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A webcast/broadcast took place at the Fraser River Delta on April 24, 2007.
CLICK HERE to watch the program as an archived webcast. To view streaming video, you need RealPlayer™, which is available free at http://www.real.com.
Students sent in the following questions during the webcast, and here are the answers:
Ben
Location: Satori School Galveston Island, Texas
We have hummingbirds that migrate through Galveston Island....are there hummingbirds that migrate through your area as well?
Hi, Ben. Yes, we have hummingbirds that migrate through our area as well! Our most abundant hummingbird is the Rufous Hummingbird. They stop here to breed and are quite abundant in the spring and summer. In fact, they may even pass through your area on their way here! We also have smaller numbers of Anna’s Hummingbird that arrive here to breed, too.
Megan
Location: Satori Elementary Galveston, Texas
What if all the birds disappeared on the earth....what would happen to the earth...what changes would it make in our environment/habitats?
Good question, Megan! Birds are a really important part of nearly every ecosystem on the planet. Birds eat everything from plants, bugs, fish and marine invertebrates to carcasses and single-celled organisms. By eating all this variety, birds help to regulate the balance of each ecosystem. If we were to remove birds, it would have a devastating effect on the natural balance of the world’s ecology. Think about a common bird like the swallow. Swallows eat mosquitoes and other flying insects. If swallows were to disappear, we would have a nasty bug epidemic on our hands. In the Western Sandpiper’s case, they migrate to the Arctic partly because of the abundance of food found there in the summer, namely bugs. There is a huge increase in the productivity of the Arctic in the summer both on land and in the sea that attracts animals as diverse as shorebirds, ducks and geese, to whales and fish. If we were to remove any of these animals there would be an enormous excess of their prey species, leading to an ecological collapse.
Alexis
Location: Satori Elementary School Galveston Island, Texas
Do the birds nest in your area as well or do they just stop off to rest and recoup for their trip North/South?
Hi, Alexis. The Western Sandpiper does not stop to breed in the Fraser Delta. Their breeding grounds are in Alaska. They use the Fraser Delta just as a stopover site to refuel.
Kiana
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do birds only migrate in the winter?
Hi, Kiana. Bird migration happens in the spring and then again in the fall. Birds migrate to their breeding grounds in the spring, raise their young and then return to their wintering grounds at the end of the summer. In the Western Sandpiper, the same thing happens. They go north in the spring and then return in July or August.
Name: Juana
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
What is radio telemetry? Is it like a satellite?
Hi, Juana. Radio telemetry uses small electric devices, called radio transmitters, which we use to track the birds. These devices are very small, less than 2 grams in weight, and are glued to the lower back of the birds. This does not harm them. The radio transmitters emit a radio frequency that we are able to detect up to 2 kilometers away using a portable radio antenna. Each transmitter emits a unique frequency allowing us to detect the presence of individual birds and track those birds during their movement. When the birds molt in the winter, the radio transmitter is dropped with the feathers.
Name: Jose
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How do you catch the birds to put on the radio devices and what happens if they fall off?
Hi, Jose. We capture the birds in the mist nets that were demonstrated on the webcast. If the transmitter falls off it has a built in mechanism that turns it off after it’s been still for 12 or 24 hours. We are no longer able to track the bird when it falls off, so if the device stays still or turns off we know that the bird has either died or it fell off.
Kimberly
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How can you tell the different birds apart?
We tell different species apart by comparing the distinct markings on their feathers, their size and the colors of their legs and eyes to the illustrations and descriptions in a field guide to birds.
What do you have to study in order to be able to study birds as your job?
To become a biologist you need to complete high school with good marks, attend a college or university to get your bachelor’s of science, then master’s of science and often, doctoral degree and get some hands-on experience as a field scientist. My advice for any students interested in pursuing a career as a biologist is to find an area of biology that you are interested in, whether it’s bugs or birds or whales or plants, and learn as much as you can about those organisms, get involved in local conservation groups to build up some experience, do well in school, and follow your passion!
Diego
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary, Texas
On the last webcast one of the biologists said that the adult birds fly back in the fall migration alone. How do the babies know where to go? Do the parents teach them how to fly and hunt before they leave them? or is that an instinct?
