After a long period of wandering about the arctic regions of Baffin Island, Island Girl appears to have finally settled in. So we are calling for an official end to this years migration.
It remains to be seen if she has found a mate or even if she will remain in one spot to nest but we will soon see.
The transmitters are now switching to the summer mode where we only receive signals every ten days.
With luck, and if the transmitters last, we will return to follow the fall migration of Sparrow King and Island Girl in September.
Thanks for your comments and your support during the spring migration north.
Have a great summer.
The FRG crew.
28 June, 2009
12 June, 2009
Island Girl Pausing Again
From Don...
"Island Girl roosted last night only 9 km (6 mi) from her previous night's location. This morning she flew 145 km (90 mi) farther northwest on Baffin Island and is currently at the northernmost extremity of Foxe Basin.
She is once again within about one-and-a-half kilometers of the 70th parallel."
We are all wondering what is going on with this bird. Is she just wandering, will she breed this summer, does she actually have an eyrie and a mate somewhere, has she been put off somehow by the lateness of access, do peregrines get put off by such things.
We simply do not know at this time. And all we can do is observe where she goes from here.
Also keep in mind that the transmitter duty cycle will be changing soon and the signals will only come in every ten days or so.
"Island Girl roosted last night only 9 km (6 mi) from her previous night's location. This morning she flew 145 km (90 mi) farther northwest on Baffin Island and is currently at the northernmost extremity of Foxe Basin.
She is once again within about one-and-a-half kilometers of the 70th parallel."
We are all wondering what is going on with this bird. Is she just wandering, will she breed this summer, does she actually have an eyrie and a mate somewhere, has she been put off somehow by the lateness of access, do peregrines get put off by such things.
We simply do not know at this time. And all we can do is observe where she goes from here.
Also keep in mind that the transmitter duty cycle will be changing soon and the signals will only come in every ten days or so.
Island Girl Continues to the Northwest
From Don,
"Island Girl continued her exploration of Baffin Island yesterday. She flew northwest for 263 km (163 mi) and spent the night about 10 km from Foxe Basin (which constitutes the western shoreline of Baffin Island's central section).
She certainly isn't acting like a bird with a particular destination in mind."
"Island Girl continued her exploration of Baffin Island yesterday. She flew northwest for 263 km (163 mi) and spent the night about 10 km from Foxe Basin (which constitutes the western shoreline of Baffin Island's central section).
She certainly isn't acting like a bird with a particular destination in mind."
10 June, 2009
Island Girl Baffles Science
We all know that our predictions regarding the individual SCPP peregrine movements are usually wrong.
Here is yet another expectation crushed.
Don writes...
"As Bud has already discovered, there's not much point in trying to guess what these birds are going to do. My guesses yesterday were, basically, north, south, or east. So of course she went west. 292 km (181 mi) to be exact, back to the middle of Baffin Island and even a little beyond (she's now closer to Foxe Basin on the west than she is to Baffin Sea on the east).
It has been suggested that this behavior is typical of non-territorial birds, so maybe she's just looking for a place to call "home".
"Non-territorial" apparently here meaning a non-breeder or one of the "floating population" that so readily steps in whenever there is a vacancy in the breeding population.
My thoughts are that she may also just be going through some sort of a "decision process" about not breeding due to the lateness of the season. That is also possible.
We have never tracked the route of a peregrine during such a late season so this is all new to us. In other words, anyone's guess at this point is a valid specultaion. Fire away!
Here is yet another expectation crushed.
Don writes...
"As Bud has already discovered, there's not much point in trying to guess what these birds are going to do. My guesses yesterday were, basically, north, south, or east. So of course she went west. 292 km (181 mi) to be exact, back to the middle of Baffin Island and even a little beyond (she's now closer to Foxe Basin on the west than she is to Baffin Sea on the east).
It has been suggested that this behavior is typical of non-territorial birds, so maybe she's just looking for a place to call "home".
"Non-territorial" apparently here meaning a non-breeder or one of the "floating population" that so readily steps in whenever there is a vacancy in the breeding population.
My thoughts are that she may also just be going through some sort of a "decision process" about not breeding due to the lateness of the season. That is also possible.
We have never tracked the route of a peregrine during such a late season so this is all new to us. In other words, anyone's guess at this point is a valid specultaion. Fire away!
09 June, 2009
Island Girl Still Moving...
From Don....
