Island Girl had a fairly easy day yesterday. She flew only 170km (105 miles) through the central lowland valley of Ecuador.
She roosted on a forested hillside in the jungle northeast of the town of Chone.
30 April, 2009
Elizabetha Resumes Migration
Elizabetha finished her days off and started moving north again yesterday. She flew 184 km (114 miles) up the coastline and put in for the night south of Chimbote.
She roosted out in the arid desert at 1,600' in elevation in the Andean foothills. She was about 9 km (5 miles) from the ocean and within view of the Pan-American Highway once again.
She roosted out in the arid desert at 1,600' in elevation in the Andean foothills. She was about 9 km (5 miles) from the ocean and within view of the Pan-American Highway once again.
29 April, 2009
Sparky in El Salvador
Once again from Don.....
"Sparrow King travelled about 283 km (176 mi) in the past 2 days, and is currently in El Salvador. His only 2 Doppler signals today are both 0-qual and indicate that he also backtracked several km toward the city of San Salvador, but I would be somewhat skeptical about that given the low signal quality."
So he has slowed a bit.
He is now somewhere in the mountainous volcano region of Central America. Heavy tropics here with lots of high green ridges, deep valleys and tortuous roads.
If these low quality Doppler signals are to be believed, he may be on a high ridge overlooking the shores of Lago Ilopango, the largest lake in El Salvador and a giant volcanic crater.
It is also just a few miles east of the capitol city of San Salvador.
"Sparrow King travelled about 283 km (176 mi) in the past 2 days, and is currently in El Salvador. His only 2 Doppler signals today are both 0-qual and indicate that he also backtracked several km toward the city of San Salvador, but I would be somewhat skeptical about that given the low signal quality."
So he has slowed a bit.
He is now somewhere in the mountainous volcano region of Central America. Heavy tropics here with lots of high green ridges, deep valleys and tortuous roads.
If these low quality Doppler signals are to be believed, he may be on a high ridge overlooking the shores of Lago Ilopango, the largest lake in El Salvador and a giant volcanic crater.
It is also just a few miles east of the capitol city of San Salvador.
Island Girl in the Guayas River Valley of Ecuador
Island Girl flew further north into Ecuador yesterday.
Don McCall writes
"Island Girl's data arrived late again this morning, and we received her first GPS signal for this morning along with yesterday's data and last night's roost site. She flew 202 km (126 mi) farther north into Ecuador yesterday, and after passing Guayaquil, backtracked closer to the city before roosting overnight, and then continued to backtrack for another 7 km this morning. She was still on the outskirts of Guayaquil around mid-day today."
Google Earth has some nice aerial photos of the tropical valley alongside the Guayas River in this area.
Don McCall writes
"Island Girl's data arrived late again this morning, and we received her first GPS signal for this morning along with yesterday's data and last night's roost site. She flew 202 km (126 mi) farther north into Ecuador yesterday, and after passing Guayaquil, backtracked closer to the city before roosting overnight, and then continued to backtrack for another 7 km this morning. She was still on the outskirts of Guayaquil around mid-day today."
Google Earth has some nice aerial photos of the tropical valley alongside the Guayas River in this area.
Elizabetha Stays Put
Elizabetha is apparently hanging out in the same general area as yesterday. Her signal has moved about a half mile indicating that she is changing her location somewhat.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
28 April, 2009
Elizabetha Holds Up On the Coast Of Peru
Elizabetha remained in the same general area as yesterday. Her signals indicate that she moved closer to the coastline and likely slept out on the sand overlooking the beach.
This appears to be an excellent location for hunting with a long broad beach, extensive salt ponds inland and little vegetative cover for prey.
It is likely that she is "staging" here, resting and replenishing her fat reserves for the migration.
She has been migrating for 11 days now and has covered 3,005 km (1,867 miles) thus far, an average of 273 km (170 miles) per day.
In comparison, Island Girl has been traveling for 16 days and has covered 3,918 km (2,434 miles), an average of 244 km (152 miles) per day.
They are about 650 km (400 miles) and five days apart at this stage.
This appears to be an excellent location for hunting with a long broad beach, extensive salt ponds inland and little vegetative cover for prey.
It is likely that she is "staging" here, resting and replenishing her fat reserves for the migration.
She has been migrating for 11 days now and has covered 3,005 km (1,867 miles) thus far, an average of 273 km (170 miles) per day.
In comparison, Island Girl has been traveling for 16 days and has covered 3,918 km (2,434 miles), an average of 244 km (152 miles) per day.
They are about 650 km (400 miles) and five days apart at this stage.
Island Girl Enters Ecuador
On her sixteenth day of migration, Island Girl headed due north and crossed the border into Ecuador. She flew 177 km (110 miles) for the day passing between Lojas in Ecuador and Tumbes in Peru. She is currently heading for the coast on the Bay of Guayaquil.
Extensive cloud cover on Google Earth prevents us from getting much information on her roost site. However, she did sleep above 200 meters in the hills near a large mountain lake and about 41 km (21 miles) inland from the coastline.
She is still following the route along the western edge of the Andean foothills.
Extensive cloud cover on Google Earth prevents us from getting much information on her roost site. However, she did sleep above 200 meters in the hills near a large mountain lake and about 41 km (21 miles) inland from the coastline.
She is still following the route along the western edge of the Andean foothills.
27 April, 2009
Sparrow King Rockets North to Nicaragua
Our remarkable little adult male, Sparky, is really pouring it on.
Over the last two days, he has flown through Panama (so much for the "equatorial pause" this year), Costa Rica and most of Nicaragua. He travelled 623 km (387 miles) across Central America.
It appears that he crossed Panama and Costa Rica on the north or Carribbean side before crossing over to the Pacific side in Nicaragua, once again a classic route. He passed Lago Nicaragua and must have flown up the usual route along the coastline.
Last night, he roosted about a km (less that a mile) on an arm of a salt water estuary at Poneloya. He was near another set of water impoundments, best guess is that they are shrimp farms. Check out the GE blue rectangles for some great shots.
He was about 67 km (42 miles) from the Honduran border and should be crossing the border by now.
Over the last two days, he has flown through Panama (so much for the "equatorial pause" this year), Costa Rica and most of Nicaragua. He travelled 623 km (387 miles) across Central America.
It appears that he crossed Panama and Costa Rica on the north or Carribbean side before crossing over to the Pacific side in Nicaragua, once again a classic route. He passed Lago Nicaragua and must have flown up the usual route along the coastline.
