News from peregrine # 867 arrived last week, just as we'd hoped. As you'll read below, she's in a fascinating part of the world. We also heard from Falcons # 868 and #651. Unfortunately, their signals were too weak to provide latitude and longitude readings. However, we do have good news!
In addition to the Alaskan falcons, Skip Ambrose is also tracking the migration of peregrines that nest near Lake Powell, Utah. He has offered to share the satellite data from these falcons with you.
This is good news for two reasons: First, since the Alaskan birds only provide readings every 20 days, the Utah birds will give you more information to work with. Secondly, you will be able to compare the migrations of birds from two different populations. In preparation for next week, here are some questions to consider:
To respond to this Challenge Question, see the instructions at the end of this report.
Migration Data
Here's the February 29th reading from Falcon # 867 (Age=ASY)
11/21/95 17.497 N, 91.241 W
12/11/95 17.488 N, 91.194 W
01/20/96 17.418 N, 91.126 W
02/09/96 17.485 N, 91.217 W
02/29/96 17.508 N, 91.166 W
As described in National Geographic's November, '92 issue (page 94), this falcon is spending the winter in the land of the ancient Maya. This region also contains the largest rainforest remaining in Central America. You can actually pinpoint our falcon's location on the satellite pictures on page 98 and see photos of the people who live in this region!
If you'd like to know more about Mayan civilization, you can travel along with Dan Buettner's MayaQuest bicycle expedition. As it happens, the expedition just began today! On the WWW Mayaquest can be found at: http://www.mecc.com/MAYA/Team.News.html
How Scientists Collaborate
Skip Ambrose needs to learn as much as possible about the habitat his falcons are using. He also needs to know how people might be affecting the habitat. Obviously it's too expensive for Skip to follow his falcons to Mexico and all the other places they travel. By a lucky coincidence, he can sit at his desk in Fairbanks and conduct research about these places. He can analyze the satellite photos found in National Geographic. He can pick up the phone and call the scientists at NASA whose satellites took the pictures. He can even contact the scientists mentioned in the article. They are specialists in forestry and environmental management and they've spent many years in the very region one of Skip's falcons is wintering. This is how scientists work together and share their knowledge.
Thanks to Josh Windsor of Scott Young Public School in Ontario for the research he conducted in order to answer Challenge Question #7: "What do the satellite images show and how might this affect the falcons?"
From Josh:
"On page 100 it shows that Mexico has been deforested, and Guatemala is not, so the peregrine falcons would prefer to live in Guatemala. In the 1920's, the Mexican government sponsored a homestead program, giving forest to settlers to clear for corn. Therefore, the farmers started to cut down the forests. The forests of Guatemala were not deforested. They probably learned lessons from the Mexican government's negative policies. Sincerely, Josh syoung@web.apc.org
How to Respond to Challenge Question # 22
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 22
3. In the Body of your message, answer this question:
"If you think Utah peregrines migrate, where do you think they might spend the winter? Why?"
The Next Peregrine Falcon Migration Update Will be Posted on March 11, 1996
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