Here are the latest satellite readings just in from Skip Ambrose, Endangered Species Office, USFWS, Fairbanks, Alaska:
Falcon Date Latitude Longitude
22652 2/03/95 35.696 S 59.870 W 2/17/95 35.657 S 60.578 W
22653 2/05/95 14.002 N 89.182 W
22654 2/01/95 21.730 N 78.061 W 2/15/95 21.736 N 78.043 W
22656 2/13/95 18.640 N 95.661 W 2/20/95 18.639 N 95.650 W
22658 2/03/95 10.134 S 42.025 W 2/17/95 10.101 S 42.178 W
22660 2/06/95 18.622 N 95.506 W 2/20/95 18.624 N 95.532 W
22663 2/12/95 10.451 N 84.170 W
The Case of the Missing Falcons
In last week's message there were no reports from falcons # 22653 and # 22654. What do you think happened? Here's how Skip Ambrose explains the"missing birds":
"Peregrines often spend their time in deep ravines and along the face of steep cliffs. Therefore, the signals sent by their transmitters are often not picked up by the satellite as it passes overhead because of interference. It's always possible that the transmittters are broken or have vanished somewhere, but most likely we'll hear from the birds again when they're in eyeshot of the satellite."
How Far Back to the Nest? Here's some information that will help you as you estimate the distance each peregrine must travel back to its breeding grounds, as the Falcon Squad suggested. All 7 falcons were tagged in the Yukon River basin of east central Alaska, along a 160 mile stretch of the river from Circle, Alaska to Eagle, Alaska.
Using a good map of Alaska, find the location to which each peregrine is expected to return:
#22652 Weshrinarin Creek, south end. #22653 Sam Creek #22654 23 Mile #22656 Glenn Creek #22658 70-Mile River #22660 Takoma Creek #22663 Woodchopper Creek
Reminder: Last Week's CHALLENGE QUESTION
There was a new report last week from a bird we hadn't heard from before.
Which number was new and how do you interpret the reading?
Send your answer to: jnorth@informns.k12.mn.us Copyright 1995, Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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