Journey North Friends,
We are the Falcon Squad from John Adams Middle School in Rochester, Minnesota. The Falcon Squad is made up of nine eighth grade students all from John Adams.
The Falcon Squad will be tracking seven peregrine falcons, who have been fitted with radio transmitters, from their winter homes in Mexico, Cuba, Central America, and South America to their summer homes along the Yukon River. We will regularly be interacting with scientists who are involved in the program, and with other scientists from the Minnesota Raptor Center, Hawk Ridge, and other nature centers. We will get the information about peregrine falcons from them, decode the data and then relay that information to you in the form of a weekly report of the falcon's migration progress.
Included in the weekly report will be questions related to the peregrine falcons and their migration. We hope that these questions will get things turning in your minds, and generate even more interest in the Journey North Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Peregrine, is the common name of a large falcon, Falco peregrinus. Peregrines are 38 to 50 cm (15 to 20 inches) long, with females substantially larger than males. Adults have blue-gray backs, whitish underparts barred with black, and a prominent "muoustache" mark on the side of the face. Young birds are brown above and buffy below, with streaks rather than bars. In several parts of the nearly worldwide range of the species, peregrines in the mid-20th century were severely affected by chemical pesticides that interfered with reproduction, and became wholly extinct as breeding birds in eastern North America. With the elimination of certain pesticides and aided by a highly successful captive breeding program, peregrine populations were able to recover, and have adapted to life in urban areas where they nest on buildings and bridges, feeding largely on pigeons and other birds.
Information has been obtained from Microsoft Corportation, Coyright 1993 Funk and Wagnall's Corporation.
Last week you received the present coordinates of the seven falcons and will allow you to plot their winter home. We suggest that you plot the location of their winter home and then determine how long a journey each bird will face in order to reach their summer home. Gain additional experience working with the metric system by determining distances in kilometers as well as miles.
Be looking for a map that will enable you to visually track the falcon movements. A prevous message indicated an excellent map as well as how to make your own map. Get yourself set up so that you can make the most of this fun experience.
Falcon Squad John Adams Middle School Rochester, MN 55901 0535jajh@informns.k12.mn.us