Mason's+Birds

=The Times are a changin'= Guiding Questions: Do birds migrational times change over time or stay the same?

Hypothesis: I think that my research will find that birds migrational habits, and times will change according to changes in weather patterns.

Ruby Throated Humming Bird

**Materials Needed:** Computer Research sites

Conduct/Study:
Find data on the computer http://ebird.org http://whyfiles.org/006migration/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_migration#Timing

Findings:

Results:
I found that from 1980 to 1990 the ruby throated humming birds came in mid april and left in the last week of august. I found that from 1990-2000 the ruby throated humming birds came in early april and left in mid september. I found that from 2000-2010 the ruby throated humming birds never left,they are becoming year round later and later. The evidence supports my hypothesis.

Discussion:
My hypothesis was that the birds would come earlier and stay later. Why do you think that is??? Climate change? Evolution? Climate change says that it's getting warmer, so maybe they migrate sooner or not at all and that is why that times change. Maybe it's not, maybe it's that the bird's have figured out that they can stay longer and keep getting food.

Further Discussion:
Researchers have found that the reason birds migrate is mainly in day length which signifies changes in weather and climate. It is also thought that it could also be hormonal changes in the birds as well.