"Island Girl continued backtracking to the southeast along the coast of Baffin Island yesterday. As already noted, she had flown south for 80 km (50 mi) by 1300Z yesterday; her 2100Z signal is missing, but her overnight roost last night (0500Z 09Jun) was an additional 240 km (149 mi) to the southeast, apparently on the ice a few kilometers offshore.
She is now much closer to the shortest crossing point to Greenland, if that is her intention. Or perhaps her nest site really is farther north on the coast of Baffin Island but she was forced to temporarily retreat.
Or, perhaps she is now approaching a hypothetical nest site to the south on Baffin Island (but then why would she have gone so far out of her way to the north)? The next day or two should tell the story."
"Island Girl continued backtracking to the southeast along the coast of Baffin Island yesterday. As already noted, she had flown south for 80 km (50 mi) by 1300Z yesterday; her 2100Z signal is missing, but her overnight roost last night (0500Z 09Jun) was an additional 240 km (149 mi) to the southeast, apparently on the ice a few kilometers offshore.
She is now much closer to the shortest crossing point to Greenland, if that is her intention. Or perhaps her nest site really is farther north on the coast of Baffin Island but she was forced to temporarily retreat.
Or, perhaps she is now approaching a hypothetical nest site to the south on Baffin Island (but then why would she have gone so far out of her way to the north)? The next day or two should tell the story."
08 June, 2009
Sparrow King Returns to His Eyrie Once Again
Once again from Don...
"Sparrow King has flown 368 km (229 mi) in the past 2 days, and sometime yesterday evening he arrived at his nesting area on the southern tip of Baffin Island.
The website map shows a signal there at 0208Z (08 June), but there were (unplotted) lesser-quality signals from the same general location about 3 hours before that.
So, his northern migration this year was exactly 2 months long, from 08 April - 08 June (61 days)."
Welcome home!
"Sparrow King has flown 368 km (229 mi) in the past 2 days, and sometime yesterday evening he arrived at his nesting area on the southern tip of Baffin Island.
The website map shows a signal there at 0208Z (08 June), but there were (unplotted) lesser-quality signals from the same general location about 3 hours before that.
So, his northern migration this year was exactly 2 months long, from 08 April - 08 June (61 days)."
Welcome home!
Island Girl Near a Greenland Crossing Point
Don writes...
"Island Girl flew north on Baffin Island for another 549 km (341 mi) yesterday. This might be the greatest 1-day distance that we've observed so far north.
She returned to the coast, and arrived at the eastern shore of Baffin Island within about 5 km (3 mi) of the 70th parallel (1200 nautical miles from the North Pole), then backtracked this morning for 80 km (50 mi).
Perhaps coincidentally, her location on Baffin Island is one of the closer approach points to Greenland, which is about 455 km (283 mi) due east across the Baffin Sea. It is not, however, the closest approach point; farther south on Baffin Island, north of Cumberland Sound, the distance is only about 320 km (199 mi). The next couple of days will be interesting."
Is she a Greenland bird?
"Island Girl flew north on Baffin Island for another 549 km (341 mi) yesterday. This might be the greatest 1-day distance that we've observed so far north.
She returned to the coast, and arrived at the eastern shore of Baffin Island within about 5 km (3 mi) of the 70th parallel (1200 nautical miles from the North Pole), then backtracked this morning for 80 km (50 mi).
Perhaps coincidentally, her location on Baffin Island is one of the closer approach points to Greenland, which is about 455 km (283 mi) due east across the Baffin Sea. It is not, however, the closest approach point; farther south on Baffin Island, north of Cumberland Sound, the distance is only about 320 km (199 mi). The next couple of days will be interesting."
Is she a Greenland bird?
Updates on Island Girl and Sparrow King
Hi Everyone,
Sorry to fall behind on the daily reports. Things get pretty hectic around here during our intensive peregrine banding program and we don't have much free time.
So here is an update for the last week or so, mostly and thankfully provided by Don McCall and going back to...
3 June
"Both Island Girl and Sparrow King are still in a holding pattern in northern Quebec. Island Girl has completed a clockwise loop around Akpatok Island and the northeastern part of the Ungava Peninsula, flying first south and then west (yesterday), then north (this morning); her total distance yesterday was 166 km (103 mi).Sparrow King has drifted slowly to the southeast while remaining on the Ungava Peninsula, covering 107 km (66 mi) in the past 2 days."
4 June
"Island Girl is now on Baffin Island. Yesterday she headed mostly north on the Ungava Peninsula, travelling 118 km (73 mi) for the day. She roosted last night on a small island about 2 km offshore from the northeastern tip of the peninsula.
