Island Girl rocketed north yesterday, covering 535 km (332 miles), her longest distance yet for this migration.
She followed the Gulf coast for the majority of the day, passing over or by Tuxpan, Poza Rica and Tampico. However, as she neared Ciudad Victoria, she suddenly veered NW, leaving the coast behind and headed for the foothills of the Sierra once again.
She roosted in continuous forest on a high mesa at 4,085 feet about 106 miles inland.
Although there were several large cliffs nearby, she did not choose to use them. At least not at the time of the signal.
She is now only about 157 miles from the Texas border and I expect that she will be arriving in the US at about the same time that I am writing this blog.
Although unaware of it, she is now traveling over one of the most dangerous areas on the planet. This region of Mexico is at the very heart of the drug wars in Mexico. Just yesterday, another 49 people were discovered dead along a road near Monterrey, not far from her location.
It is now estimated that over 55,000 people have been killed in Mexico as a result of this conflict, more than all Americans killed in the Vietnam war and that less than 20% of these murders are solved.
Our hearts and sympathy go out to our many friends in Mexico during this trubulent, tragic and chaotic time in their most beautiful country.
15 May, 2012
Island Girl Migrates Past Veracruz
On 13 May, Island Girl once again followed her traditional pathway north. She veered away from the foothills and crossed the well-known coastal plain inland from Veracruz. The largest raptor migration in the world takes place every fall across this region with well over 4 million birds of prey migrating south.
Island Girl is one of them and last fall you may remember that she spent several days in Veracruz on a set of towers where she was photographed by our friends there.
This is her "reverse" migration route as she heads home.
She flew 176 km (109 miles) for the day, passing well north of Cardel and Chichicaxtle, the premiere hawkwatching locations, before roosting 6 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico (elevation 594') on a wooded ridgeline about 3 miles from the main highway.
Island Girl is one of them and last fall you may remember that she spent several days in Veracruz on a set of towers where she was photographed by our friends there.
This is her "reverse" migration route as she heads home.
She flew 176 km (109 miles) for the day, passing well north of Cardel and Chichicaxtle, the premiere hawkwatching locations, before roosting 6 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico (elevation 594') on a wooded ridgeline about 3 miles from the main highway.
Island Girl Following the Eastern Foothills of the Sierra Madre
On 12 May, Island Girl had crossed the Isthmus and continued to follow the eastern foothills of the Sierra Madre mountians. She flew another 230 km (143 miles) to the northwest and passed by the city of Tuxtepec and south of the strato-volcano, Orizaba.
The rest of her line is really fascinating. If you examine her map for the day, you can see a series of perfect ridges extending for 70 miles or so from the SE to NW. They are separated from the main foothills by a large lake or reservoir, called Miguel Aleman on the map. This is classic habitat for a hunting peregrine, a large, open body of water with no place to hide.
This type of ridge system is ideal for migrant hawks and begs the question of whether our Mexican colleagues are looking for spring migrant raptors along these ridges.
Not just peregrines but Swainson's Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged Hawks, Mississippi Kites and the many other species that pass through here.
The rest of her line is really fascinating. If you examine her map for the day, you can see a series of perfect ridges extending for 70 miles or so from the SE to NW. They are separated from the main foothills by a large lake or reservoir, called Miguel Aleman on the map. This is classic habitat for a hunting peregrine, a large, open body of water with no place to hide.
This type of ridge system is ideal for migrant hawks and begs the question of whether our Mexican colleagues are looking for spring migrant raptors along these ridges.
Not just peregrines but Swainson's Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged Hawks, Mississippi Kites and the many other species that pass through here.
Island Crossing the Isthmus of Tehauntepec
Sorry for the tardy posts but I have been re-orienting after my return from South America.
On 11 May, Island Girl continued on her traditional route north here, the same one we have documented over the last four years.
She climbed into the mountains of southern Mexico and roosted on a forested ridge at 1,988' elevation. Her perching area was only about 260' from what looks like a main road heading for the town of San Juan Guichicovi, not far from the main highway across the Isthmus, Ruta 185.
She flew 223 km (139 miles) for the day.
If you look at her route, you can see why she follows this heading. It is a perfect curve taking her towards the Gulf Coast. If she had continued NW, she would have been commited to a Pacific coastline route.
