Eastern Mass Hawk Watch annual meeting 2009
<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype>2009 Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting
Free and open to the public.
Date: Friday September 11, 2009
Social Hour: 6:00 PM
Meeting: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Congregational Church of West Medford
Annual business meeting, information on fall sites, vendors, prizes for raffle and refreshments!
For additional information please visit the EMHW web site: http://massbird.org/EMHW/
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<o></o>Keynote Speaker: Dr. Rob Bierregaard currently teaches in the Biology Department of UNC-Charlotte. He will speak about Osprey populations dynamics in Southern New England, and the migration of juvenile Ospreys in eastern North and <st1>South America</st1>.
Juvenile Migration in Ospreys: Heading South on Two Wings and Instinct.<o></o>
Dr. Bierregaard has tracked well over 100 adult Ospreys on their 3-4,000 mile migrations to and from South America. His studies provide a detailed understanding of the routes and timing of these incredible migrations. Until recently, very few nestling Ospreys have been tagged to follow their first trip south. Adults, we know, are flying pretty much by memory. They know precisely where they're going and wind up literally in the same trees they spent their previous winters in. We suspect this is mostly done following landmarks. Birds have remarkable memories.<o></o>
But how do the young Ospreys find South America on their fall migration? They do not have a genetic map--just a set of instincts that lead them south. How do they know how far to go? How do they pick the spot that they will frequent in all their subsequent migrations? These are mysteries that have been far beyond our ken, until current research shifted to tracking juveniles.<o></o>
Since 2004, Bob has tracked 22 Ospreys trapped on their nests not long after they first took flight. These 22 birds are probably more young Ospreys than have been tagged by all other researchers around the world combined.<o></o>
A picture is beginning to emerge from following these birds. The youngsters take all sorts of wild routes to get down south, unlike the stodgy adults. There's a reason the adults take the safe route--most of the ones that went too far astray are no longer around to try their risky routes a second time.<o></o>
And on the wintering grounds, exploration is the name of the game, but with a safe base to return to. Young birds take long "road trips," exploring the surrounding countryside, but keep returning to a known, reliable fishing spot. The return is often from a different direction, showing that these birds are using true navigation.<o></o>
The lecture will also discuss the technology of satellite tracking and explore the details of young Ospreys on their first trip south.<o></o>
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Additional guest speaker: Paul Roberts<o></o>
<o></o>What’s Up with our Hawks?
What hawk species are doing well? What are not? Paul will provide a brief overview of population trends for the hawk species that migrate through eastern Massachusetts<o></o>
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Directions: <o></o>
Driving Directions to The Congregational <st1><st1>Church</st1> of <st1>West Medford.</st1></st1>
400 HighStreet
Medford, MA 02155
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From the North: Take I-93 south; take Exit 32. Follow Route 60 west which
becomes <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">High St</st1:address></st1:street>.) about 1.3 miles to church (on left).
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From the South: Take I-93 north through Boston; take Exit 32. Follow Route
60 west (which becomes High St.) about 1.3 miles to church (on left).
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From the West: Take Route 2 east to Route 60. At end of exit ramp, turn left
toward Arlington. Continue on Route 2), then through two rotaries (another
0.6 mile), and across railroad tracks (another 0.6 mile). Continue 0.2 mile
on Route 60 (High St.) to church (on right).
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Additional parking can be found at the back of the public school next to the church.
