Today, the senior class went up to Afton Mountain to view migrating raptors. Jon and Margaret accompanied the class. It was mostly cloudy, but we were fortunate to view quite a few hawks (red-tailed, broad-winged, Cooper’s) and a bald eagle, among other birds. We were treated to a short talk by Rose, a volunteer, who taught the class about migration patterns and types of birds that we might see. She and Margaret gave the students very interesting information, such as: the peregrine falcons and osprey migrate the farthest, to the coast of South America; birds can lose up to 80% of their body fat while in transit; the birds use the updrafts of our North-South mountain chains to aid them in flight; migration is believed to be an inherited behavior; migrating falcons and Cooper’s hawks sometimes capture and eat songbirds in mid-flight. After recording and observing the migrating raptors, the students had lunch. We finished our field trip by playing Sharks and Minnows and a cooperative game with a bamboo pole.
