American Robin Migration Update: May 9, 2006 Today's"Data Only" Report Includes: This Week's Migration Maps and Data Who's Still Waiting? News from the NOPs Compare Migrations 2005 and 2006 Robins Heading North? The Advantages of Long Summer Days How Many Days to Hatching? Nest Numbers: Discussion of Challenge Question #7 Year-End Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts American Robin Migration Maps and Data First Robins Seen Waves of Robins First Robins Heard Singing* (map) (map) (map) (data) *Recommended for mapping How is survival for the people of Innoko River , Alaska dependent on the migrations? Students at Shageluk's Innoko River School tell you in this week's letter. Who's Still Waiting? News from the Northern Observation Posts From Florida to Alaska and California to Nova Scotia, robins are home. They're hunkering down to the serious business of making new little robins. In St Sauveur des Monts, PQ, robins are busy building nests. In Homer, Alaska, they are singing every morning and evening and sometimes during the day. And in Anchorage, Alaska, Mike Sterling reports: “The waves of robins are here, as are the raptors, seabirds, and—on Thursday—the WORMS! I always consider spring to have sprung when a rainstorm forces the worms out onto the pavement where all the hungry robins can feast.” As we finish our reporting season, only a few Northern Observation Posts are still awaiting their first robins, and all of them are celebrating spring. See all the latest comments and check the 2006 Prediction Log one more time: Latest News from the NOPs Prediction Log (With Link to Lesson) How Does 2006 Compare? Did robins arrive at the end of the trail earlier or later than last year?  First Robins SEEN May 2006 First Robins SEEN May 2005 1. Compare arrival dates. 2. Compare spring temperatures. Do you notice any connection between average temps and arrival dates? Click on maps to start animations.>> Robins Heading North? The folks in Baker Lake village in the province of Nunavut are hoping to see robins in 2006. In reporting their first robin last year, teacher Orin Durey told why this was unusual: “We're at 64.2°N 96.05°W and saw robins here for the first time ever in 2005.” It’s so unusual that Inuit don't even have a word for this bird. In the Inuit language Inuktitut, a robin is known simply as the bird with the red breast. Villagers are still waiting to see if robins will be back in 2006. In the meantime, here's what we wonder: Robins only began nesting in the high arctic for the first time in the late 1990s. Why do you think robins are migrating and nesting farther north than ever before? Watch this animation and look for clues to this puzzling question. >> Meteorological Service of Canada Photo Laura Erickson The Advantages of Long Summer Days You know that breeding animals need to feed themselves AND their babies, so finding food is serious business. Fred Charles found that Illinois robins put in 15.5 hours a day feeding young in late May, bringing an average of 356 pieces of food daily! The northernmost robins arrive at a later date than their Illinois cousins, but they will still have plenty of time for their parental duties. How might the long days in northern regions benefit birds that migrate there? What disadvantages can you list for robins going the farthest north? How Many Days to Hatching? This robin built a nest in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 4 and 5. She laid her first egg on May 8. If she lays one egg a day for the next 3 days, when will her babies hatch? When will they fledge? HINT: She will start to incubate the eggs on the same day she lays her fourth and final egg. She will incubate the eggs for an average of 13 days, so the babies should hatch on __________ (date). The babies will remain nestlings for an average of 12 days, so they should fledge on ________ (date). Mama Robin starts to incubate on the day she lays her 4th egg. Photo Wayne Kryduba Photo Heather Ray Nest Numbers: Discussion of Challenge Question #7 After you looked at A Robin’s Spring Mission, we asked you to answer this: “If a lucky robin lives for 12 years and builds nests each summer except her first, how many nests might she build in her lifetime? What 3 things make her old nest unsafe for babies?” Did you figure correctly? See the discussion here: Discussion of Challenge Question #7 Year-End Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts! Please take a few minutes to share your suggestions and comments in our Year-End Evaluation. The information you provide is critical for planning new initiatives and for improving Journey North. Also, as a free program supported by a generous grant from Annenberg Media, we want to be able to document Journey North's reach, impact and value. THANK YOU! Journey North Year End Evaluation Please share your thoughts! This is the FINAL Robin Migration Update for Journey North 2006. Thanks to everyone who shared observations to build a picture of the Robin's spring migration, and hats off to everyone who will watch their robins with a caring eye this summer! Copyright 1997- 2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form.