Journey North Caribou Spring 2003

Caribou Migration Update: June 4, 2003

Today's Report Includes:

Caribou Migration Data
Special: Migratory Bird News from the Arctic

This Week’s Caribou Migration

Caribou Migration Map June 4, 2003
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Caribou Migration Map June 5, 2002
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While many students will soon be going off on summer school breaks the Porcupine caribou are heading for their summer grounds in the Arctic. What will they do this June, July and August during our “time off?” We know that they won’t be found in the same location for long. These caribou are constantly moving. Their newly born calves will be at their heels as they continue their migrations during our summer months. How can you continue your caribou research this summer?

Today's Data

This week's map clearly shows that many of our collared caribou have reached the coastal plain where their calves can be born in the best possible environment. Just a quick update today to give you the latest data for your map. Who is already on the coastal plain? Who has the farthest distance to travel to get there? Watch for next week’s "data only" update for the latest information!

How does this year’s migration compare with last year’s? Study and compare the two maps. What do you see?

Special: Migratory Bird News from the Arctic

Caribou and Yellow Warblers reach calving grounds this week

We were delighted to receive some other migration news this week and thought it would be fun to share it!
Ian McDonald, a biologist with Parks Canada in Inuvik, Northwest Territories was birdwatching from his camp near Inuvik and wrote to share the list of birds he identified. Here is his message to share with you:

“I first heard a robin singing in Inuvik on May 18 this year. It was quite a drastic change from the 17th to the 18th - it went from dead quiet to a symphony in a day. Here is a list of birds I observed in the Mackenzie River Delta from May 18-24. These are all casual observations while we were out at camp. Camp is approximately 10 km west of Inuvik, Northwest Territory, CA.”

Ian’s List of Birds:

Varied thrush	Raven
American robin	Glaucous gull
Gray jay	American wigeon
Northern waterthrush	Long-tailed duck
White-crowned sparrow	Common goldeneye
American tree sparrow	Mallard
Yellow-rumped warbler	Pine grosbeak
Yellow warbler	Great Horned owl
American kestrel	Dark-eyed Junco
Northern harrier

How many of these birds could you identify? Which birds are found in your area this time of year?

The Next Caribou Migration Data Only Update Will Be Posted on June 11, 2003.