Journey North Bald Eagles

About the Bald Eagle Migration Study

For the fourteenth season in a row, New York biologist Peter Nye will share satellite telemetry data with students as he tracks the travels of adult Bald eagles in New York state. Satelite tracking data from adult eagle PTT's will provide students with a great opportunity to compare and contrast the migrations of individual adult eagles. Students can research the eagle's diet and habitat, and review previous migration data. They can also explore Canada's climate, and how weather systems affect each eagle's journey using real-time weather data. With all this information, students then estimate when the eagles will head back north to their individual nesting sites.
	Biologist Peter Nye and Bald Eagle V98 with PTT
Nye believes the timing of an eagle's departure from New York is a clue to its ultimate nesting destination. The further north the eagle's nest, he theorizes, the later it leaves New York. This suggests the eagle has an incredible sense of timing. Study all our migration maps to answer this: Which eagles do you suppose will migrate latest?
New this Season
New this season we will ride along with New Hampshire Audubon’s conservation biologist, Christian Martin, in an exciting new study of bald eagles along the Merrimack River. This study is being launched as we start up our 2008 season. We will follow the biologist's efforts in capturing free-flying eagles and fitting them with satellite radio PTTs. If successful, we will learn more about the birds' habitat needs along the Merrimack and then follow them on their migrations north in the spring. Will the project succeed in their attempts to get off the ground? Stay tuned as we follow this exciting study of the bald eagles in New Hampshire.
	Christian Martin, NH Audubon's conservation biologist
Working together with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Audubon's primary goal is to identify and protect important eagle habitat on the Merrimack River.
Join the Scientists
With the knowledge of which habitats these birds use, we can learn how best to protect the bald eagles. Studying previous migration patterns, students then predict when and where each eagle will go to nest. To guide their predictions they'll analyze satellite data collected in the map archives. Recently removed from the endangered species list, the eagle's recovery is a conservation success story. Students will learn about DDT in the food chain and analyze eagle population statistics during the years of its recovery. New research, however, suggests other chemicals in the environment may now be threatening eagles. Nye's work in New York is presently measuring levels of such chemicals. Thus, while conservation challenges continue to confront eagles, past lessons have made scientists and citizens more watchful.
Learn More About Peter Nye Peter Nye's Research Goals Video greeting from Eagleye Nye Video Greeting from Kathy Michell and Peter Nye Peter Nye's Career: A Glimpse into the Life of a Scientist
Learn More About Chris Martin Chris Martin's Career and Research Goals CC