Golden Eagle Migration Mapping

Time Needed – 45 minutes to Overview of Lesson This – activity will expose students to real life 1 hour research and science. Students will use data collected in the Golden Eagle Project to practice mapping skills and complete calculations . Ages grades – -‐8 5 Minnesota Science Standards Season – Any 5.1.1.1.2 – Recognize that when scientific investigations ated are replic they Materials – Worksheets, generally produce the same results, and when results differ , significantly it pencils, calculator is important to investigate what may have caused such For differences. example: Measurement errors, equipment ures, fail or uncontrolled Optional Materials – variables Smartboard, measuring tape, 5.1.3.4.1 – Use appropriate tools and techniques in gathering, analyzing stop watches, internet access and interpreting data. For example: spring scale, metric measurements, tables, mean/median/range, spreadsheets and appropriate graphs. Lesson Outline I. Introduction -‐ 10 5.1.3.4.2 – Create and analyze different kinds of maps of the student’s minutes community and of Minnesota. For example: weather maps, city maps, II. Mapping – 15 minutes aerial photos, regional maps or online map resources III. Worksheet – 15 7.1.3.4.1 – Use maps, satellite images and other cribe data sets to des minutes patterns and make predictions about natural systems in life science IV. Review – 10 minutes context. For example: use online data sets to compare wildlife populations or water quality in regions of Minnesota.

7.4.4.1.2 – Describe ways that human activities can opulations change the p and communities in an ecosystem.

8.1.3.3.2 – Understand that scientific knowledge is always changing as new technologies and information enhance observations and analysis of data. For example: analyze how new telescopes have provided new information about the universe.

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Background Information: Golden eagles are one of two species of eagle tes found in the United Sta . This chocolate brown colored bird is one of the largest birds on the continent ored and adults have gold col feathers along the back of the neck. Golden eagles have a worldwide distribution and are found across the northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.

In North America, golden eagles are primarily found in the Western States and Provinces from Mexico through Alaska. There are also small breeding populations in northern Ontario and Quebec, with a wintering population in the eastern United States. (See range map at the end of this lesson.)

Golden eagles are regular winter inhabitants in the Midwestern United States in fflands the blu of southeast Minnesota, western consin Wis and northeast Iowa.

Habitat Golden eagles utilize a wide range of habitat types, including -‐ high altitude regions, deserts, forests and open areas. In the Midwestern US, they can be observed in the dense forests of the blufflands, often utilizing the open, upland prairies (goat prairies) as hunting grounds. Recent surveys coordinated by the National Eagle Center and carried out bservers by volunteer o have uncovered an apparently regular wintering population sing u the bluffs of southeast Minnesota, western Wisconsin and . northeast Iowa

Diet Golden eagles are terrestrial predators, eding commonly fe on mammals, birds and reptiles. They have been known to take prey as large as -‐ pronghorn or white tailed deer. In the upper Midwest, common prey items are squirrels, rabbits and wild turkeys.

Golden eagles in the blufflands Golden eagles do nest not or breed in Minnesota or Wisconsin, but they are regular winter residents of in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The Golden Eagle Project is contributing to the world’s knowledge of this species by surveying the regional population, studying their habitat use and migration patterns. One tool the s Project is using i satellite telemetry, using small solar powered GPS transmitters to track golden eagles. Golden eagles are captured and fitted with small solar powered GPS transmitters. The location data is transmitted to satellites and downloaded to researchers. Using location data from the bird's transmitter a map of its migration path and habitat use can be determined.

The Golden Eagle Project is a partnership le of the National Eag Center and Audubon Minnesota, with participation from Minnesota Department of Natural onsin Resources, Wisc Department of Natural Resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and funding support from through Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. For additional information, please visit the National Eagle Center’s website at nationaleaglecenter.org.

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Vocabulary: • Migration -‐ the seasonal movement of animals between breeding and non-‐breeding ranges. • Telemetry -‐ The science and technology omatic of aut measurement and transmission of data by radio, satellite or other means from remote sources to receiving ording stations for rec and analysis. • Transmitter – the device that is attached to the ords eagle that rec and sends data on the bird’s location. • Endangered – a species that has been identified as extinction under threat of or extirpation; In the United States, US the Fish and Wildlife Service maintains an official list of species that are considered endangered and threatened or of n. special concer Internationally, the International Union for the ervation Cons of Nature (IUCN) maintains listings of more than 49,000 species, subspecies and varieties of flora and fauna and places each in a category based on the level of threats that species is facing in the wild. • Threatened – a species whose population s i decreasing and vulnerable to becoming endangered.

