Exciting news arrived from two of our falcons friends this past week! Satellite readings from Falcon # 658 and # 655 came in, loud and clear. After reviewing today's data carefully, see if you can answer these questions:
Challenge Question # 74
"Based on today's data, what are all the possible conclusions you could draw about Falcons # 658 and # 655? Why is data from these birds particularly exciting to Skip Ambrose? What makes these birds so important to his research?"
To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
By the way, we apologize for the delay in sending this migration update. There were simply no satellite readings to report last week. As you know, the falcons' transmitters are programmed to send data every 20 days. For some reason, in the last cycle most of the transmitters did not send sufficient information to provide lat/long readings. We asked Skip Ambrose about this and, while he doesn't know the cause, he did send other interesting news:
March 29, 1996
"As near as I can tell, most adult females are back at Lake Powell (we know this from surveys ongoing now--not satellite data) and most Yukon birds are still on wintering grounds. They will have to leave soon to arrive here in late April or early May. One of the adult females made the fall trip in three weeks, from the nest site on the Yukon to the wintering area, so they can move quickly. I do regret the 20 day cycle; that is just too much time in between, but we can't do much better until we get better batteries."
Regards,
Skip
News From FALCONs # 658 and # 655
As you recall, satellite telemetry sends two latitude and longitude readings each time it passes over the falcon. There are complicated reasons for this but, while both readings are mathematically correct only one is geographically possible. (Obviously our falcons can only be in one place at a time!)
For each of the falcons, we have provided both lat/long readings below. We've also provided a data table which shows locations during the rest of the season. Consider these questions for each bird:
* Which location do you think is most likely the correct location?
* Why can't you be sure?
* Will the next satellite reading help you determine which one is correct?
* As of April 2, what conclusions might you draw about each bird's migration?
Date....Latitude/Longitude
Falcon # 658 (Age=HY) (From the Yukon)
11/17/95 20.684 N, 87.077 W
12/07/95 17.877 N, 89.331 W
01/05/96 No Data
02/02/96 No Data
02/22/96 17.927 N, 88.903 W
03/14/96 17.927 N, 88.954 W
04/02/96 20.334 N, 102.126W or 17.684 N, 89.235 W
Falcon # 655 (Age=HY) (From the Yukon)
11/18/95 17.758 N, 92.145 W
12/08/95 17.816.N, 92.312 W
01/16/96 17.873 N, 92.616 W
02/05/96 No Data
02/25/96 17.842 N, 92.450 W
03/15/96 17.794 N, 92.450 W
04/04/96 17.917 N, 92.203W or 12.936 N, 73.264 W
Thanks to students in New York and Wisconsin for answering Challenge Question #52, "How many days did it take Falcon #858 to return to her breeding territory? How many miles per day might she have traveled?" Do you think our other falcons will be back on their nesting territory when the next satellite readings arrive?
From NEW YORK:
At most Falcon #858 took 11 days to return to Lake Powell, Utah.
We estimate that she flew about 155 miles per day.
Ms. Babcock's fourth grade class, Alden Terrace School
Elmont Public Schools k12elbac@vaxc.hofstra.edu
From WISCONSIN:
It took falcon #858 an average of 12 days to get to her breeding territory
(Lake Powell) from Calican Mexico. The Peregrine Falcon #858 traveled an
average of 16 hours a day.
Matt, Ross, Michael -- Iowa-Grant Elementary/Middle School 6th Graders
Iowa-Grant School District Livingston, WI 53554
dirks@cybertown.net
How to Respond to Challenge Question # 74:
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question #74.
3. In the body of the message, answer these questions:
"Based on today's data, what are all the possible conclusions you could draw about Falcons # 658 and # 655? Why is data from these birds particularly exciting to Skip Ambrose? What makes these birds so important to his research?"
The Next Peregrine Falcon Migration Update Will be Posted on April 15, 1996.
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