How does she determine when to cross? Is it all instinct? Does she remember the lay of the land? She has certainly passed this way many times before. How much a part does her experience play at this point? Why is it that she knew exactly what to do while Felipe made what now looks like a fatal error in stopping his migration and remaining for an extended period at 15,000 feet?
On 11 May, Island Girl continued on her traditional route north here, the same one we have documented over the last four years.
She climbed into the mountains of southern Mexico and roosted on a forested ridge at 1,988' elevation. Her perching area was only about 260' from what looks like a main road heading for the town of San Juan Guichicovi, not far from the main highway across the Isthmus, Ruta 185.
She flew 223 km (139 miles) for the day.
If you look at her route, you can see why she follows this heading. It is a perfect curve taking her towards the Gulf Coast. If she had continued NW, she would have been commited to a Pacific coastline route.
How does she determine when to cross? Is it all instinct? Does she remember the lay of the land? She has certainly passed this way many times before. How much a part does her experience play at this point? Why is it that she knew exactly what to do while Felipe made what now looks like a fatal error in stopping his migration and remaining for an extended period at 15,000 feet?
11 May, 2012
Island Girl Reaches Mexico
She migrated into Mexico yesterday, traveling 326 km (203 miles) for the day and staying fairly close to the Pacific coastline.
She roosted at 865' in forest on a hillside just a half mile above the Pan-American Highway. She has slept near here in the past.
We expect her to continue on her current heading today and cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as she has done many times before.
This route will take her towards the Gulf of Mexico and Veracruz.
Now let's see if she does as predicted.
She roosted at 865' in forest on a hillside just a half mile above the Pan-American Highway. She has slept near here in the past.
We expect her to continue on her current heading today and cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as she has done many times before.
This route will take her towards the Gulf of Mexico and Veracruz.
Now let's see if she does as predicted.
Felipe Update
Don McCall writes the following....
"Felipe's battery has weakened to the point where we aren't currently receiving either GPS or Doppler location data from his backpack transmitter."
This indicates that the transmitter is not getting enough sunlight to charge its solar cells. Usually, that means that it is lying upside down somewhere.
There are only two reasons that I can think of for that to happen. Either Felipe has removed his transmitter and it is laying on the ground. Or he is no longer living.
We have had both scenarios occur during this project in the past. It is possible for a falcon to remove its transmitter. Another Putu adult male peregreine, Fireball, did so several years ago. It was recovered over a year later on an island in Hudson Bay.
We all hope that is the case.
However, the only way to confirm what has happened is to send someone to the last solid GPS location and look for the transmitter.
We have good coordinates and we have an excellent contact in Cuzco that knows how to look for the location. Our Peruvian guide, Luis, has agreed to search for the unit if we can get him a handheld GPS unit. Fortunately, we trained him how to search for GPS coordinates on our recent trip through Peru.
Unfortunately, this will take time as he and Shirley are still trying to ship our vehicles home from Guayaquil. New regulations have made it almost impossible to ship trucks in containers now.
"Felipe's battery has weakened to the point where we aren't currently receiving either GPS or Doppler location data from his backpack transmitter."
This indicates that the transmitter is not getting enough sunlight to charge its solar cells. Usually, that means that it is lying upside down somewhere.
There are only two reasons that I can think of for that to happen. Either Felipe has removed his transmitter and it is laying on the ground. Or he is no longer living.
We have had both scenarios occur during this project in the past. It is possible for a falcon to remove its transmitter. Another Putu adult male peregreine, Fireball, did so several years ago. It was recovered over a year later on an island in Hudson Bay.
We all hope that is the case.
However, the only way to confirm what has happened is to send someone to the last solid GPS location and look for the transmitter.
We have good coordinates and we have an excellent contact in Cuzco that knows how to look for the location. Our Peruvian guide, Luis, has agreed to search for the unit if we can get him a handheld GPS unit. Fortunately, we trained him how to search for GPS coordinates on our recent trip through Peru.
Unfortunately, this will take time as he and Shirley are still trying to ship our vehicles home from Guayaquil. New regulations have made it almost impossible to ship trucks in containers now.
10 May, 2012
Concern Mounting for Felipe
Both Mark and Don are expressing concern over the well-being of Felipe in the mountains of southern Peru.
These concerns are based on the lack of movement of his satellite transmitter over the last three days, the signal strength from a low battery, and the low temperature of the unit.
Mark suggests that he has either removed his transmitter (which we have seen before) or that he has met his end.