Last night, he roosted about a km (less that a mile) on an arm of a salt water estuary at Poneloya. He was near another set of water impoundments, best guess is that they are shrimp farms. Check out the GE blue rectangles for some great shots.
He was about 67 km (42 miles) from the Honduran border and should be crossing the border by now.
Island Girl Hugs the Andean Foothill Route
Island Girl, in contrast to Elizabetha, is following our recently discovered line along the western front of the Andean foothills. She covered 188 km (117 miles) yesterday.
Seems like she has managed to avoid the desert and its lack of food in this manner. Her GPS locations really show how tightly she has hugged this line, a route that was also used by other tagged birds in the past.
She is leaving the desert behind soon and will be entering the tropical forests of Ecuador, perhaps today.
Last night, she roosted on a dry mountain top, right below some sort of a trail. This mini-range is nearly surrounded by extensive low-lying agricultural areas, all supplied with water from a large river passing below her site. This area is undoubtedly filled with bird life.
Her roost is located about 66 km (42 miles) almost due east of the town of Piura.
Seems like she has managed to avoid the desert and its lack of food in this manner. Her GPS locations really show how tightly she has hugged this line, a route that was also used by other tagged birds in the past.
She is leaving the desert behind soon and will be entering the tropical forests of Ecuador, perhaps today.
Last night, she roosted on a dry mountain top, right below some sort of a trail. This mini-range is nearly surrounded by extensive low-lying agricultural areas, all supplied with water from a large river passing below her site. This area is undoubtedly filled with bird life.
Her roost is located about 66 km (42 miles) almost due east of the town of Piura.
Elizabetha North of Lima
Elizabetha continued to follow the coastal route yesterday covering 269 km (167 miles) for the day. She is really hugging the coastline this year as can be seen from her last two points. She must have flown right over Lima.
She roosted in the desert near some sort of water impoundment and only 2.1 km (1.3 miles) from the ocean. From the colors shown on Google Earth, i.e. white, I strongly suspect that these are salars or salt ponds.
These type of impoundments usually support lots of bird life.
She roosted in the desert near some sort of water impoundment and only 2.1 km (1.3 miles) from the ocean. From the colors shown on Google Earth, i.e. white, I strongly suspect that these are salars or salt ponds.
These type of impoundments usually support lots of bird life.
26 April, 2009
Elizabetha Flies Past Paracas
On her ninth day of migration, Elizabetha flew 459 km (285 miles) for the day, equalling her longest run so far on this northbound route.
It is difficult to define exactly how she travelled up the coast because we only get three signals per day. However, she most likely flew either by the famous Nazca Lines near Ica or perhaps she stayed right on the coastline and went past the also famous Paracas Reserve and the town of Pisco, the origin of "Pisco Sours".
Either way, it was a good flight for her.
By evening, she was near Chincha, a place famous among peregrine trappers in Peru. We have caught peregrines there in the past with Oscar Beingolea, our colleague who has always shared his deep insights into peregrines freely.
She put in for the night on a low desert hill about 1.1 km (.7 mile) east of the Pan-American Highway once again.
She was about 16 km (10 miles) NW of Chincha Alta and is approaching the mid-way point in Peru.
It is difficult to define exactly how she travelled up the coast because we only get three signals per day. However, she most likely flew either by the famous Nazca Lines near Ica or perhaps she stayed right on the coastline and went past the also famous Paracas Reserve and the town of Pisco, the origin of "Pisco Sours".
Either way, it was a good flight for her.
By evening, she was near Chincha, a place famous among peregrine trappers in Peru. We have caught peregrines there in the past with Oscar Beingolea, our colleague who has always shared his deep insights into peregrines freely.
She put in for the night on a low desert hill about 1.1 km (.7 mile) east of the Pan-American Highway once again.
She was about 16 km (10 miles) NW of Chincha Alta and is approaching the mid-way point in Peru.
Elizabetha Following the Classic Coastal Route
On her eighth day of migration, Elizabetha followed the Pacific Coast and passed the towns of Ilo, Mollendo and Camana. She flew a distance of 296 km (184 miles) and was nearing the half-way point to Lima.
She roosted just NW of Ocona, on a beautiful, stark sand hill overlooking the Pan-American Highway once again. This is some of the most beautiful and classic Atacama Desert habitat that you will see. If you can, please check out the Google Earth blue rectangle photos to get a feel for where she spent the night. Gorgeous place.
The town of Ocona is located in another one of those heavily irrigated valleys that are interspersed all the way up the Peruvian coast. She may have hunted there the night before.
From the GE images, it looks like she may have slept directly on the sand at ground level although well up the slope.
There is a small settlement just below her. Once again, she no doubt watched the trucks below her that night as she was only about 300 meters (1,000 feet) away from the highway.
She roosted just NW of Ocona, on a beautiful, stark sand hill overlooking the Pan-American Highway once again. This is some of the most beautiful and classic Atacama Desert habitat that you will see. If you can, please check out the Google Earth blue rectangle photos to get a feel for where she spent the night. Gorgeous place.
The town of Ocona is located in another one of those heavily irrigated valleys that are interspersed all the way up the Peruvian coast. She may have hunted there the night before.
From the GE images, it looks like she may have slept directly on the sand at ground level although well up the slope.
There is a small settlement just below her. Once again, she no doubt watched the trucks below her that night as she was only about 300 meters (1,000 feet) away from the highway.
Island Girl Following the Coastal Hills of Peru
Don McCall writes....
"Island Girl continues to follow the foothills of the Andes, and flew 266 km (165 mi) yesterday. She is currently about 60 km southeast of Cartagena, (near Chiclayo) Peru. For the past several days we've been receiving her overnight GPS signal quite late, although we've been getting her other GPS signals and all of the Doppler data around the usual times. That's the case again this morning, but rather than waiting to update the website maps, her overnight roost has been plotted with a Doppler fix (qual 1, but there are several others, unplotted, around the same location and time). Anyway, her overnight roost location might change slightly after we've received the corresponding GPS fix."
So after her long drop down from the mountains, she has returned to the coastal route once again. However, she is traversing along the inland foothills rather than right along the shoreline.
While she is still in the classic Atacama Desert, she has crossed several of the heavily cultivated and irrigated river valleys today. These locations support lots of bird life, including pigeons, doves and a variety of passerines.
