migration of birds essay in english

The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why, and Where

Originally published January 2007; updated August 2021.

Geese winging their way south in wrinkled V-shaped flocks is perhaps the classic picture of migration—the annual, large-scale movement of birds between their breeding (summer) homes and their nonbreeding (winter) grounds. But geese are far from our only migratory birds. Of the more than 650 species of North American breeding birds, more than half are migratory.

Why do birds migrate?

Birds migrate to move from areas of low or decreasing resources to areas of high or increasing resources. The two primary resources being sought are food and nesting locations. Here’s more about how migration evolved .

Birds that nest in the Northern Hemisphere tend to migrate northward in the spring to take advantage of burgeoning insect populations, budding plants and an abundance of nesting locations. As winter approaches and the availability of insects and other food drops, the birds move south again. Escaping the cold is a motivating factor but many species, including hummingbirds, can withstand freezing temperatures as long as an adequate supply of food is available.

Types of migration

The term migration describes periodic, large-scale movements of populations of animals. One way to look at migration is to consider the distances traveled.

The pattern of migration can vary within each category, but is most variable in short and medium distance migrants.

Origins of long-distance migration

While short-distance migration probably developed from a fairly simple need for food, the origins of long-distant migration patterns are much more complex. They’ve evolved over thousands of years and are controlled at least partially by the genetic makeup of the birds. They also incorporate responses to weather, geography, food sources, day length, and other factors.

More on Migration

• Birdcast: Bird Migration Forecasts in Real-time
• Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across A Map Of The Western Hemisphere
• The Evolution of Bird Migration
• How Do Birds Prepare For Long Migrations?
• The New Migration Science

For birds that winter in the tropics, it seems strange to imagine leaving home and embarking on a migration north. Why make such an arduous trip north in spring? One idea is that through many generations the tropical ancestors of these birds dispersed from their tropical breeding sites northward. The seasonal abundance of insect food and greater day length allowed them to raise more young (4–6 on average) than their stay-at-home tropical relatives (2–3 on average). As their breeding zones moved north during periods of glacial retreat, the birds continued to return to their tropical homes as winter weather and declining food supplies made life more difficult. Supporting this theory is the fact that most North American vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, warblers, orioles, and swallows have evolved from forms that originated in the tropics.

What triggers migration?

The mechanisms initiating migratory behavior vary and are not always completely understood. Migration can be triggered by a combination of changes in day length, lower temperatures, changes in food supplies, and genetic predisposition. For centuries, people who have kept cage birds have noticed that the migratory species go through a period of restlessness each spring and fall, repeatedly fluttering toward one side of their cage. German behavioral scientists gave this behavior the name zugunruhe , meaning migratory restlessness. Different species of birds and even segments of the population within the same species may follow different migratory patterns.

Get Your BirdCast

When, where, and how far will birds migrate? The BirdCast project is developing the ability to forecast this—almost like getting a weather report.

It’s a bird watcher’s boon, and it’s also crucial information for conservation. By knowing where birds are and when, important conservation decisions can be made, such as placement of wind turbines and reducing building lights on specific high-migration nights, to prevent the deaths of millions of birds.

Accurate migration models also have broader applications, allowing researchers to understand behavioral aspects of migration, how migration timing and pathways respond to changing climate, and whether linkages exist between variation in migration timing and subsequent changes in population size.

BirdCast issues 3-day migration forecasts each spring and fall migration season and displays near-real-time radar data on migration activity each night. Check out Birdcast’s Migration Tools to learn more.

How do birds navigate?

Migrating birds can cover thousands of miles in their annual travels, often traveling the same course year after year with little deviation. First-year birds often make their very first migration on their own. Somehow they can find their winter home despite never having seen it before, and return the following spring to where they were born.

The secrets of their amazing navigational skills aren’t fully understood, partly because birds combine several different types of senses when they navigate. Birds can get compass information from the sun, the stars, and by sensing the earth’s magnetic field. They also get information from the position of the setting sun and from landmarks seen during the day. There’s even evidence that sense of smell plays a role, at least for homing pigeons.

Some species, particularly waterfowl and cranes, follow preferred pathways on their annual migrations. These pathways are often related to important stopover locations that provide food supplies critical to the birds’ survival. Smaller birds tend to migrate in broad fronts across the landscape. Studies using eBird data have revealed that many small birds take different routes in spring and fall , to take advantage of seasonal patterns in weather and food.

Migration hazards

Taking a journey that can stretch to a round-trip distance of several thousand miles is a dangerous and arduous undertaking. It is an effort that tests both the birds’ physical and mental capabilities. The physical stress of the trip, lack of adequate food supplies along the way, bad weather, and increased exposure to predators all add to the hazards of the journey.