5 June
"Island Girl's first daytime signal today, at 1300Z (approximately mid-morning local time) shows that she has flown 201 km (125 mi) today and has now crossed Hudson Strait, continuing inland on Baffin Island for about 50 km. Her total distance for the day was 227 km (141 mi).
6 June
"So far this morning Island Girl has flown another 40 km and crossed Frobisher Bay (most southeasternmost inlet) on Baffin Island. She is currently headed in the direction of Elizabetha's nesting area, which is the next inlet on southeast Baffin Island as she continues north.
Sparrow King has not yet left the Ungava Peninsula; he's remained in the same general area, flying only 87 km (54 mi) in the past 2 days."
7 June
"Island Girl is progressing very slowly to the northeast on Baffin Island; her total distance yesterday was 97 km (60 mi). This isn't exactly a prediction, but if she intended to go to Greenland, this is pretty much the heading she'd be following right now (note: Bud is REALLY hoping for a Greenland bird!)."
Sorry to fall behind on the daily reports. Things get pretty hectic around here during our intensive peregrine banding program and we don't have much free time.
So here is an update for the last week or so, mostly and thankfully provided by Don McCall and going back to...
3 June
"Both Island Girl and Sparrow King are still in a holding pattern in northern Quebec. Island Girl has completed a clockwise loop around Akpatok Island and the northeastern part of the Ungava Peninsula, flying first south and then west (yesterday), then north (this morning); her total distance yesterday was 166 km (103 mi).Sparrow King has drifted slowly to the southeast while remaining on the Ungava Peninsula, covering 107 km (66 mi) in the past 2 days."
4 June
"Island Girl is now on Baffin Island. Yesterday she headed mostly north on the Ungava Peninsula, travelling 118 km (73 mi) for the day. She roosted last night on a small island about 2 km offshore from the northeastern tip of the peninsula.
5 June
"Island Girl's first daytime signal today, at 1300Z (approximately mid-morning local time) shows that she has flown 201 km (125 mi) today and has now crossed Hudson Strait, continuing inland on Baffin Island for about 50 km. Her total distance for the day was 227 km (141 mi).
6 June
"So far this morning Island Girl has flown another 40 km and crossed Frobisher Bay (most southeasternmost inlet) on Baffin Island. She is currently headed in the direction of Elizabetha's nesting area, which is the next inlet on southeast Baffin Island as she continues north.
Sparrow King has not yet left the Ungava Peninsula; he's remained in the same general area, flying only 87 km (54 mi) in the past 2 days."
7 June
"Island Girl is progressing very slowly to the northeast on Baffin Island; her total distance yesterday was 97 km (60 mi). This isn't exactly a prediction, but if she intended to go to Greenland, this is pretty much the heading she'd be following right now (note: Bud is REALLY hoping for a Greenland bird!)."
Island Girl turned to the northwest on Baffin Island later yesterday, and then moved over to the approximate middle of the island as she proceeded north. She spent the night west of Cumberland Sound, which is the largest of the two inlets in the southeastern portion of Baffin Island and near where Elizabetha's nest site is located. Her total distance yesterday was 230 km (143 mi).
She continued due north up the middle of southern Baffin Island for an additional 197 km (122 mi), and has now crossed the Arctic Circle -- so she is now the northernmost migrant observed on this project in this part of North America."
Thanks to Don for providing this narrative.
We are seeing for the first time how peregrines behave when they are forced to slow their migration due to adverse weather conditions.
As we know, the breeding season in the Arctic is much later than at lower latitudes in North America. For example, many of the eyasses here in the Seattle area will be fledging in the next two weeks.
In contrast, Island Girl hasn't even started her courtship due to the weather. We don't even know if she has arrived on her breeding territory yet.
As a result, she (and a multitude of other peregrines) will be forced into an even shorter breeding cycle than normal this year. What effect will this have on the breeding population this summer? Will all of them try to breed? Will many simply not breed? Will there be enough time and/or food available for them to complete the process in the compressed time they have? If not, what will happen to the young if they don't fledge in time? Will this alter the timing of the fall migration for the adults in any way?
02 June, 2009
Island Girl on The Ice
From Don....
"Hi Everyone,
Island Girl wandered slightly farther southeast after spending the previous night on the ice in northwest Ungava Bay (across Hudson Strait from Baffin Island).