Island Girl roosted on a dry mountain hillside at about 1,320' above one of these agricultural valleys last night.
She is now approaching the northern end of the Atacama Desert and will soon be entering the dry tropical forests of southern Ecuador.
"Island Girl continues to follow the foothills of the Andes, and flew 266 km (165 mi) yesterday. She is currently about 60 km southeast of Cartagena, (near Chiclayo) Peru. For the past several days we've been receiving her overnight GPS signal quite late, although we've been getting her other GPS signals and all of the Doppler data around the usual times. That's the case again this morning, but rather than waiting to update the website maps, her overnight roost has been plotted with a Doppler fix (qual 1, but there are several others, unplotted, around the same location and time). Anyway, her overnight roost location might change slightly after we've received the corresponding GPS fix."
So after her long drop down from the mountains, she has returned to the coastal route once again. However, she is traversing along the inland foothills rather than right along the shoreline.
While she is still in the classic Atacama Desert, she has crossed several of the heavily cultivated and irrigated river valleys today. These locations support lots of bird life, including pigeons, doves and a variety of passerines.
Island Girl roosted on a dry mountain hillside at about 1,320' above one of these agricultural valleys last night.
She is now approaching the northern end of the Atacama Desert and will soon be entering the dry tropical forests of southern Ecuador.
Island Girl Heads Down the Hill
After roosting high in the Andes for the last three nights, Island Girl abruptly headed northwest towards the coast, just like Linda did two years ago.
Both birds set high altitude roosting records and both then suddenly dropped down in elevation.
On Friday, she flew NW near or over the villages of Rapaz, Pachangara, Paca, Nanis and the headwaters of the Huaraz Valley. She therefore flew west of the Huascaran Mountain range, bypassing the highest peaks in Peru, just like Linda did two years ago.
She roosted on a dry desert peak about 22 km (14 miles) inland and NE of the coastal town of Chimbote. Her perch, at about 1,000 feet in elevation, overlooked a broad, braided river valley.
She had flown 290 km (180 miles) for the day.
It is likely that at some point in her flight today, she must have engaged in a long and remarkable glide downwards. She dropped about 14,000 feet in elevation over the day, approximately the height of Mt. Rainier here in the US.
I would have loved to have seen that flight.
Both birds set high altitude roosting records and both then suddenly dropped down in elevation.
On Friday, she flew NW near or over the villages of Rapaz, Pachangara, Paca, Nanis and the headwaters of the Huaraz Valley. She therefore flew west of the Huascaran Mountain range, bypassing the highest peaks in Peru, just like Linda did two years ago.
She roosted on a dry desert peak about 22 km (14 miles) inland and NE of the coastal town of Chimbote. Her perch, at about 1,000 feet in elevation, overlooked a broad, braided river valley.
She had flown 290 km (180 miles) for the day.
It is likely that at some point in her flight today, she must have engaged in a long and remarkable glide downwards. She dropped about 14,000 feet in elevation over the day, approximately the height of Mt. Rainier here in the US.
I would have loved to have seen that flight.
24 April, 2009
Elizabetha Reaches Peru; Sleeps By the Pan-American Highway
Elizabetha crossed over into Peru yesterday leaving Chile behind her for the next 7-8 months.
She continued along her known coastal route and turned the corner to the NW as expected, covering 321 km (199 miles) for the day.
She roosted well out in the desert about 82 km (51 miles) northwest of Tacna and inland from the shoreline about 30 km (18 miles).
Most remarkably, she slept on a slope in a dry wash only about 300 meters (320 yards) from the highway! Check it out on Google Earth. Remarkable. I wonder if she saw trucks going by all night?
She continued along her known coastal route and turned the corner to the NW as expected, covering 321 km (199 miles) for the day.
She roosted well out in the desert about 82 km (51 miles) northwest of Tacna and inland from the shoreline about 30 km (18 miles).
Most remarkably, she slept on a slope in a dry wash only about 300 meters (320 yards) from the highway! Check it out on Google Earth. Remarkable. I wonder if she saw trucks going by all night?
Island Girl Following the Crest of the Andes
Island Girl is still moving NW and following the central line of the Andes Mountains. She remained high in elevation yesterday and flew 289 km (185 miles) across the altiplano.
Don McCall suggests that we change her name to "Mountain Girl".
She roosted on the south side of a mountain at 15, 481 feet, the third highest elevation recorded for a roosting peregrine to our knowledge and very near to the actual crest of the mountains.
After Linda roosted that high in 2007, she headed west down to the ocean the very next day but Island Girl is remaining at high elevation.
Her roost site was located 44 km (27 miles) NW of Lago Junin, one of the largest lakes in the Andes and a location loaded with prey, including ducks and shorebirds.
She is nearing Huascaran National Park and the highest peaks in Peru. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to them.
Don McCall suggests that we change her name to "Mountain Girl".
She roosted on the south side of a mountain at 15, 481 feet, the third highest elevation recorded for a roosting peregrine to our knowledge and very near to the actual crest of the mountains.
After Linda roosted that high in 2007, she headed west down to the ocean the very next day but Island Girl is remaining at high elevation.
Her roost site was located 44 km (27 miles) NW of Lago Junin, one of the largest lakes in the Andes and a location loaded with prey, including ducks and shorebirds.
She is nearing Huascaran National Park and the highest peaks in Peru. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to them.
23 April, 2009
FINDING THE LITTLE BLUE SQUARE PICTURES ON GOOGLE EARTH
For those of you that may not know this, you can go online to our FRG website and click on the Southern Cross Peregrine Project. Select the TRACKING MAPS and select a particular falcon on the list, for example choose "ISLAND GIRL".If you then right click on any of her location points, you will get a window with lots of information, including her latitude and longitude. If you highlight these lat./long. coordinates (including the minus signs if they are there) and click above on EDIT and then COPY, you can then bring up Google Earth and paste these coordinates into the GE location box at the top left. Once you have imported these coordinates into Google Earth, you can click on the adjacent search button GE will take you directly to that location. Scroll out a bit and find the little blue photo squares (if there are any in that location) and click on them to see the surrounding terrain. This may sound complicated but it is really fairly simple and adds alot to the migration experience.
Island Girl Sets Altitude Record in Peru
Island Girl is now travelling on a NW bearing and continues to follow the broad valleys along the crest of the Andes Mountains. She is about half-way between the Amazon Basin and the Pacific Ocean. Her position at last signal was about 34 km (21 miles) SW of the city of Huancavellica.