Prior to teaching:

Gather materials and print out 1 copy et of the workshe per student.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction (10 minutes)

Ask students about birds that they may have seen in the back yard. Do ey th stay all year long? Many bird species migrate in response to food availability. Define migration . Some birds go a short distance, while others travel long distances Scientists each year. are able to track birds using technology. They attach a small device to the bird and then are able to follow an individual. A group of researchers are tracking golden eagles using satellite telemetry transmitters that the eagles wear like backpacks. They then download the information to a computer and are able he to determine where t eagles are spending time.

Teachers: use the images in the appendix to help explain what researchers are doing.

Mapping Activity (15 minutes)

The telemetry data is provided from the earch Golden Eagle Res Project. Pass out the worksheet and have the students begin by mapping the data points. Then have students complete the calculations on the reverse side of the worksheet.

Smart Board Review of Worksheet (15 minutes)

Go to webpage: Golden Eagle Project – Golden Tracking (http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/golden-‐ eagle-‐project/golden-‐eagle-‐tracking/) from the Nationaleaglecenter.org on the smart Using board. the interactive map, have students compare and contrast the routes of the birds with active transmitters.

*Note by clicking on the route, you ific can read more spec information

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Wrap-‐up and Discussion Questions (10 minutes):

Why would birds or animals want to migrate?

Why would researchers o want t study the golden eagle?

What can researchers learn by using telemetry data?

Why would the eagles route vary year on to year or seas to season?

Additional Information

National Eagle Center www.nationaleag lecenter.org

Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478

USFWS Golden Eagle Fact Sheet http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/FactSheets/Golden_Eagle_Status_Fact_Sh eet[1].pdf

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Golden Eagle Mapping Worksheet

Place a data point at each of the following locations: 1. Find Great Bear Lake, Canada and place a point directly East on the border of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2. Eastern most point of Great Slave Lake 3. Place a point where the borders of Nunavut, es, Northwest Territori Saskatchewan and Manitoba meet. 4. Thompson, Manitoba 5. Northern most end of Lake Winnipeg 6. On land between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior 7. Duluth, Minnesota 8. Central Wisconsin

Date Left Breeding Territory: October 3rd Date Arrived on Wintering Territory: December 20th Total Distance: approximately 2,700 miles traveled in 78 days

Calculate average miles moved per day (show work)

Calculate average speed in mph (show work)

During migration, it is common n for a eagle to stop at one location or even a week before continuing migration. Why you do think a bird would pause during migration?

The information for this activity is based the on migration Golden of Eagle #45 (Jeanette). The graphing points are approximations for this activity only. All other maps in this lesson are using the real data.

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Golden gle Ea Mapping Worksheet – ANSWER SHEET

Place a data point at each of the following locations: 1. Find Great Bear Lake, Canada and place a point directly East on the border of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2. Eastern most point of Great Slave Lake 3. Place point a where the borders of Nunavut, Northwest hewan Territories, Saskatc and Manitoba meet. 4. Thompson, Manitoba 5. Northern most end of Lake Winnipeg 6. On land between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior 7. Duluth, Minnesota 8. Central Wisconsin

Date Left Breeding y: Territor October 3rd Date Arrived on Wintering Territory: December 20th Total Distance: approximately 2,700 miles traveled in 78 days

Calculate average miles moved per day (show work)

2700 miles ÷ 78 days = 34.6 miles per day OR approximately 35 miles per day

Calculate average speed in mph (show work)

35 miles per day ÷ 24 hours per day = 1.45 miles per hour

During migration, it is common n for a eagle to stop at one location or even a week before continuing migration. Why do you think a bird use would pa during migration?

Possible answers include food availability, good ounds, hunting gr weather conditions, etc.

The information for this activity is based off Eagle ng #45 (Jeanette). The graphi points are approximations for this activity only. All other e maps in this lesson ar using the real data.

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g

Golden eagle wearing a satellite transmitter

Transmitter and banding supplies used by researchers

National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981 651.565.4989 nationaleaglecenter.or g