In recent decades long-distant migrants have been facing a growing threat from communication towers and tall buildings. Many species are attracted to the lights of tall buildings and millions are killed each year in collisions with the structures. The Fatal Light Awareness Program , based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and BirdCast’s Lights Out project, have more about this problem.

Studying migration

Scientists use several techniques in studying migration, including banding, satellite tracking, and a relatively new method involving lightweight devices known as geolocators. One of the goals is to locate important stopover and wintering locations. Once identified, steps can be taken to protect and save these key locations.

Each spring approximately 500,000 Sandhill Cranes and some endangered Whooping Cranes use the Central Platte River Valley in Nebraska as a staging habitat during their migration north to breeding and nesting grounds in Canada, Alaska, and the Siberian Arctic.

What is a migrant trap?

Some places seem to have a knack for concentrating migrating birds in larger than normal numbers. These “migrant traps” often become well known as birding hotspots. This is typically the result of local weather conditions, an abundance of food, or the local topography.

For example, small songbirds migrating north in the spring fly directly over the Gulf of Mexico, landing on the coastlines of the Gulf Coast states. When, storms or cold fronts bring headwinds, these birds can be near exhaustion when they reach land. In such cases they head for the nearest location offering food and cover—typically live-oak groves on barrier islands, where very large numbers of migrants can collect in what’s known as a “fallout.” These migration traps have become very popular with birders, even earning international reputations.

Peninsulas can also concentrate migrating birds as they follow the land and then pause before launching over water. This explains why places like Point Pelee, Ontario; the Florida Keys; Point Reyes, California; and Cape May, New Jersey have great reputations as migration hotspots.

Spring migration is an especially good time for those that feed birds in their backyard to attract species they normally do not see. Offering a variety of food sources, water, and adding natural food sources to the landscape can make a backyard attractive to migrating songbirds.

It’s always a good idea to use the range maps in your field guide to determine if and when a particular species might be around. Range maps are especially useful when working with migratory species. However, they can be confusing: ranges of birds can vary year-to-year, as with irruptive species such as redpolls. Also, the ranges of some species can expand or contract fairly rapidly, with changes occurring in time periods shorter than the republication time of a field guide. (The Eurasian Collared-Dove is the best example of this problem.)

These limitations are beginning to be addressed by data-driven, digital versions of range maps. The maps are made possible by the hundreds of millions of eBird observations  submitted by birdwatchers around the world. “Big Data” analyses are allowing scientists to produce animated maps that show a species’ ebb and flow across the continent throughout a calendar year—as well as understand larger patterns of movement.

Additional resources

Migration is a fascinating study and there is much yet to learn. Songbird Journeys , by the Cornell Lab’s Miyoko Chu, explores many aspects of migration in an interesting and easy-to-read style. The Cornell Lab’s Handbook of Bird Biology provides even more information on the amazing phenomenon of bird migration.

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Essay on Migration of Birds

Students are often asked to write an essay on Migration of Birds in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Migration of Birds

Introduction.

Bird migration is a fascinating natural event. It is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds.

Why Birds Migrate

Birds migrate mainly due to changes in food availability, weather, or habitat. They travel to regions where living conditions are more favorable.

How Birds Migrate

Birds use a combination of the sun, stars, earth’s magnetic field, and landmarks to navigate during migration.

Challenges in Migration

Migration is not an easy task. Birds face threats like predators, harsh weather, and exhaustion.

Bird migration is a testament to nature’s wonder, showcasing the incredible endurance and navigation skills of these creatures.

250 Words Essay on Migration of Birds

Migration of birds is a complex and fascinating natural phenomenon. It involves the regular seasonal movement of birds, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds.

The Process of Migration

Birds migrate to optimize their survival. During cold seasons, they move to warmer regions where food is abundant. The process is guided by several factors: genetic predisposition, day length, and changes in temperature. Birds navigate using celestial cues, the earth’s magnetic field, and landmarks.

Challenges and Adaptations

Migration is not without challenges. Birds face threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, and predation. To overcome these, they have evolved various adaptations. For instance, they accumulate fat reserves to fuel their long journeys and some species even sleep while flying.

Importance of Bird Migration

Bird migration has significant ecological implications. Migratory birds contribute to pollination, seed dispersal, and control of pests. Moreover, their migration patterns can indicate environmental changes, acting as bio-indicators.

Understanding bird migration is crucial for conservation efforts. As climate change disrupts migration patterns, studying and protecting these avian travelers becomes even more important. Indeed, bird migration is a testament to nature’s resilience and complexity, a spectacle that continues to captivate us.