She roosted on the ice again last night about 60 km east of Akpatok Island, where she was previously observed late yesterday morning. Her total distance yesterday was only 97 km (60 mi), and her current position at the mouth of Ungava Bay is just about exactly halfway between the Ungava Peninsula to the west and, to the east, the northeasternmost tip of Quebec (and a shared border with Newfoundland). And, she's now about 125 km south of Sparrow King's nest site on Baffin Island.
If nothing else, these birds are providing a heck of a geography lesson."
"Hi Everyone,
Island Girl wandered slightly farther southeast after spending the previous night on the ice in northwest Ungava Bay (across Hudson Strait from Baffin Island).
She roosted on the ice again last night about 60 km east of Akpatok Island, where she was previously observed late yesterday morning. Her total distance yesterday was only 97 km (60 mi), and her current position at the mouth of Ungava Bay is just about exactly halfway between the Ungava Peninsula to the west and, to the east, the northeasternmost tip of Quebec (and a shared border with Newfoundland). And, she's now about 125 km south of Sparrow King's nest site on Baffin Island.
If nothing else, these birds are providing a heck of a geography lesson."
01 June, 2009
Sparrow King Paralleling Island Girl on Ungava; Both Moving SE
Sparrow King is showing a remarkably similar behavior to Island Girl. After skirting around the southern edge of Hudson Bay (25 May), he proceeded well north towards Baffin Strait (27 May) but paused on the Ungava Peninsula (29 May) before also turning to the southeast, exactly like Island Girl (1 June).
This is especially odd since we know exactly where he is going (Baffin Island) and this is definitely not his optimal route.
From Don's notes...
"He flew 346 km (215 mi) between 27 May and 29 May...."
"He's travelled 202 km (126 mi) in the past two days (1 June)".
So whatever is holding back Island Girl in this region is also likely to be slowing down Sparrow King too.
Best guess, of course, is the weather.
This is especially odd since we know exactly where he is going (Baffin Island) and this is definitely not his optimal route.
From Don's notes...
"He flew 346 km (215 mi) between 27 May and 29 May...."
"He's travelled 202 km (126 mi) in the past two days (1 June)".
So whatever is holding back Island Girl in this region is also likely to be slowing down Sparrow King too.
Best guess, of course, is the weather.
Island Girl Proceeding SE Along the Ungava Coastline
Don again....
"Island Girl remained off the northern tip of Quebec yesterday, still travelling slowly down Hudson Strait to the southeast and parallelling both the coast of the Ungava Peninsula (to the south) and Baffin Island (to the north); she covered 232 km (144 mi) for the day. She roosted overnight on Ungava Bay (apparently on the ice). She still seems to be looking for an opportunity to cross Hudson Strait to Baffin Island."
She distinctly moved in a strong southeasterly direction, again along the coastline. It seems remarkable for a peregrine to travel so far to the southeast after traveling so far north. She does seem to be almost wandering as Don suggests. Perhaps this is in response to extra heavy snow/ice conditions in the area that are delaying or altering her normal flight path north.
However, she is running out of room and will soon have to swing north to reach Baffin, if she is heading that way.
She roosted on the ice almost halfway between the Ungava coast and Akpatok Island.
"Island Girl remained off the northern tip of Quebec yesterday, still travelling slowly down Hudson Strait to the southeast and parallelling both the coast of the Ungava Peninsula (to the south) and Baffin Island (to the north); she covered 232 km (144 mi) for the day. She roosted overnight on Ungava Bay (apparently on the ice). She still seems to be looking for an opportunity to cross Hudson Strait to Baffin Island."
She distinctly moved in a strong southeasterly direction, again along the coastline. It seems remarkable for a peregrine to travel so far to the southeast after traveling so far north. She does seem to be almost wandering as Don suggests. Perhaps this is in response to extra heavy snow/ice conditions in the area that are delaying or altering her normal flight path north.
However, she is running out of room and will soon have to swing north to reach Baffin, if she is heading that way.
She roosted on the ice almost halfway between the Ungava coast and Akpatok Island.
Island Girl Roosting on the Ice
Again from Don...
"Island Girl is showing some interesting new behavior. At her first daylight signal yesterday morning she appeared to be starting across the Hudson Strait (which separates northern Quebec from Baffin Island).
Subsequently, however, she turned back to the southeast, parallelling the southern coast of Baffin Island but remaining closer to the mainland; she flew 334 km (208 mi) yesterday and apparently roosted on the ice on Hudson Strait."
We are definitely witnessing some new peregrine migration behavior at this point. Island Girl did make a foray out onto Hudson Strait and flew almost halfway across the crossing towards Baffin Island.
