Today's News
A/CPB
Robin Migration Update: February 18, 1997
Uriah McKinney, Macalester College
Thanks to the many robin watchers who scoured the land as part of this winter's Robin Round-up. Robins were spotted from 50 places! This map shows where the robins were found by our observers. We've also provided a data chart below which shows the locati
on of each sighting, along with the observer's e-mail address.
Geographer's Challenge
Before plotting today's data on your own map of North America, consider this:
How can a map depict movement? As the robins migrate across the continent, how can a map portray changes that take place over time? The Geographer's Challenge (CLICK HERE) is a less
on that will help you explore this idea as you design your migration map.
Preparing for Take Off
Right now, robins across the land are about to begin their migration. We hope you're ready to report the FIRST robin you see this season! Remember, since our goal is to track migration, we ask that each person report only ONE robin, their FIRST. This
is our way of measuring when the wave of spring migrants reaches your region.
How to REPORT:
On the left-hand side of this page you'll see a blue owl button. Simply press the button and a FIELD DATA FORM will appear.
If you have any trouble using this system, send a message to our feedback form We'd be happy to help you!
Spring Fever: Testing a Theory About Robin Migration
When do you think robins will arrive in your hometown? How might you go about making a prediction? By measuring backyard temperatures you can test this theory about their migration:
Is it true that robins migrate with the 36 degree isotherm?
The word "isotherm" means "same temperature". The isotherm is an imaginary line that connects places which have the same average temperatures. The isotherm travels across the continent as temperatures warm in the springtime. You can test whether robins mi grate with it.
Challenge Question #2
"According to your research, do you think robins travel with the 36 degree isotherm?"
In order to answer this Challenge Question, you will need to conduct the Spring Fever Activity and tell us what you discover. What was the isotherm when robins returned to your home town? Instructions for responding to this Challenge Question are provided below.
Where Do YOUR Robins Go?
Thanks to the following students for sharing their thoughts:
From SOUTH DAKOTA:
"We think the robins that migrate from South Dakota go to Oklahoma and Texas."
Floyd Haan (fhaan@iw.net)
From ONTARIO:
"We did some research on robins and found out that they fly south of NEW YORK STATE towards Virginia and Corolinas." Michael Aguanno and Matt Arrigo Gr.6
St. Jean de Beuf School, "In Bradford {North of Toronto}
stjean@barint.on.ca
From NEW JERSEY:
"We think that they go to the Gulf states, Caribbean Islands and warm
climates." Eileen, Maddie, Lauren, and James
Tracey Schaum (oradell@intac.com)
From OREGON:
"We are the First Grade Class at St. John the Baptist School
in Milwaukie, Oregon. Our field reporter, Sabrina Rosacker
contacted the Audubon Society to ask about robins in our
area. She spoke with Jan at our Portland Chapter. She was
told that since we have a mild winter, robins remain here
year round." Your Friends, Mrs. Kennedy's First Grade Class
ekennedy@teleport.com
From MAINE:
Dear Journey North,
"For the Challenge question about Robins we got that
the Robins travel to Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. In the
winter some come down to Maine from Canada. We got this answer
from Scott Grierson who knows alot about nature and comes to our
classroom to teach about animals on our island."
From, Lucy, Shaw, Alyssa Watson, and Bobby Vivian
Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor, Maine
grade5fh@pemetic.u98.k12.me.us
USFWS-Matthew Perry
Analyzing Banding Data from USFWS Bird Banding Lab
Nobody has ever ridden with a robin, so how do we know where they go? We contacted Alan Davenport of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Migratory Bird
Management
in hopes learning what banding data show about robin migration.
Since the early 1900's birds have been tracked by a special technique known as "banding". Small, lightweight bands are fitted on the birds' legs---and off they go, in hope that someone, somewhere will find them again. Now, more than a half million birds i n North America are banded each year. An amazing 43,185 robins have been banded since 1955. Of these, over 14, 000 have been recovered. Banding is an excellent technique for studying the movement, survival, and behavior of birds.
By way of answering our question, Dr. Davenport has graciously supplied hundreds of REAL BANDING records for you! Since we want to know migration patterns, he selected records from birds that were:
- BANDED during breeding season (May - July)
- RECOVERED during winter months (December - January)
CLICK HERE for Robin Banding Data Find your state or province on this list--and you'll discover where your robins have been reported on their winter vacation. Then, see if you can answer this revised version of our first Challenge Question:
Challenge Question # 3
"According to banding data collected over the past 60 years, where do robins that breed in your state or province go for the winter? (Or, if robins winter where you live, where do you think your robins go to breed?)"
To answer this Challenge Question please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
The North American Bird Banding Program is jointly administered by the United States Department of the Interior and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Since the early 1920's the U.S. and Canadian governments have been cooperatively collecting this data. Their respective banding offices have similar functions and policies and use the same bands, reporting forms and data formats.
How to Map Migration Data See: Geographer's Challenge
Journey North's Winter Robin Round-Up
February 4 -14, 1997
Location (Observer's E-mail Address)
How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
Please DO NOT answer both questions in one message!
How to Respond to Journey North Challenge Question # 2
- Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-robin@learner.org
- In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 2
- In the body of the message, give your answer to this question:
Challenge Question #2
"According to your research, do you think robins travel with the 36 degree isotherm?"In order to answer this Challenge Question, you will need to conduct the Spring Fever Activity and tell us what you discover. With your answer, please include the isotherm on the date the robins arrived.
How to Respond to Journey North Challenge Question # 3
- Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-robin@learner.org
- In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 3
- In the body of the message, give your answer to this question:
Challenge Question # 3
"According to banding data collected over the past 60 years, where do robins that breed in your state or province go for the winter? (Or, if robins winter where you live, where do you think your robins go to breed?)"The Next Robin Migration Update Will be Posted on March 4, 1997