means for Nye's research. Make a list of all
the ways it affects him. What options does he have at this time?
What would you do if you were in his shoes? What should we do? We
hope you'll send your ideas to us at: jnorth@learner.org
Other eagles have begun to migrate according to Journey North
observers. Here are their reports:
From MINNESOTA:
The weekend of March 16-17 was a busy weekend for eagle migrations here at
Pequot Lakes Mn. Many eagles were seen soaring there way north. Katio O.
from my fourth grade reported seeing 5 eagles. The total number of eagles
seen was 29. Jim Minerich, Pequot Lakes School
Pequot Lakes, MN jmineric@voyager.informns.k12.mn.us
Challenge Question # 51
"Why do you think there are so many eagles in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota?"
Look at a map of Minnesota and see if you can answer this question. To respond, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
From WASHINGTON:
Hello, I know that you haven't asked us to report any balk eagle
sightings, but the eagles we have been seeing in the Yakima Valley
are too beautiful to be quiet about. Since late January, we have
seen eagles along the Yakima River almost every day. Most are seen
in the morning. The past couple weeks we have not seen very many.
I am wondering if the warmer weather is encouraging them to go
further north. In fact, I wonder if the Yakima River valley is just
a layover in the eagle's migration path. We do not see them year
round, but the past three years I have noticed them in late winter.
I really miss seeing the eagles. Sometimes we could see four in
five mile stretch of river.
Tawni Taylor, 4th Grade Teacher
Lince Intermediate School, Selah, WA
tltaylor@destiny.esd105.wednet.edu
PLEASE Do Report Your Eagle Sightings!!!!
If you see an eagle, please send a note to Journey North at:
jn-report@learner.org
Students Answer Challenge Question #41
From NEW YORK:
We are from Fyle School in Henrietta, NY. We are students in Mrs.
Nabut's class. We think the larger eagles fly North later for
several reasons:
1)The ice in the north is still frozen so the eagle can't catch
fish to eat.
2)There aren't leaves on trees to make nests.
3) They wait to be sure the weather is good.
4)Do they possibly need warmer weather to mate?
From the MARSHALL ISLANDS:
If the eagle leaves at the same time as the eagles more to the
south, the eagle further north will reach Canada before it warms up.
Spencer, Erwin, Jonathan, Kirstin
George Seitz Elementary School (popejoy@ALOHA.NET)
Bonnie Doherty
George Seitz Elementary School
From ILLINOIS:
We think that it is because it's not as warm closer to the north.
They need to wait longer for it to warm up there.
Mrs. Stearns's and Miss Richter's Class
streansclass@www.district28.k12.il.us
From ILLINOIS:
The eagles that migrate to places closer to the North Pole wait
longer because it takes longer for places near the North Pole to get
warm. Mrs. Hyde's Class (hydeclass@www.district28.k12.il.us)
How to Respond to Challenge Question # 51:
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of the message write: Challenge Question #51.
3. In the body of the message, give your school's name and location and
answer this question:
"Why do you think there are so many eagles in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota?"
The Next Bald Eagle Migration Update Will be Posted on April 1, 1996
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