She covered 334 km (208 miles) yesterday which is pretty impressive for a falcon migrating through the thin air at well over 10,000 feet.
And last night, if we can rely on the elevation data from Google Earth, she broke the record for a high altitude roosting site for peregrines. She chose to sleep on the shoulder of a mountain at 16, 302 feet, breaking the last record held by Linda two years ago at just under 16,000 feet.
There are some blue square pictures taken near her roost site on Google Earth.
She covered 334 km (208 miles) yesterday which is pretty impressive for a falcon migrating through the thin air at well over 10,000 feet.
And last night, if we can rely on the elevation data from Google Earth, she broke the record for a high altitude roosting site for peregrines. She chose to sleep on the shoulder of a mountain at 16, 302 feet, breaking the last record held by Linda two years ago at just under 16,000 feet.
There are some blue square pictures taken near her roost site on Google Earth.
Island Girl Takes the High Andes Route
Well, Island Girl has turned out to be a high mountain migrant falcon. She veered upwards in elevation two days ago as she hit Peru and on Tuesday continued into the very heart of the Andes Mountain chain on her tenth day of migration.
She flew 358 km (223 miles) past Arequipa and the Colca Canyon and continued NW right along the spine of the mountains.
Island Girl roosted on a clifftop at 14,220 feet overlooking a massive river canyon, the Rio Ocona.
She flew 358 km (223 miles) past Arequipa and the Colca Canyon and continued NW right along the spine of the mountains.
Island Girl roosted on a clifftop at 14,220 feet overlooking a massive river canyon, the Rio Ocona.
Elizabetha Roosts in the Nitrate Fields
On Earth Day (22 April), Elizabetha did a fairly short hop, flying up the coast for another 107 km (66 miles) towards the city of Iquique (pronounced Eee-key-kay).
She moved inland about 26 km (16 miles) to the historic nitrate fields of Tarpaca and roosted in the open desert near an old, abandoned saltpeter mine. The elevation there is about 1,000 m(3,300 feet). She was not far from the higher elevation Chilean "salars" or salt flats.
There are many pictures posted on Google Earth from here showing both the ruins and the surrounding desert habitats that Elizabetha is traveling through.
It is also famous for its geoglyphs.
Really remarkable place. Be sure to check it out.
She moved inland about 26 km (16 miles) to the historic nitrate fields of Tarpaca and roosted in the open desert near an old, abandoned saltpeter mine. The elevation there is about 1,000 m(3,300 feet). She was not far from the higher elevation Chilean "salars" or salt flats.
There are many pictures posted on Google Earth from here showing both the ruins and the surrounding desert habitats that Elizabetha is traveling through.
It is also famous for its geoglyphs.
Really remarkable place. Be sure to check it out.
Elizabetha Approaching Iquique
Elizabetha is right on track and is continuing to follow the classic Chilean coastal route north. On Tuesday, she covered a solid 404 km (251 miles) passing right by Antofagasta and Tocopilla before coming in to roost on a dry hillside overlooking the ruins of the town of Huanillos (check out the blue picture dots).
It is difficult to be certain, but it looks like she slept out in the open on the hillside and not on a cliff face. Scary.
She was within sight of both the Pan-American Highway and the ocean. Must have been a great view.
Once again, the major advantage to traveling along the coastal route is the abundance of bird life that concentrates there, providing her with both food and the opportunities to capture it.
It is difficult to be certain, but it looks like she slept out in the open on the hillside and not on a cliff face. Scary.
She was within sight of both the Pan-American Highway and the ocean. Must have been a great view.
Once again, the major advantage to traveling along the coastal route is the abundance of bird life that concentrates there, providing her with both food and the opportunities to capture it.
Sparrow King Arrives In Panama
Sparrow King traversed Colombia over the last two days and arrived in Panama yesterday. He had flown 317 km (197 miles) during that period. He roosted in the tropical forest high on a ridge about 30 km (19 miles) north of the border. He was sleeping in the heart of the Darien region.
Based on his location points, it appears that he had continued to follow the coastal route through Colombia, passing through what is turning out to be one of the main peregrine migration "funnels" that we have discovered on this project. The Pacific shoreline of Colombia might prove to be one of the best locations to observe the peregrine migration in South America and we hope that our colleagues in that country are taking notice of this concentration.
Based on his location points, it appears that he had continued to follow the coastal route through Colombia, passing through what is turning out to be one of the main peregrine migration "funnels" that we have discovered on this project. The Pacific shoreline of Colombia might prove to be one of the best locations to observe the peregrine migration in South America and we hope that our colleagues in that country are taking notice of this concentration.
21 April, 2009
Elizabetha Roosts 32 Miles North of Pacos Last Position
Elizabetha continued to follow the Chilean coastal route yesterday, flying 284 km (176 miles) along the ocean shore. On this, her fourth day of migration, she flew past Caldera and Chanaral and kept going north.
By late afternoon, she had reached Taltal and likely flew right past the site where Paco was killed last year and where we camped just last month.
She finally flew into a rocky canyon for the night and selected a small cliff to sleep on for the night. Her location was just 52 km (32 miles) north of the Paco site.
She is definitely giving us alot of help in defining the peregrine coastal migration route.
I am really happy to see that Elizabetha also appears to be more prone to roosting on cliffs on her migration route than on the ground like Paco did. Obviously, she is far safer on a high and inaccessible cliff site at night.
By late afternoon, she had reached Taltal and likely flew right past the site where Paco was killed last year and where we camped just last month.
She finally flew into a rocky canyon for the night and selected a small cliff to sleep on for the night. Her location was just 52 km (32 miles) north of the Paco site.
She is definitely giving us alot of help in defining the peregrine coastal migration route.
I am really happy to see that Elizabetha also appears to be more prone to roosting on cliffs on her migration route than on the ground like Paco did. Obviously, she is far safer on a high and inaccessible cliff site at night.
Island Girl Arrives in Peru
It took Island Girl about 10 days to reach Peru. Yesterday, she covered 229 km (142 miles) and left Chile behind. She has flown a total of 1,995 km (1,239 miles) so far on her migration north.
It appears that she flew past Arica (Chile) and then Tacna (Peru), before continuing almost due north into the desert foothills instead of following the curve of the Pacific coastline towards the west.