Usually, in these cases, we wait for a few more days to see if there is any change but three days without movement is not good.
If this situation continues unchanged, we will send someone to the site with a GPS unit to see if they can determine what has happened.
At least his last location is within reach of a road this time.
More as this unfortunate situation develops....
These concerns are based on the lack of movement of his satellite transmitter over the last three days, the signal strength from a low battery, and the low temperature of the unit.
Mark suggests that he has either removed his transmitter (which we have seen before) or that he has met his end.
Usually, in these cases, we wait for a few more days to see if there is any change but three days without movement is not good.
If this situation continues unchanged, we will send someone to the site with a GPS unit to see if they can determine what has happened.
At least his last location is within reach of a road this time.
More as this unfortunate situation develops....
Island Girl in Guatemala
On 9 May, Island Girl left her mountain roost and flew down to the Pacific coast. She passed along a sand barrier island, perhaps hunting shorebirds near a settlement called La Barra and not far from "El Hawaii".
She flew 204 km (127 miles) for the day and stopped off about 54 miles east of Mexico.
She eventually roosted on a large, dominant tower or antenna (clearly visible on Google Earth) on a hillside at 850' near a quarry and surrounded by farmland, a large river and a main road.
She slept about 14 miles SW of the famous Lake Atitlan, considered to be the deepest lake in Central America and one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It is surrounded by three volcanoes and was also the home of the now extinct Lake Atitlan Grebe.
She flew 204 km (127 miles) for the day and stopped off about 54 miles east of Mexico.
She eventually roosted on a large, dominant tower or antenna (clearly visible on Google Earth) on a hillside at 850' near a quarry and surrounded by farmland, a large river and a main road.
She slept about 14 miles SW of the famous Lake Atitlan, considered to be the deepest lake in Central America and one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It is surrounded by three volcanoes and was also the home of the now extinct Lake Atitlan Grebe.
Island Girl Completely Crosses El Salvador
On 8 May, Island Girl left Honduras and covered 297 km (185 miles) through the tropics of Central America. She flew into the mountains and migrated completely through El Salvador in a single day,arriving at the southern border of Guatemala that afternoon.
She roosted at 3,200' about a mile south of the town of Jerez in an area of mixed woodlots and farmlands. Latitude around 14 degrees north now.
Looks like she slept in a tree.
She roosted at 3,200' about a mile south of the town of Jerez in an area of mixed woodlots and farmlands. Latitude around 14 degrees north now.
Looks like she slept in a tree.
Island Girl Crossing Nicaragua
On 6 May, Island Girl covered 403 km (250 miles), and crossed all of Nicaragua, traveling from Costa Rica to Honduras, in a single day. She was putting on some speed now.
As usual, she left Costa Rica heading towards Lago Nicaragua and appears to have flown across it, as she has done in past years. She also winged her way right on past Lago Managua further to the NW.
In fact, she flew all the way into Honduras before roosting in the hills above the city of Choluteca at 562' and not far from a main road. She seems to have selected a tree on the hillside for sleeping.
No roosting in Nicaragua this season.
She was now at about 13 degrees north latitude and flying roughly WNW to cross Central America.
As usual, she left Costa Rica heading towards Lago Nicaragua and appears to have flown across it, as she has done in past years. She also winged her way right on past Lago Managua further to the NW.
In fact, she flew all the way into Honduras before roosting in the hills above the city of Choluteca at 562' and not far from a main road. She seems to have selected a tree on the hillside for sleeping.
No roosting in Nicaragua this season.
She was now at about 13 degrees north latitude and flying roughly WNW to cross Central America.
Catching up with Island Girl
Sorry for the delay in reports. I have returned to the US and am adjusting to the changes.
Shirley remains in Guayaquil finalizing the shipping of our vehicles back to the US, a daunting task made possible by our indispensible Peruvian guide, Luis.
We last left Island Girl on the coast of Panama, roosting on the Caribbean at Alligator Creek at around 10 degrees north latitude.
On 6 May, she followed her usual route and flew west over the Bocas Del Toro bay and entered Costa Rica, her next country in Central America. She followed the backside of the mountains and passed the famous hawk counting station at Kekoldi, flew near to Limon (where she stopped off last fall for several days) and kept flying across the low country here as she always does. I would say this part of her route is now almost predictable. She has followed this route for the last four spring seasons. I am sure many other peregrines are doing the same.
