Timing is everything, as Skip Ambrose found last week when he caught one of his falcons in action! With 20 days between satellite readings, what was the chance he'd capture the glimpse of migration you'll discover below? As you look at today's data, see if you can answer this Challenge Question:
Challenge Question # 83
"Where was Falcon # 665 at 4:10 am on April 8th? What does the time of day tell you about peregrine migration? How far did Falcon # 665 travel between the 2 satellite readings on April 8th?"
To respond to this question please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
We knew Skip would be excited about the news from #665 so we caught up with him and asked a few questions:
Q. "Do you think you "caught" #665 while she was migrating? That is, do you think the different locations reported on April 8th (one at 4:10 and the other at 10:14) really were due to movement of the bird?"
A. "Yes indeed...it does look like migration!"
Q. "Isn't one of the goals of your research to discover where these young birds go before their first nesting season? Thus, are you pleased to have this data?
A. "Yes! You are right about our objectives in radio-tagging the nestling birds: We wanted to know where they go during their first year."
Q. Do you think it's heading back to Utah? (It would be fun to have you speculate, and then find out if you're right 20 days from now!)
A. "If I had to guess, I would say it will go somewhere in the western United States, but who knows where? We think the young birds wander quite a bit during their first year. Some may go back to their natal area--but not all. One year I caught a one year old bird only 1.5 miles from the cliff where it hatched, but I think that was usual; we just don't see many 1 year old birds during the summer. Falcon # 665 is a hatch-year female, and we expected hatch-year birds to be less certain in their migration and somewhat slower because they usually do not breed during their first year. This young female did leave her wintering area much later than the adult females from the Lake Powell area."
Last week we asked you to interpret the satellite data from Falcons # 658 and # 655. Students at Blake School in Minneapolis were very careful not to jump to conclusions! They kept an important fact in mind: The data we're receiving is from transmitters--and not necessarily falcons! Here are their comments:
"As of the report date, both falcons are still in their wintering grounds; or the transmitters fell off their backs and we don't know where the birds are." Journey_North96@blake.pvt.k12.mn.us
Let's keep a close eye on Falcons # 658 and # 655. Where do you think they will be when we hear from them next? Back in Alaska..... ...wandering around the continent....or will the readings continue to come from the tropics? Remember, these falcons are also hatch-year birds so they are of particular interest to Ambrose.
Try This!
The satellite readings for Falcon # 665 on April 8th are provided below. A summary of all Falcon # 665's locations is also included. Using today's data, decide which of the two lat/long readings is accurate for each of the two readings on April 8th. Next, see if you can answer Challenge Question # 83:
"Where was Falcon # 665 at 4:10 am on April 8th? What does the time of day tell you about peregrine migration? How far did Falcon # 665 travel between the 2 satellite readings on April 8th?"
How to Respond to Challenge Question #83 :
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question #83
3. In the body of the message, answer the questions above.
Locations for Falcon #665
April 8, 1996
Time Latitude/Longitude or Latitude/Longitude
4:10 am: 30.575 N, 111.894 W or 33.544 N, 125.670 W
10:14 am: 30.240 N, 112.618 W or 38.898 N, 156.244 W
Data Summary
#665 (Age=HY) (From Utah)
01/01/96 20.806 N, 105.165 W
02/28/96 20.918 N, 105.186 W
03/19/96 20.838 N, 105.209 W
04/08/96 (Where was the falcon??)
The Next Peregrine Falcon Migration Update Will be Posted on April 22, 1996.
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