Hi, Diego. The young sandpipers have instinctual knowledge about where to go as they travel south. They learn what food to eat from their mothers, who remain with them for a few weeks before they also travel south. The young finish growing their feathers and getting big all on their own before they go south themselves.
How long do they stay in the Arctic before they return?
Male Western Sandpipers are on the breeding grounds only long enough for them to find and defend a territory, get a female, mate and then once the young have hatched they’re already gone. Females stay long enough to teach the young how to hunt and avoid predators and then they depart. Finally, the young stay until they are about 6 weeks old, when their feathers are fully grown before they depart. So the sandpipers are only in the Arctic for about 2 months.
Do they have one lot of young, or two?
Many species of shorebirds have two lots of young (or what we call broods) per year.
Zach
Location: California, Pa
Is it cold in Canada? If it is, how do the birds survive, because I don’t want the birds to die.
It appeared to be cold on the webcast. However, it was just overcast and windy. The wind can make it appear much colder than the ambient temperature. The birds are well adapted to dealing with the cold. They have a thick layer of feathers with an insulating layer of down feathers underneath. They also have a high metabolism that generates lots of energy. Just imagine running around all day. You’d be plenty warm enough. When the birds get cold, they fluff up their feathers trapping warm air in between the layers which keeps them warm.
Jarvis
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How many eggs can bird lay at a time?
Western Sandpipers lay 3-4 eggs. Rarely do they lay more than 4.
What happens to the birds if they meet with bad storms over the oceans has they are flying?
They settle on the nearest shore and wait for the weather to change. There are records of Western Sandpipers in Hawaii that were likely blown off course. I do not know of any records of birds landing on the sea.
Leslie
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
What is the most common bird that migrates?
The most numerous bird in America that migrates is the Red-winged Blackbird.
Are there any birds from Texas that migrate long distances?
Many birds migrate long distances through Texas. The Western Sandpiper spends the winter there and migrates to Alaska. The Vaux’s Swift migrates from Canada to South America passing through Texas on the way.
When do the birds know to stop and rest?
No one knows for sure but they likely stop when they run out of fat or when the weather is poor.
Jeremiah
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do the birds fight when they make their nests?
Many birds fight when they defend territories where they will build nests and raise young. Singing is used to tell other male birds to stay away. Robins will fight with their images in car mirrors.
And how do they know when the females are coming?
Some females migrate at the same time as the males, but in many birds the males precede the females by a few days. Females will be attracted by males singing on territories.
Name: Jose
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do they males and female all stop in the same places?
Yes, Western Sandpiper males and females use the same places to stop.
Jose
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How many stops or how often do the birds stop along their migration?
The birds stop about 6 times on migration.
Luis
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do birds always migrate to the same places every year and why?
The sandpipers follow the same migration route but they sometimes bypass sites if they can. Many return to the exact same place they spent the previous winter and summer.
How much food do they need to eat each day to give them enough energy to complete their journey?
They probably eat about 4 grams of food each day.
Usiel
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do any shorebirds migrate through Texas as part of their "flyway" pattern?
Yes. Many Western Sandpipers and other shorebirds migrate through Texas. The coast of Texas is famous for its migrating birds.
Daisy
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How many miles are they able to travel and how fast?
They can fly as much as 2,000 miles without stopping at about 30 miles an hour.
Carlos
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
In the last 2 webcasts, the scientists said that the birds sometimes fly straight through without stopping. What adaptations do they have to help them see at night?
Good question. We don’t know how they see at night, but we can see the stars and moon and some of the birds will fly above the clouds.
Juan
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do you ever find any who have gotten sick?
Yes. We see birds sneezing and some whose feathers are ruffled. They look like they have a cold.
Kimberly
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do you follow other animal migrations?
Yes. We have transmitters on ducks.
Alexis
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
What happens to the birds if they get attacked especially during the flight? Do the other birds flying with it help protect it?
When attacked, the sandpipers form into a tight flying flocks darting to and fro to confuse the predator. If caught, the other birds do not help – they fly away.
David
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
How can the birds conserve so much energy especially if they are flying for so long and far in the air without stopping to rest?
They might fly in a formation like the V-flights of geese and they use tail winds to help them on their way.
Randy
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Can a bird stay in any of their estuaries or do they have to go on to Alaska?