This is a departure from the norm. She is also moving up into the Andean highlands as she continues her migration. Whether she turns west or not remains to be seen but this is a natural place to leave the shoreline. She may be following a migratory bearing north and not a leading line (northwest) in this case.
It appears that she flew past Arica (Chile) and then Tacna (Peru), before continuing almost due north into the desert foothills instead of following the curve of the Pacific coastline towards the west.
This is a departure from the norm. She is also moving up into the Andean highlands as she continues her migration. Whether she turns west or not remains to be seen but this is a natural place to leave the shoreline. She may be following a migratory bearing north and not a leading line (northwest) in this case.
20 April, 2009
Sparky in Colombia
Sparrow King continues to lead the pack and has flown into Colombia. He covered 508 km (316 miles) over the last two days and is about halfway through the country.
He is following the classic coastal route as he has done over the last two years. Once again, this is proving to be an important migratory corridor for peregrines en route to North America.
It appears that he roosted in some dense tropical jungle in the lowlands near the mouth of a large estuary. Maps show it to be in Choco Province in a roadless area. This looks like one of those areas that is about as remote as you can get.
He is following the classic coastal route as he has done over the last two years. Once again, this is proving to be an important migratory corridor for peregrines en route to North America.
It appears that he roosted in some dense tropical jungle in the lowlands near the mouth of a large estuary. Maps show it to be in Choco Province in a roadless area. This looks like one of those areas that is about as remote as you can get.
Elizabetha Roosts in the Copiapo Valley
Elizabetha flew 181 km (112 miles) up the coast yesterday and intersected the Copiapo Valley. This is a really unique location. There is a flat river valley extending inland for about 60 km (37 miles). The Pan-Am Highway follows it inland to the main town, Copiapo. It is a heavily cultivated area due to the presence of lots of water. They grow a variety of vegetables but it is also has an abundance of vineyards all along the valley.
We caught our first SCPP peregrine here two years ago, an immature female, but she had an injury and we decided not to tag her.
We suspect that peregrines are drawn into the valley as a result of the birdlife that exists here in the heavily vegetated area. It is such a dramatic contrast to the desert that exists right along the valley edges and beyond.
Elizabetha roosted on a small rimrock on the border of the lower valley about 13 km (8 miles) inland from the coast. Ironically, this is the same river that Arena wintered on. We caught her just downstream from Elizabethas roost site on a similar rimrock overlooking the ocean.
Kathy and I drove right past this site last month. It is so amazing to be gradually assembling the pieces of the west coast South America peregrine migration route.
We caught our first SCPP peregrine here two years ago, an immature female, but she had an injury and we decided not to tag her.
We suspect that peregrines are drawn into the valley as a result of the birdlife that exists here in the heavily vegetated area. It is such a dramatic contrast to the desert that exists right along the valley edges and beyond.
Elizabetha roosted on a small rimrock on the border of the lower valley about 13 km (8 miles) inland from the coast. Ironically, this is the same river that Arena wintered on. We caught her just downstream from Elizabethas roost site on a similar rimrock overlooking the ocean.
Kathy and I drove right past this site last month. It is so amazing to be gradually assembling the pieces of the west coast South America peregrine migration route.
Island Girl Slows A Bit
As Island Girl proceeds up the Chilean coast towards the Peruvian border, she is slowing some. Her daily jumps have decreased in length. Yesterday, she flewonly 96 km (60 miles), her second shortest hop of the migration so far.
It is not really clear why peregrines cover a great distance one day and a short distance the next but they do. Perhaps they are tired, maybe the weather conditions are poor, possibly it is too hot, or there might even be a food source that they want to exploit, who knows?
She is now about 139 km (86 miles) south of the Peruvian border.
The area she is roosting in, a prominent river valley near the town of Pisagua, has been used in the past by our other tagged birds. She slept on a hillside directly above a secondary road.
It is not really clear why peregrines cover a great distance one day and a short distance the next but they do. Perhaps they are tired, maybe the weather conditions are poor, possibly it is too hot, or there might even be a food source that they want to exploit, who knows?
She is now about 139 km (86 miles) south of the Peruvian border.
The area she is roosting in, a prominent river valley near the town of Pisagua, has been used in the past by our other tagged birds. She slept on a hillside directly above a secondary road.
19 April, 2009
Elizabetha Near La Serena
Elizabetha is still following the coastal route instead of flying inland. She progressed up the coast 164 km (102 miles) passing the city of La Serena (and the La Serena peregrine) and continuing north to Caleta Chungungo.
She roosted on an obvious cliff site on a small peninsula overlooking the ocean. This is a new roost site for us and far from the location from last years roost.
She roosted on an obvious cliff site on a small peninsula overlooking the ocean. This is a new roost site for us and far from the location from last years roost.
Island Girl East of Iquique
Island Girl continues north along the coast of Chile. Yesterday she flew 138 km (86 miles) and roosted in the hills 28 km (17 miles) southeast of the coastal town of Iquique.
She was just west of an odd little industrial complex out in the desert. I have no idea what it is.
She was about 234km (145 miles) south of the Peruvian border.
She was just west of an odd little industrial complex out in the desert. I have no idea what it is.
She was about 234km (145 miles) south of the Peruvian border.
18 April, 2009
Island Girl Crosses Tropic of Capricorn
Island Girl crossed the Tropic of Capricorn yesterday, flying 290 km (180 miles) for the day. She is now officially in the tropics although it is a purely tropical desert in this case.
She flew past Antofagasta early in the day (home of Sparrow King), continued following a coastal route past Tocopilla and put in for the night on the coast.
Google Earth shows that she roosted on a dry hillside quite near the Pan-Am Highway and overlooking the ocean. This site is only 19 km (12 miles) from one of Elizabethas rosting sites from last year.
Island Girl was about 153 km (95 miles) south of the city of Iquique last night and will likely be approaching Arica and the Peruvian border today.
She flew past Antofagasta early in the day (home of Sparrow King), continued following a coastal route past Tocopilla and put in for the night on the coast.
Google Earth shows that she roosted on a dry hillside quite near the Pan-Am Highway and overlooking the ocean. This site is only 19 km (12 miles) from one of Elizabethas rosting sites from last year.
Island Girl was about 153 km (95 miles) south of the city of Iquique last night and will likely be approaching Arica and the Peruvian border today.
Elizabetha On the Move!
Elizabetha, our other adult female peregrine from Putu, finally made her decision to head north yesterday. She covered 458 km (284 miles) on her first "jump" and is remaining close to both the coast and the Pan-American Highway.
