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FLYİNORTH WITHİTHEİSNOWİGEESE
By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence 
HEADINGİNORTH (3/20/97)
Each year, in late February, the snow geese begin their remarkable
five-month return migration from their sunny winter homes in Mexico to
their Arctic summer homes. Now, thanks to an innovative online research
project, called Wild Wings, Heading
North, you can track the daily progress of the birds as they
make their way home.
Researchers at the Biological Resources Division of the US Geological Survey are tracking ten of the snow-geese via special satellite radio-collars. Throughout the 3,000 mile journey, the time and location data of the geese is transmitted from the collars to NOAA weather satellites 500 miles overhead. This data is then downloaded to ground stations in France and Maryland, and bird locations are estimated by analyzing doppler frequency shifts. The ground stations and satellites utilize the Argos system, an international collaborative project that collects data to monitor and protect the environment. The Argos satellite uses Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) and can specify the transmitter's location to within 450 feet. In some cases the latitude and longitude information are so accurate, field researchers can even find the transmitting animal visually. The data then e-mailed to the U. S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, California Science Center. Variables include date and time, latitude, longitude, distance from last location, rate of travel, angle of travel, and days since last data transmission. That data is then run through a mapping program which posts the results on the web page. The site offers numerous map views. You can look at an overall view of the entire flyway; zoom in on where the birds are currently, or even track the progress of a single goose. The site also offers daily field journal entries from scientists participating in the project. Here is a recent example: Monday, March 17, 1997 The comprehensive web page also provides weather information and related geographic and cultural information about areas along the route. Related subjects such as migration patterns, wetlands and global warming are also discussed. Finally, the site also provides online discussion forums for questions and discussion among the many teachers, students and birders who are tracking the migration of the snow geese. For a nominal sum, teachers can order the "Heading North" poster, which provides suggested activities on the back, and the 26-minute "Heading North" video. Related information on the Internet
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Science Updates Index