She roosted only one night in Costa Rica, sleeping in the lowlands (289' according to Google Earth) not far from Lake Arenal and in an area of cleared farmlands in tropical forest.
Shirley remains in Guayaquil finalizing the shipping of our vehicles back to the US, a daunting task made possible by our indispensible Peruvian guide, Luis.
We last left Island Girl on the coast of Panama, roosting on the Caribbean at Alligator Creek at around 10 degrees north latitude.
On 6 May, she followed her usual route and flew west over the Bocas Del Toro bay and entered Costa Rica, her next country in Central America. She followed the backside of the mountains and passed the famous hawk counting station at Kekoldi, flew near to Limon (where she stopped off last fall for several days) and kept flying across the low country here as she always does. I would say this part of her route is now almost predictable. She has followed this route for the last four spring seasons. I am sure many other peregrines are doing the same.
She roosted only one night in Costa Rica, sleeping in the lowlands (289' according to Google Earth) not far from Lake Arenal and in an area of cleared farmlands in tropical forest.
07 May, 2012
Felipe Continues To Wander
Yesterday Felipe flew to the SE once more, continuing to baffle us all.
Don calculates that he has now moved 166 km (103 miles) to the south of his northernmost point established in southern Peru on 3 May.
I guess this is why they are called the "Wandering Falcon".
Has he lost his way? Are adult peregines actually capable of losing their way? Is he mistaking the altiplano for the arctic? Is this just his normal behavior, to pause and stage before a rocket run to the north?
What a contrast to Island Girl who is currently 23 degrees north and 10 degrees west of him and separated from him by over 1,700 miles. Despite leaving on the same day.
That is quite a bit of catching up to do. Maybe impossible.
On the other hand, if he does decide to suddenly continue his migration and fly north, he may cover the vast distances involved in really good time.
So this situation has the potential to demonstrate what a tiercel can really do under pressure.
It could just as easily be the first known record of an adult male peregrine remaining in South America over the entire boreal breeding season.
Which will it be?
Don calculates that he has now moved 166 km (103 miles) to the south of his northernmost point established in southern Peru on 3 May.
I guess this is why they are called the "Wandering Falcon".
Has he lost his way? Are adult peregines actually capable of losing their way? Is he mistaking the altiplano for the arctic? Is this just his normal behavior, to pause and stage before a rocket run to the north?
What a contrast to Island Girl who is currently 23 degrees north and 10 degrees west of him and separated from him by over 1,700 miles. Despite leaving on the same day.
That is quite a bit of catching up to do. Maybe impossible.
On the other hand, if he does decide to suddenly continue his migration and fly north, he may cover the vast distances involved in really good time.
So this situation has the potential to demonstrate what a tiercel can really do under pressure.
It could just as easily be the first known record of an adult male peregrine remaining in South America over the entire boreal breeding season.
Which will it be?
IIsland Girl Slowly Moving Along Caribbean Coastline in Panama
Island Girl continued to follow the northern coastline of Panama yesterday moving about 148 km (92 miles) on her 22nd day of migration.
It looks like she roosted in what I am going to guess is a mangrove forest just over a mile from the ocean.
If you look at her route, it becomes apparent that she could have easily flown further west when she crossed the Gulf of Panama and arrived at the Azuero Peninsula. She knows this area well and has flown south from here in the past.
She would have saved both time and distance using this route but it is an over-water crossing of some distance. So she took the less hazardous choice and came ashore further east.
I have always liked the shape of the routes of the falcons when they change bearings in Panama.
Graphically, the routes here resemble giant question marks to me.
It looks like she roosted in what I am going to guess is a mangrove forest just over a mile from the ocean.
If you look at her route, it becomes apparent that she could have easily flown further west when she crossed the Gulf of Panama and arrived at the Azuero Peninsula. She knows this area well and has flown south from here in the past.
She would have saved both time and distance using this route but it is an over-water crossing of some distance. So she took the less hazardous choice and came ashore further east.
I have always liked the shape of the routes of the falcons when they change bearings in Panama.
Graphically, the routes here resemble giant question marks to me.
05 May, 2012
Island Girl On the Caribbean
Island Girl did just about as expected yesterday. She turned to the SW and followed the coastline for 70 km (43 miles), taking it easy as she adjusts to the major change in her migratory bearing and hopefully enjoying the pale turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Well, I would anyway.
Well, I would anyway.
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