She put in to roost on a lovely little cliff overlooking a river about 7 km (4.4 miles) inland.
She was about 117 km (73 miles) south of La Serena.
Last year her first roost site was about 143 km (88 miles) south of this one.
She put in to roost on a lovely little cliff overlooking a river about 7 km (4.4 miles) inland.
She was about 117 km (73 miles) south of La Serena.
Last year her first roost site was about 143 km (88 miles) south of this one.
17 April, 2009
Island Girl Just South of Antofagasta
On her fifth day of migration, Island Girl flew 225 km (140 mi) along the coast and roosted in the desert hills about 62 km (39 miles) south of Antofagasta. It appears that she slept on a barren hillside in as intense a desert situation as you can imagine. She was about 26 km (16 miles) inland from the coast. She has now migrated 1,241 km (771 miles) to date.
She wound up sleeping near the northern end of an unusual N-S escarpment which may have formed a leading line in from the coast. Check it out. Pretty unusual for this area.
There are also some blue square photos showing another astronomical observatory near there with some photos of the adjacent terrain. Also check out the "giant hand" photos to the east. We all visited there two years ago.
Based on her line, she may have passed right over the area where Kathy Gunther and I spent two days looking for Paco's transmitter last month. This was just north of Taltal on the coast.
I am sending Mark some photos of the area in hopes that he will post them here so you can see the terrain.
She wound up sleeping near the northern end of an unusual N-S escarpment which may have formed a leading line in from the coast. Check it out. Pretty unusual for this area.
There are also some blue square photos showing another astronomical observatory near there with some photos of the adjacent terrain. Also check out the "giant hand" photos to the east. We all visited there two years ago.
Based on her line, she may have passed right over the area where Kathy Gunther and I spent two days looking for Paco's transmitter last month. This was just north of Taltal on the coast.
I am sending Mark some photos of the area in hopes that he will post them here so you can see the terrain.
Sparrow King Crosses Equator
After only 10 days of migration, Sparrow King has already entered into both the tropics and the northern hemisphere.
Over the last two days, he has really moved fast and far, traveling a distance of 968 km (602 miles). He left Peru and has now crossed over most of Ecuador.
Last night, he was in the hills near Esmeraldas, a town on the northern coast of the country. He has definitely left the arid deserts far behind and is in deep tropical habitat.
It is going to be most interesting to see if he displays the typical "equatorial slowdown" that we have noted among the tagged migrant peregrines in the past.
Also, since we only get signals from his transmitter every two days, we can't be sure whether he crossed the Gulf of Guayaquil this year.
At any rate, he should fly into Colombia today.
Over the last two days, he has really moved fast and far, traveling a distance of 968 km (602 miles). He left Peru and has now crossed over most of Ecuador.
Last night, he was in the hills near Esmeraldas, a town on the northern coast of the country. He has definitely left the arid deserts far behind and is in deep tropical habitat.
It is going to be most interesting to see if he displays the typical "equatorial slowdown" that we have noted among the tagged migrant peregrines in the past.
Also, since we only get signals from his transmitter every two days, we can't be sure whether he crossed the Gulf of Guayaquil this year.
At any rate, he should fly into Colombia today.
16 April, 2009
No Movement Yet for Elizabetha
Elizabetha continues to remain in the Putu Dunes area and has not started her northbound migration yet.
Last year, she departed on 12 April, four days earlier than today, so she is still within a reasonable limit.
We are receiving Doppler signals from her transmitter but her battery voltage is too low for the more accurate GPS signal.
We suspect that the dense coastal fog of the approaching fall is preventing her from getting a solid solar charge.
More as it comes in....
Last year, she departed on 12 April, four days earlier than today, so she is still within a reasonable limit.
We are receiving Doppler signals from her transmitter but her battery voltage is too low for the more accurate GPS signal.
We suspect that the dense coastal fog of the approaching fall is preventing her from getting a solid solar charge.
More as it comes in....
Island Girl Moves From The Interior To The Coast
Although Island Girl did not travel a long distance yesterday(113 km and 70 miles), she did move out west to the Pacific coastline. She flew past the town of Chanaral, located on the Pan-American Highway and based on the signal coordinates, appears to have stopped on the cliffs north of town.
Ironically, two years ago, our team had also stopped there and threw a pigeon under these same cliffs while searching for falcons.
Island Girl then flew a bit further north and roosted within the Chilean National Park called Parque Pan De Azucar. It appears that she slept on another ridge overlooking the coast and the highway. It does not look like she roosted on a cliff, based on the Google Earth images. If this is true, she is at definite risk from ground predators, especially fox.
This site overlooks an island, Isla Pan De Azucar, with a Humboldt's Penguin colony as well as a roost for Peruvian Pelicans (see the blue square icons on Google Earth for a photo).
This is about the same area that Paco and Fireball were in last April. Both had moved out to the coastline from the arid interior. We can speculate that they do so in order to find food, which is almost non-existent in the interior of the desert here. In contrast, the coast has a far greater number of birds, including shorebirds and gulls.
She was only about 75 miles south of where we lost Paco last year and may be flying over that area as I am writing this blog entry.
Ironically, two years ago, our team had also stopped there and threw a pigeon under these same cliffs while searching for falcons.
Island Girl then flew a bit further north and roosted within the Chilean National Park called Parque Pan De Azucar. It appears that she slept on another ridge overlooking the coast and the highway. It does not look like she roosted on a cliff, based on the Google Earth images. If this is true, she is at definite risk from ground predators, especially fox.
This site overlooks an island, Isla Pan De Azucar, with a Humboldt's Penguin colony as well as a roost for Peruvian Pelicans (see the blue square icons on Google Earth for a photo).
This is about the same area that Paco and Fireball were in last April. Both had moved out to the coastline from the arid interior. We can speculate that they do so in order to find food, which is almost non-existent in the interior of the desert here. In contrast, the coast has a far greater number of birds, including shorebirds and gulls.
She was only about 75 miles south of where we lost Paco last year and may be flying over that area as I am writing this blog entry.
15 April, 2009
Island Girl Flies Past Caldera
Island Girl is following the same general coastal route as most of the other the other Chilean birds that we have tagged over the past two seasons. Yesterday, she flew 280 km (174 miles) north across the Atacama Desert and passed by Caldera, fairly near to where we trapped Arena two years ago and about 7 miles from where we banded another adult male peregrine last month (Bahia Ingles).