The birds have to go to Alaska to breed. We rarely see any birds stay behind. Any that do are likely ill.
Randy
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do all birds nest in the same areas or does each species have a certain nesting ground?
Each species has its own area that it prefers to nest. Western Sandpipers nest in the tundra of western Alaska. There are loons, terns, ducks and other birds nesting there too.
Diego
Location: Barbara Bush Elementary/ Texas
Do a lot of birds die along the way? If so, what are some of the major causes of death?
Not many die on migration and most deaths are from predators such as falcons and harriers that catch them on the ground or in the air.
Paula
Location: Virginia
Do they have one lot of young, or two?
They lay 4 eggs and raise about 2 young.
Do the young and adults migrate together, or separately?
Adults migrate a few weeks to a month before their young.
Are some of the same species on the west coast also on the east coast of the US?
Yes. Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, dowitchers, plovers and many more are found across the US.
Zack
Location: California, PA
What does the Red Knot sea bird eat?
The Red Knot is a shorebird that eats small clams, horseshoe crab eggs and other small marine animals.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
Why are they stopping there?
They stop at the Fraser River Delta to find food so they can continue their migrations.
We have Callbirds around here are there some there?
I don’t know this bird, sorry.
Mrs. Peterson
Location: Stedman Elementary/Petersburg, AK
Do all the Western Sandpipers migrate or do some stay back?
Some young from the previous year spend their first summer in Central America. All birds regardless of their ages in Mexico and the USA migrate to Alaska each year.
How many shorebird species are there? How many species fly stay at Fraser Bay?
214 in the world. About 50 species have been recorded and about 30 are seen each year.
Do they nest in Alaska? Do some stay in Canada?
Most migrate to Alaska. Shorebirds that nest in Canada cross the middle and eastern USA.
When they make their nest, how do they protect them from predators?
They build a tiny grass-lined nest hidden from view in the tundra grasses. The parents color matches the dead grass and the eggs are camouflaged.
Mrs. Demko
Location: Stedman Elementary/Petersburg, AK
Is it advantageous for the birds to stay together during migration? (Cooperative behavior)
We think so. They can form into flocks when a predator arrives and many eyes can keep watch for a predator.
David
Location: Stedman Elementary/Petersburg, AK
Do they lay eggs during the migration cycle?
They lay eggs from late May to early June once they arrive in western Alaska.
What are the numbers of birds that stop at Fraser Delta Bay?
We count about 2 million birds in some years.
Corrine
Location: California Middle School PA
Since it is very cold down there and not all fish stay in the same area what do all of them eat?
It is colder than California but it doesn’t freeze here very often and never during migration. The birds eat small worms and other small animals in the mud.
Breann
Location: California / PA
Do all birds go to migrate and if not, do they like the colder climate?
All birds migrate north except for young of the previous year in Panama. The cold in Alaska does not bother them.
Mrs. Demko and Mrs. Wallace's classes
Location: Stedman Elementary
Have the birds been flying non-stop since San Francisco Bay?
We have had some birds fly nonstop to Alaska but most stop several times before getting there.
Breann
Location: California / PA
How much land is saved for the birds?
The protected area on Fraser River Delta is about 40,000 acres.
How many birds go migrate?
About 4 million.
How many hours do they fly a day?
About 6 hours.
Corrine
Location: California Middle School PA
Why do some birds go to colder climates than others?
Birds that fly north to the Arctic find abundant food. There is no night so they can feed their young continually, and there are fewer predators. Birds that stay south can breed earlier and for a longer part of the year but they can not feed them at night and they lose more nests to predators.
Breann
Location: California / PA
About how many birds die on the journey a year?
Good question. We don’t know but the adults live for about 10 years. Probably about 1 out of every 10 dies each year.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
Where do the birds start their migration and where do they stop?
Some start in Peru, Panama, Mexico, Florida, Texas, and California and they stop when they get to western Alaska near Nome, Alaska. Look for Safety Sound on Google Earth and you can see the tundra where they nest. Then go to Panama Bay to see where some spend the winter.
Zack
Location: California, PA
How can we learn more about sea birds?
The Pacific Wildlife Foundation web site has some good information www.pwlf.org.
How far has the birds flown so far?
Some have flown about 8000 km (5000 miles).