500 Words Essay on Migration of Birds

Migration is a fascinating and complex behavior exhibited by many bird species. It’s a global phenomenon where birds travel thousands of miles, often crossing continents and oceans, to find the best ecological environments for feeding, breeding, and raising their young. This essay delves into the intricacies of bird migration, exploring the reasons, patterns, challenges, and implications of this remarkable behavior.

Birds migrate primarily for two interconnected reasons: food availability and breeding. Many birds feed on insects, nectar, or other food sources that are abundant in certain seasons but scarce in others. To survive, they must move to areas where food is plentiful. Similarly, birds often migrate to specific locations to breed, driven by factors such as food abundance for their offspring, fewer predators, and suitable nesting sites.

Patterns of Migration

Bird migration is not a random occurrence but follows specific patterns. These patterns are influenced by geographical features, weather conditions, and the Earth’s magnetic field. Birds generally migrate along established routes known as flyways, which include coastal routes, mountain passes, and river valleys. These routes provide the necessary resources such as food and resting spots for the birds during their journey.

Despite the evolutionary advantages, bird migration is fraught with numerous challenges. Birds face threats from predators, harsh weather conditions, and exhaustion. Additionally, human activities such as habitat destruction, climate change, and light pollution pose significant threats. Many birds die during their migratory journey, making it a high-risk, high-reward strategy from an evolutionary perspective.

The Science Behind Bird Migration

Bird migration is a complex behavior that is still not fully understood. However, scientists believe that birds use a combination of innate and learned behaviors to navigate during migration. They likely use the sun, stars, Earth’s magnetic field, and even their sense of smell to find their way. Recent research has also suggested that birds may be able to sense atmospheric pressure changes, providing them with information about favorable wind conditions for migration.

Implications of Bird Migration

Bird migration has significant ecological implications. Migratory birds can act as pollinators, seed dispersers, and even as a form of pest control. They also play a crucial role in the food chain. Additionally, bird migration has cultural and economic implications. Many societies celebrate the arrival and departure of migratory birds, and birdwatching is a popular and economically significant activity in many regions.

Bird migration is a remarkable phenomenon that illustrates the adaptability and resilience of nature. It is a testament to the intricate balance and interdependence of life on Earth. However, it’s under threat due to human activities, and its decline could have far-reaching implications. Therefore, understanding and conserving bird migration is not just about preserving a fascinating natural phenomenon, but also about maintaining the health and diversity of our ecosystems.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Birds of a Feather Flock Together
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A Brief History of How Scientists Have Learned About Bird Migration

Bird migration is one of the most fascinating and inspiring natural phenomena—but how do scientists figure out where all those birds are going?

From the earliest origins of bird banding to high-tech approaches involving genomic analysis and miniaturized transmitters, the history of bird migration research is almost as captivating as the journeys of the birds themselves. My book Flight Paths , forthcoming in 2023, will take a deep dive into the science behind these techniques and the stories of the people who developed them, but in the meantime, below you can read a selection of milestones that trace our unfolding understanding of migration.

Early History

Indigenous cultures develop a range of legends and stories about migratory birds. Athabascan peoples in Alaska, for example, tell the story of “Raven and Goose-wife,” in which Raven falls in love with a beautiful goose but cannot stay with her because he can’t keep up when the family of geese migrates south over the ocean.

While Aristotle correctly recognized some aspects of bird migration in his Historia Animalium in the 4th century, BC, he hypothesizes that swallows hibernate in crevices and that some winter and summer residents are actually the same birds in different plumages.

Inspired by Aristotle, Swedish priest Olaus Magnus suggests that swallows hibernate in the mud at the bottom of lakes and streams. This misconception will persist into the 1800s.

English minister and educator Charles Morton theorizes that birds migrate to the moon for the winter. Although this sounds ridiculous today, he correctly conjectured that birds may be spurred to move to new areas by changing weather and a lack of food and even noted that body fat might help sustain them on their journey.

John James Audubon ties silver thread to the legs of Eastern Phoebe nestlings and identifies them when they return to the same area the following spring—or, at least, so will later claim. Biologist and historian Matthew Halley cast doubt on this in 2018 when he noted that Audubon was actually in France in spring 1805 when the phoebes would have returned.

German villagers shoot down a White Stork that had a spear made of African wood impaled in its side. Dubbed the “pfeilstorch” (or “arrow stork”), this unfortunate bird provides some of the first concrete evidence of migration between continents.

Ornithologist William Earl Dodge Scott is touring the Princeton University astronomy department when he’s offered a view of the full moon through a telescope. Astonished to see migrating birds silhouetted against the face of the moon, he is able to use his observations to calculate a rough estimate of how high they must be flying.