She continued on and apparently roosted in the coastal hills north of Caldera.
Looks like she may have slept on the ground atop a dry ridge, although we have found that, as good as it is, it is still very difficult to identify the precise habitat from Google Earth.
One thing we can say for certain is that she is in an extremely dry area.
She continued on and apparently roosted in the coastal hills north of Caldera.
Looks like she may have slept on the ground atop a dry ridge, although we have found that, as good as it is, it is still very difficult to identify the precise habitat from Google Earth.
One thing we can say for certain is that she is in an extremely dry area.
Sparrow King Continues North In Peru
Over the last two days, Sparky has covered more sky, burning across the deserts of Peru. He flew 662 km (412 miles) and is now about 40 km north of Trujillo, which is more than three quarters of the way across this enormous country.
At this rapid rate, he should be in or nearing Ecuador when we obtain his next signals. He is making some really excellent time crossing the Atacama. His last two signals suggest he is flying a bit inland from the coastline but we can't be certain to what extent.
At this rapid rate, he should be in or nearing Ecuador when we obtain his next signals. He is making some really excellent time crossing the Atacama. His last two signals suggest he is flying a bit inland from the coastline but we can't be certain to what extent.
14 April, 2009
Island Girl Heading North
We have received confirmation that Island Girl is definitely migrating to the north. Both Doppler and GPS signals indicate that she has flown 665 km (413 miles) over the last two days.
She is taking the inland route, moving through the dry foothills of the Andes Mountains. The last signals show her to be just north of La Serena and heading towards Vallenar. This is right where the Atacama Desert begins in earnest.
As she flew north, she was only 41 km (26 miles) inland from the La Serena birds territory and was likely in view of the coastline.
She is approaching near to the cluster of famous southern observatories located north of La Serena.
Very gratifying to have called this one correctly.
She is taking the inland route, moving through the dry foothills of the Andes Mountains. The last signals show her to be just north of La Serena and heading towards Vallenar. This is right where the Atacama Desert begins in earnest.
As she flew north, she was only 41 km (26 miles) inland from the La Serena birds territory and was likely in view of the coastline.
She is approaching near to the cluster of famous southern observatories located north of La Serena.
Very gratifying to have called this one correctly.
13 April, 2009
Island Girl Moving?
Don McCall writes:
"There are still no recent GPS signals for any of the females, but a pair of low-quality ("0") Doppler fixes for Island Girl are very provocative. If valid, they would indicate that she has flown north for over 120 km late yesterday afternoon and evening, and is now about 40 km inland. The 0-qual points aren't usually considered very reliable if taken alone, but they can be fairly accurate (especially when occurring in clusters or with reasonable spacing and timing), and I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Island Girl has now started her northern migration. We should know for certain in a day or two."
If this is correct, then we would have confirmation that she is a tundra peregrine as Kathy has predicted and not a resident cassini falcon.
It should also be noted that the coastal area of south central Chile often has heavy fog at this time of year. They are moving into the fall season right now. Even when we were trapping at Putu during early March, we experienced several days of heavy, dense overcast and fog.
And, of course, the transmitters are solar powered so the battery voltages are low due to lack of sunlight. Once the falcons move further north into the warmer, drier areas we should get an increase in signal strength.
We'll have to wait a bit to see, but right now it appears that she is almost due west of Santiago, en route north.
"There are still no recent GPS signals for any of the females, but a pair of low-quality ("0") Doppler fixes for Island Girl are very provocative. If valid, they would indicate that she has flown north for over 120 km late yesterday afternoon and evening, and is now about 40 km inland. The 0-qual points aren't usually considered very reliable if taken alone, but they can be fairly accurate (especially when occurring in clusters or with reasonable spacing and timing), and I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Island Girl has now started her northern migration. We should know for certain in a day or two."
If this is correct, then we would have confirmation that she is a tundra peregrine as Kathy has predicted and not a resident cassini falcon.
It should also be noted that the coastal area of south central Chile often has heavy fog at this time of year. They are moving into the fall season right now. Even when we were trapping at Putu during early March, we experienced several days of heavy, dense overcast and fog.
And, of course, the transmitters are solar powered so the battery voltages are low due to lack of sunlight. Once the falcons move further north into the warmer, drier areas we should get an increase in signal strength.
We'll have to wait a bit to see, but right now it appears that she is almost due west of Santiago, en route north.
Sparrow King Approaching Lima
Sparrow King continues on his direct path north, having travelled 689 km (428 miles) over the last two days. He was approaching Lima, Peru, when the signals arrived and has now likely moved past that city.
12 April, 2009
A Comparison
We are currently witnessing a good example of one of the behavioral differences between North American races or subspecies of peregrine.
On the one hand, we are observing the resident pair of adult anatum peregrines at the Washington Mutual Tower in Seattle (this website). At this point in their breeding cycle, having remained at their nest site year round and already completed their courtship, they are just starting to incubate their brand new eggs. They should have completed their four egg clutch today, 12 April. So incubation is just beginning for them here at 47 degrees 36 minutes north latitude, a little over halfway from the equator to the North Pole.
In contrast, we are also watching three tundra peregrines in South America. One of them, Sparrow King, has just started his migration north to the Arctic to nest. Based on our past satellite data, we know this migration will likely take him approximately 7 weeks to reach Baffin Island from Antofagasta, Chile. So the onset of his migration coincides with egglaying in our local peregrines.
When Sparrow King finally arrives at his northern nest site at about 62 degrees north latitude, the Seattle peregrines should be about three weeks old. When Sparrow King is less than halfway through his incubation period, the Seattle young should be flying.
Of course, this disparity is based on the climatic conditions found in the arctic. If Sparrow King arrives too early, there will be too much snow and too few prey birds for him to survive. But if he arrives too late, he risks not getting his young off the nest before the harsh fall weather arrives in the north or being usurped by another adult male at his nest site.
In addition, our two other tagged adult females, Elizabetha and Island Girl, have not even left their wintering grounds in Chile as yet and they are much further south.
These two examples illustrate the effects of latitude on peregrines and hint at the long evolution that must have been involved in the northern birds developing their tendency to travel so far south at such a great cost and great danger to themselves.
