Welcome...Spring's
Journey North is Underway!
February - June, 2009 >>
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Here's the News!
"Journey North News" updates are the core of Journey North. They are published on this Web site and by e-mail. These updates include the latest migration maps and data, and they summarize news about the migrations and seasonal events we are tracking. The calendar is different for each species and seasonal event. Check it out!
Quick links to each news story are listed below...
Cloudy, cold, windy and rainy...that's the weather report from much of the north where monarchs have yet to appear widely. This is not butterfly weather! Also this week: Volunteers are needed for the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. You can help scientists study monarch populations by establishing your own study site. Why the red flags in my study site?
As the season wraps up, the maps slow down. Most observers have seen their "firsts." Now they can explore how hummers behave and interact with one another, their food sources, and different weather conditions. We hope you'll do the same! Enjoy this week's short update, then come back next week for the FINAL hummingbird update! Photo: Ed Robertson
MysteryIntroducing the Class of 2009! Do you know which location has swimming leopards and elephants on its shores? Or which one sits on the rim of fire, or on the banks of a river? And where would you visit if you were hungry for frog cakes, or red ants, or halibut tacos, or cheese fondue? Travel around our animated globe to connect with your new "bff's". And teachers, use today's Travel Brochure activity and other resources to help assess student understanding and prepare for next year! next year?
Tulips have emerged in Palmer, Alaska! And in North Dakota, gardens have bloomed that were covered with a foot of snow this spring! Visit a garden in WI planted under an unusual mural. Study the season in maps; revisit the question, “How does spring move across the continent?” Then compare and contrast many years of Journey North garden maps. A final thank you to all the gardeners who contributed to this huge experiment!
Hungry whales are nearing the end of their epic migration, each ready to swallow at least 67 tons of food during a 5-month feast on the arctic feeding grounds. But the California point-count sites did not see the big push of cow/calf pairs they expected over the past two weeks. Where are the babies? Team up with scientist Wayne Perryman as he dives into fluctuating calf counts by looking for correlations. Take action for the whales' ocean habitat and dig into a list of summer resources as we end our season today. Go Whales!
Anchorage, AK reporters have seen their first robins! It seems like long ago that the first robins were sighted in warmer climates, but now we can celebrate the robin has arrived home in Anchorage! Another new sighting on the northern shore of Lake Superior brings the happy exclamation, “Finally!!!” Thanks for all you reporters this spring. We’ll be back next spring!
Photos Wayne Kryduba
The first chicks for the Class of 2009 have been born! See what's ahead for the fast-growing fluff-balls in our video clip and slide shows. The last nest at the Wisconsin nesting grounds has failed, but there's hope of chicks from the rescued eggs, and also re-nesting. How close to the 2020 goal are the Eastern flock numbers? Meet a brave crane pair heading for Canada through our photo story, and share in the celebration of an award for Operation Migration. The journey north winds down and the miraculous cycle of life continues. Thanks for joining us this season!
At the end of our tracking season, we notice these 4 birds act like individuals. Although all were trapped in NY, 2 of the eagles have been sitting on nests for a couple months, but the other 2 are putting on a lot of miles above Canadian landscape. Compare 4 years of migration maps this week. What do they tell you about eagle behavior? And a BIG thanks to Peter Nye and Glenn Hewitt for their work and contributions to Journey North! Photo: Peter Nye
The Symbolic butterflies are now flying the final legs of their long journeys. Soon they will arrive at your school. Your role as ambassador for protecting this amazing butterfly is an important connection for monarch conservation. Complete the project by going to the map and posting a note for the creator of each butterfly that landed in your classroom. Take a peek at the workshop at Journey North headquarters.
Toads trilling, bumblebees buzzing, dragonflies darting, and feathered-friends flitting to feeders. Lots of changes afoot this month. Today, see an exciting animation of how sunlight has changed during the schoolyear. This is the last Signs of Spring update, but don't stop looking, listening, drawing, and writing about what you see. You might make some new discoveries! Photo: Wayne Kryduba
Dr. Aborn summarizes the migration week and gives us the new outlook with today's weather map. "While spring migration is winding down in the southern part of the country, migration is just getting started farther north. . . You can still enjoy looking at and listening to the great variety of birds around as they attract a mate, build their nests, and raise their young. To keep learning about migrants and how to protect them, participate in International Migratory Bird Day on May 9th. Have a great summer everyone!" Thanks, Dr. Aborn, for another season of terrific guidance in analyzing weather maps and songbird migration!
News
Flash: Ice-out Walden Pond: March 23, 2009
"Walden
Pond officially iced-out this morning," announced Michael Mitchell
of Walden State Park Reservation. Thoreau kept ice-out records for Walden
Pond in the mid-1800s and recorded them in his celebrated book, Walden.
When Journey North began 15 years ago, we included Thoreau's tradition.
How does this year's ice-out date compare to those in Thoreau's time?
Also, predict the ice-out date for our next observation post, Minnesota's
Lake Minnetonka?
Thousands of hand-made paper butterflies are being distributed to school children in the sanctuary area of Mexico. These along with the real butterflies will stay in Mexico until spring when the migration north begins again. The total number of butterflies this year? 62,542! How good was your estimate? Find your name on the passenger list. And explore the life of a student in the sanctuary area.
Autumn in North America is winding down, and the winter solstice is just 3 weeks away. Snows are falling and flocks of feathered friends are in a feeding frenzy! What's happening in your schoolyard? This month we'll explore what happens with the sun and shadows on the solstice. Join us!space! Image: Douglas Gates
Help
Track Monarch Butterfly Migration to Mexico!
"Citizen scientists" are contributing
important information about monarch migration. We hope you're ready to
help! Find
out how to report your sightings and track the migration on live maps.
Weekly
FALL MIGRATION UPDATES will be posted here every Thursday,
from September to November.
The
Symbolic Migration: Send
a Monarch to Mexico!
The 13th annual Symbolic Migration is about to begin. Children
across North America are invited to make and send their own monarch ambassadors
to Mexico this fall.
Whooping
Crane Migration
Follow the story of 17 endangered Whooping Crane chicks making
their first journey south as ultralight airplane "parents" teach
them the way. Learn about the cranes from egg to first flight. Then join
their first migration from October to December
Journey
North Tulip Gardens
Plant a garden this fall so you can track the sweep of spring
across the Northern Hemisphere as your tulips burst forth and bloom. This
annual seasonal event begins underground each fall. Join the fun!
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