What made her entirely change her bearing and then turn back to the SE? Is she hunting prey over the ice? Are there other birds out there with her? Is she following flocks of prey? Is there an advantage to hunting over the ice? Is there a lack of cover that improves her odds of catching prey? What could her prey possibly be eating out there on the ice?
And why is she sleeping 27 km (16 miles) offshore and obviously on the ice?
"Island Girl is showing some interesting new behavior. At her first daylight signal yesterday morning she appeared to be starting across the Hudson Strait (which separates northern Quebec from Baffin Island).
Subsequently, however, she turned back to the southeast, parallelling the southern coast of Baffin Island but remaining closer to the mainland; she flew 334 km (208 mi) yesterday and apparently roosted on the ice on Hudson Strait."
We are definitely witnessing some new peregrine migration behavior at this point. Island Girl did make a foray out onto Hudson Strait and flew almost halfway across the crossing towards Baffin Island.
What made her entirely change her bearing and then turn back to the SE? Is she hunting prey over the ice? Are there other birds out there with her? Is she following flocks of prey? Is there an advantage to hunting over the ice? Is there a lack of cover that improves her odds of catching prey? What could her prey possibly be eating out there on the ice?
And why is she sleeping 27 km (16 miles) offshore and obviously on the ice?
Island Girl Sets a New Spring Record
From Don's daily report...
"Island Girl had an amazing day; she completely crossed Hudson Bay and then proceeded north toward the northwestern-most tip of Quebec on the Ungava Peninsula, and spent the night near the shore of Hudson Strait. Her first daytime signal today shows her crossing Hudson Strait toward Baffin Island. Her distance yesterday is her longest day ever and, I believe, second best for the entire project. She travelled 1209 km (751 mi); I haven't looked at the weather maps to see if she was riding the fringe of a storm system up there."
Don is correct. This is the second greatest distance that we have recorded in a single day for the entire Southern Cross Peregrine Project. She has also set a new single day distance record for a north-bound spring migrant tundra peregrine. It is nothing short of amazing that she could plunge so deeply into the arctic region so quickly.
She traveled so far north that she even passed by Sparrow King, who not only started his migration well before her, but from much farther north on Chile (Antofagasta).
Could this indicate a much more northern destination?
"Island Girl had an amazing day; she completely crossed Hudson Bay and then proceeded north toward the northwestern-most tip of Quebec on the Ungava Peninsula, and spent the night near the shore of Hudson Strait. Her first daytime signal today shows her crossing Hudson Strait toward Baffin Island. Her distance yesterday is her longest day ever and, I believe, second best for the entire project. She travelled 1209 km (751 mi); I haven't looked at the weather maps to see if she was riding the fringe of a storm system up there."
Don is correct. This is the second greatest distance that we have recorded in a single day for the entire Southern Cross Peregrine Project. She has also set a new single day distance record for a north-bound spring migrant tundra peregrine. It is nothing short of amazing that she could plunge so deeply into the arctic region so quickly.
She traveled so far north that she even passed by Sparrow King, who not only started his migration well before her, but from much farther north on Chile (Antofagasta).
Could this indicate a much more northern destination?
Elizabetha Stops Transmitting
My apologies for the delayed blog entries for the project. We have been pretty busy banding peregrines in the San Juan Islands and have logged some fairly full days. Not much time for writing.
Anyway, here is an update on Elizabetha.
On 30 May, we stopped receiving signals from Elizabethas transmitter.
On 31 May, Don writes...
"There's still no GPS data for Elizabetha since her overnight roost in the early morning hours of the 29th. Her last Doppler signal (i.e., contact with an Argos satellite) occurred about 4 hours after that. Hopefully this just means that she's been out of direct line-of-sight with the Argos satellites for the past couple of nights."
On 1 June...
"Still no more signals from Elizabetha."
Anyway, here is an update on Elizabetha.
On 30 May, we stopped receiving signals from Elizabethas transmitter.
On 31 May, Don writes...
"There's still no GPS data for Elizabetha since her overnight roost in the early morning hours of the 29th. Her last Doppler signal (i.e., contact with an Argos satellite) occurred about 4 hours after that. Hopefully this just means that she's been out of direct line-of-sight with the Argos satellites for the past couple of nights."
On 1 June...
"Still no more signals from Elizabetha."
It is becoming more and more likely that her transmitter has failed. It has operated for just over 16 months, a bit longer than several other transmitters from this batch that failed around a year. We are still hoping that it will suddenly resume transmitting signals but our past experiences suggests otherwise.
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