On the one hand, we are observing the resident pair of adult anatum peregrines at the Washington Mutual Tower in Seattle (this website). At this point in their breeding cycle, having remained at their nest site year round and already completed their courtship, they are just starting to incubate their brand new eggs. They should have completed their four egg clutch today, 12 April. So incubation is just beginning for them here at 47 degrees 36 minutes north latitude, a little over halfway from the equator to the North Pole.
In contrast, we are also watching three tundra peregrines in South America. One of them, Sparrow King, has just started his migration north to the Arctic to nest. Based on our past satellite data, we know this migration will likely take him approximately 7 weeks to reach Baffin Island from Antofagasta, Chile. So the onset of his migration coincides with egglaying in our local peregrines.
When Sparrow King finally arrives at his northern nest site at about 62 degrees north latitude, the Seattle peregrines should be about three weeks old. When Sparrow King is less than halfway through his incubation period, the Seattle young should be flying.
Of course, this disparity is based on the climatic conditions found in the arctic. If Sparrow King arrives too early, there will be too much snow and too few prey birds for him to survive. But if he arrives too late, he risks not getting his young off the nest before the harsh fall weather arrives in the north or being usurped by another adult male at his nest site.
In addition, our two other tagged adult females, Elizabetha and Island Girl, have not even left their wintering grounds in Chile as yet and they are much further south.
These two examples illustrate the effects of latitude on peregrines and hint at the long evolution that must have been involved in the northern birds developing their tendency to travel so far south at such a great cost and great danger to themselves.
11 April, 2009
Sparrow Kings Begins the 2009 Spring Migration
The northbound migration has begun.
Sparrow King is the first of our three satellite-tagged peregrines to start north. Since his transmitter generates signals every two days, we can't be certain of his exact start time but Don McCall writes...
"Signals for Sparrow King that were received early this morning indicate that he departed Antofagasta, Chile sometime after 1453Z on 08 April, and by yesterday evening had travelled 727 km (451 mi) north. He is already in Peru, on the coast approximately 80 km south of Arequipa."
And, of course, this is his third migration with a transmitter so we will be able to compare how his routes may differ each year.
For example, he left earlier this year (8 April) than the two earlier years (12 and 19 April) but still within an 11 day period. Great stuff!
And so begins the migration once again....
Sparrow King is the first of our three satellite-tagged peregrines to start north. Since his transmitter generates signals every two days, we can't be certain of his exact start time but Don McCall writes...
"Signals for Sparrow King that were received early this morning indicate that he departed Antofagasta, Chile sometime after 1453Z on 08 April, and by yesterday evening had travelled 727 km (451 mi) north. He is already in Peru, on the coast approximately 80 km south of Arequipa."
And, of course, this is his third migration with a transmitter so we will be able to compare how his routes may differ each year.
For example, he left earlier this year (8 April) than the two earlier years (12 and 19 April) but still within an 11 day period. Great stuff!
And so begins the migration once again....
09 April, 2009
No Movement Yet.....
Don, Mark and I are checking the satellites every day waiting for our first falcon to head north.
No departures as yet but we are getting close. Please stay tuned and you will be one of the first to know.....
No departures as yet but we are getting close. Please stay tuned and you will be one of the first to know.....
05 April, 2009
Southern Cross Peregrines Poised to Head North
As we enter the month of April, 2009, we are checking the satellite data each day to see if and when our three satellite-tagged peregrines (Sparrow King, Elizabetha and Island Girl) begin their long journeys home to their eyries in North America.
If all goes well, this will be the third migration north for Sparrow King, an unprecedented number of years for a satellite-tagged Chilean migrant. We are all hoping that his transmitter continues to function well for this migration too. He holds the transmitter longevity record for the project right now.
In 2007, he began his migration around 12 April; in 2008, 19 April.
The same holds true for Elizabetha, set to begin her second migration north with a satellite transmitter. We are hoping to get by the dreaded "one year hurdle" on her transmitter, the short life span we have experienced with several other of these transmitters so far.
In 2008, she began her northern migration on 12 April.
And then there is Island Girl, tagged just last month. She is what we are calling an anatum-type of falcon, i.e. lots of rose in her breast feathers and a fuller cap than you might expect in a tundra migrant peregrine. But then, we have learned that this type of coloration is often found among tundra peregrines in Canada, Alaska and Greenland.
Unfortunately, this coloration and plumage pattern is also found in some resident Chilean peregrines as well.
One of our discoveries on this project is the often difficult process of separating "wintering" tundra migrants from the resident birds in Chile. The La Serena bird is a perfect example. She could easily pass for a North American anatum falcon if you saw her at Padre Island, Texas. But she is a full resident, non-migratory Chilean bird.
Island Girl fits this latter category. We think that she is likely a northern bird for several reasons (using Putu like other tundra birds, not roosting at an eyrie, adjacent range to Elizabetha) but we are not positive that this is the case. We will discover the answer about her status when and if she starts flying north, most likely in the next two weeks. She will let us know.
As always with this project, only time will tell.
If all goes well, this will be the third migration north for Sparrow King, an unprecedented number of years for a satellite-tagged Chilean migrant. We are all hoping that his transmitter continues to function well for this migration too. He holds the transmitter longevity record for the project right now.
In 2007, he began his migration around 12 April; in 2008, 19 April.
The same holds true for Elizabetha, set to begin her second migration north with a satellite transmitter. We are hoping to get by the dreaded "one year hurdle" on her transmitter, the short life span we have experienced with several other of these transmitters so far.
In 2008, she began her northern migration on 12 April.
And then there is Island Girl, tagged just last month. She is what we are calling an anatum-type of falcon, i.e. lots of rose in her breast feathers and a fuller cap than you might expect in a tundra migrant peregrine. But then, we have learned that this type of coloration is often found among tundra peregrines in Canada, Alaska and Greenland.
Unfortunately, this coloration and plumage pattern is also found in some resident Chilean peregrines as well.
One of our discoveries on this project is the often difficult process of separating "wintering" tundra migrants from the resident birds in Chile. The La Serena bird is a perfect example. She could easily pass for a North American anatum falcon if you saw her at Padre Island, Texas. But she is a full resident, non-migratory Chilean bird.
Island Girl fits this latter category. We think that she is likely a northern bird for several reasons (using Putu like other tundra birds, not roosting at an eyrie, adjacent range to Elizabetha) but we are not positive that this is the case. We will discover the answer about her status when and if she starts flying north, most likely in the next two weeks. She will let us know.
As always with this project, only time will tell.
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