Why Do Birds Return North After Migrating Southward? Why Don't They Stay Where It's Warm?
6. The warmer the environment, the more likely it will harbor abundant parasites and nasty diseases that might harm the un-naturalized northern visitors, should they opt to stay rather than migrate northward. In tropical moist conditions many bacterial infections can multiply rapidly. Any parasite population tends to explode when it is warmer all the time as well. The cooler temperatures in the northernmost areas tend to interrupt that infectious and parasitic cycle just long enough for our migrants to stay ahead of them. Our summers tend to be less ‘tropical' in nature, even though they can get fairly warm at times!
How do birds navigate at night, or at all for that matter? How do they know where to fly to get home? Some possess a small area in their brain that responds to magnetic signals emanating from the earth. Other birds follow flyways that have been established over millennia, and which have also been genetically programmed into their behavior. Some recognize geographical landmarks as they soar along, high enough to use thermals, tailwinds and updrafts to give them a respite during their long flights.
Still others of our feathered friends use the sun and/or stars by which to find their way to and from their destinations. Don't let that little tiny brain fool you. It is jam-packed with all kinds of built-in survival tactics, the extent of which I suspect we are just now beginning to comprehend.
Researchers continue to tag and monitor migrating birds to study their routes and the dangers they may face along the way. Those perils now include giant wind turbines, towers, excessively-lit buildings, tall buildings themselves, aircraft and automobiles, predatory birds, loss of rest stops along the way and more.
The Air Force has a bird collision plan in place, and radars are being developed to indicate when migrating flocks of birds are near airports. The most danger is during takeoffs and landings.
In addition,major cities have adopted or are in the process of adopting new building specifications that include glass with different light reflective patterns built in. Glass is a huge enemy of birds. They don't ‘see' glass, they see the reflective surroundings such as trees and sky. That's why so many die from collisions with windows.
There is a fairly new program called Fatal Light Awareness, or F.L.A.P. Owners and landlords of tall buildings in more and more major cities have agreed to dowse all the extraneous lighting in and outside of structures such as office buildings during migratory seasons. This program does not sacrifice the safety of humans, but it does save the owners thousands of dollars yearly. It also saves many thousands of birds from being confused by these unnecessary lights. Just like moths around an outdoor light, birds tend to circle until they are exhausted and fall to their deaths.
It is estimated that a staggering ONE BILLION birds never complete their journeys. A sad fact that thankfully is being addressed by increasing numbers of larger cities and universities. Research continues to help our little flyers have a better chance to ‘make it back home'.
How do birds navigate at night, or at all for that matter? How do they know where to fly to get home? Some possess a small area in their brain that responds to magnetic signals emanating from the earth. Other birds follow flyways that have been established over millennia, and which have also been genetically programmed into their behavior. Some recognize geographical landmarks as they soar along, high enough to use thermals, tailwinds and updrafts to give them a respite during their long flights.
Still others of our feathered friends use the sun and/or stars by which to find their way to and from their destinations. Don't let that little tiny brain fool you. It is jam-packed with all kinds of built-in survival tactics, the extent of which I suspect we are just now beginning to comprehend.
Researchers continue to tag and monitor migrating birds to study their routes and the dangers they may face along the way. Those perils now include giant wind turbines, towers, excessively-lit buildings, tall buildings themselves, aircraft and automobiles, predatory birds, loss of rest stops along the way and more.
The Air Force has a bird collision plan in place, and radars are being developed to indicate when migrating flocks of birds are near airports. The most danger is during takeoffs and landings.
In addition,major cities have adopted or are in the process of adopting new building specifications that include glass with different light reflective patterns built in. Glass is a huge enemy of birds. They don't ‘see' glass, they see the reflective surroundings such as trees and sky. That's why so many die from collisions with windows.
There is a fairly new program called Fatal Light Awareness, or F.L.A.P. Owners and landlords of tall buildings in more and more major cities have agreed to dowse all the extraneous lighting in and outside of structures such as office buildings during migratory seasons. This program does not sacrifice the safety of humans, but it does save the owners thousands of dollars yearly. It also saves many thousands of birds from being confused by these unnecessary lights. Just like moths around an outdoor light, birds tend to circle until they are exhausted and fall to their deaths.
It is estimated that a staggering ONE BILLION birds never complete their journeys. A sad fact that thankfully is being addressed by increasing numbers of larger cities and universities. Research continues to help our little flyers have a better chance to ‘make it back home'.