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
Will they go all the way to the North Pole?
No, they will go to western Alaska.
What kind of bird is that on your web page?
The home page shows a Western Sandpiper and the “Register” page shows a Black-necked Stilt.
Zack
Location: California, PA
How many sea birds are the in the whole world?
There are about 214 species. We have about 28 million in North and South America.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
What will it take to become one of you to be there to help out?
You need to learn your birds, stay in school so you can go to university. You might want to ask your teacher to help you find a nature club in your area.
Zack
Location: California, PA
Out of all the sea birds, what bird can fly the fastest?
The fastest birds are usually the largest birds. The fastest shorebird is probably a curlew and it flies about 50 miles an hour.
What is the tallest sea bird?
The Black-necked Stilt has very long legs and is probably the tallest.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
What kind of things do you do to the birds if they are hurt or injured?
We rarely see injured birds. If you do, they can be taken to a wildlife rescue facility.
Zack
Location: California, PA
We have been studying birds at are school in PA. Are there any sea birds that we would be able to fine around here?
You should have some shorebirds around the edges of ponds and lakes.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
We are learning about different birds in California Middle School in Pa. What other things could you tell us about them?
I am not familiar with your birds but you might like to put up a bird feeder and some nest boxes to see what birds you might attract.
Zack
Location: California, PA
If you where a sea bird, what bird would you like to be?
My favorite is the Black Oystercatcher. You can see it at our web site at www.pwlf.org.
What is the most common sea bird that people see?
The most common shorebird where you live is probably the Spotted Sandpiper. The most common shorebird in North America is the Semipalmated Sandpiper – there are many millions of them.
Zach
Location: California PA
Are there any American Oystercatchers at the Fraser River Delta?
No, but we have a few Black Oystercatchers.
Zack
Location: California, PA
How many sea birds travel over 10,000 miles?
Shorebirds are long distance migrants and 50 or more would fly that far.
Joshua
Location: California, Pa
Could they stop here? There are many birds there. Is the Snowy Plover there too?
We do not have Snowy Plovers here.
Mrs. Demko and Mrs. Wallace's 4th grade classes
Location: Stedman Elementary/Petersburg, AK
How can you tell a female form a male? Nikko
Females are larger with longer bills than males.
Are they hunted by humans (Mexico)? Aaron
No.
Do these birds prey on other birds? Dayton
No, they eat tiny worms.
Do they attack each other in flight? What might cause this? Able
No, they do not fight.
Do they have any other defense against enemies except flight? Billy
The large flock means many eyes can watch for predators. The flock confuses a predator trying to single out a bird. They feed far from shore to watch for approaching predators.
Can birds overstuff themselves and not be able to fly? Caitlin
Good question. Some birds in the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada have been known to get so fat that they could hardly fly but we have not seen it here.
How did you get the little cameras on the birds? Aidrianne
We attach very tiny transmitter that give off a beep we can hear with special radios. They are attached with glue to a few feathers on the back.
How long can a shorebird go without eating? Ally
Good question. We don’t know but it is probably only a few days.
Do they ever get lost in a storm or from anything else? Caleb
Some are lost and show up outside their normal range. Western Sandpipers have been seen in Hawaii and the United Kingdom.
What is the average lifespan of one of these birds? Ian
About 10 years.
Do birds just suddenly just die in the air? Tayla
No. Most probably die from a predator.
How do they see so well? David
Birds have excellent vision to watch for predators. Their eyes have special lenses and retinas to focus on food and distant predators.
How many birds are there in a flock? Josef
There can be as few as 2 and as many as 200,000 or more.
Do birds fly in a specific pattern? Kelly
They form a long string or a V-formation when migrating but form a cloud when flying over the mudflats.
What elevation do they usually fly? Ian
Some fly as high as 20,000 feet but most are 5,000 -10,000 feet.
Do they breathe at higher altitudes? Kelly
Yes. Birds have special air sacs that circulate the air in and out of the lungs and air sacs to draw out more oxygen with each breath to make them more efficient.
Nels
Location: Stedman Elementary/Petersburg, AK
What other things might cause them problems in flight, such as a cramp?
They lose weight and some of the muscles get damaged. Birds exercise their wings a lot before migrating just like an athlete getting ready for a game.