Climbing a hill outside Madison, Wisconsin, historian and amateur ornithologist Orin Libby counts 3,800 calls by migrating birds over the course of five hours on one September night. Many of the calls seemed “almost human,” he will later write, “and it was not difficult to imagine that they expressed a whole range of emotions from anxiety and fear up to good-fellowship and joy.” These calls will eventually be dubbed “nocturnal flight calls" and be used as one way of monitoring bird migration.

Hans Christian Cornelius Mortensen places metal rings around the legs of starlings in Denmark to study their movements, the beginning of the scientific use of bird banding.

At a meeting in New York City, members of the American Ornithologists’ Union vote to form the American Bird Banding Association, the direct forerunner of today’s USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. Its mission is to oversee and coordinate bird-banding efforts at a national scale.

The U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey assumes authority over the bird banding program after the Migratory Bird Treaty Act passes in 1918. The agency's Frederick Charles Lincoln will use banding records from waterfowl to develop the concept of “migratory flyways”—four major North America flight routes around which bird conservation is still organized today.

David Lack and George Varley, biologists working for the British government, use a telescope to visually confirm that a mysterious military radar signal is being generated by a flock of gannets. It’s the first concrete proof that radar can detect flying birds, but the idea is not immediately embraced: “At one meeting,” Lack later writes, “after the physicists had again gravely explained that clouds of ions must be responsible, Varley with equal gravity accepted their view, provided that the ions were wrapped in feathers.”

Louisiana State University ornithologist George Lowery’s moon-watching observations in the Yucatan, using techniques inspired by Scott’s original full moon observations in 1880, provide evidence that some birds do indeed migrate across the Gulf of Mexico instead of taking a land route over Mexico.

Oliver Austin, an ornithologist leading wildlife management in Japan under the Allied occupation that followed World War II, describes the traditional Japanese method of catching birds for food using silk nets strung between bamboo poles. Mist nets will soon become the primary method for capturing songbirds for ornithological research. 

George Lowery and his collaborator Bob Newman oversee a massive effort to recruit volunteers across the continent to record moon-watching observations during fall migration. “Telescopes swung into operation at more than 300 localities as people by the thousands took up the new form of bird study,” writes Newman. “By the end of the season, reports had been received from every state in the United States and all but one of the provinces of Canada.” Due to the difficulties in analyzing such large amounts of data without computers, Lowery and Newman will not publish the full results until 1966. Their work provides the first continent-wide snapshot of migration patterns.

Illinois Natural History Survey ornithologist Richard Graber and engineer Bill Cochran record nocturnal flight calls for first time, rigging up a tape recorder with bicycle axles to hold the six thousand feet of tape needed to record a full night of migration.

Richard Graber tags a migrating Gray-cheeked Thrush in Illinois with a miniature radio transmitter developed by Bill Cochran. That night, he follows it for 400 miles in an airplane as it continues its migratory journey. “Each of us, at times, must stand in awe of mankind, of what we have become, what we can do,” Graber will write in Audubon . “The space flights, the close-up lunar photographs, the walks in space—all somehow stagger our imagination. I was thinking about this as I flew south from Northern Wisconsin [the next morning], having just witnessed an achievement of another kind by another species.”

Ornithologist Sidney Gauthreaux, who studied for his PhD under George Lowery, publishes “Weather radar quantification of bird migration,” the first systematic study of bird migration patterns using the relatively new technology of weather radar.

Bill Cochran tracks a radio-tagged Swainson’s Thrush for 930 miles on its migration, following it from Illinois to Manitoba over the course of a week in a modified station wagon with a radio receiver sticking out of the top.

Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Lab carries out the first field tests of satellite transmitters on birds using the  Argos satellite system —launched in 1978 for the purpose of tracking oceanic and atmospheric data. Swans and eagles are early subjects. 

British seabird biologist Rory Wilson tracks the movements of foraging penguins using a device of his own invention that he calls a Global Location Sensor. It uses ancient navigation principles to calculate and record a bird’s location using only a tiny light sensor and clock. These devices will later be better known as light-level geolocators.

Canadian scientist Keith Hobson and his colleagues publish a paper demonstrating that it’s possible to determine where a migrating songbird originated by analyzing the amount of deuterium—a rare isotope of hydrogen that occurs in varying amounts across the landscape—in its feathers.

“Selective availability,” a U.S. government practice which intentionally limits the accuracy of GPS technology available for non-military use, is switched off. Ornithologists quickly begin creating GPS devices for tracking the movements of birds.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology launches eBird, a community science platform that lets birdwatchers upload records of what they observe to a database that is accessible to ornithologists, ecologists, and other researchers. Today more than one billion sightings have been contributed from around the world. 

A satellite transmitter implanted in a Bar-tailed Godwit dubbed “E7” tracks the bird’s astonishing nonstop 7,000-mile migration from Alaska to New Zealand over the open water of the Pacific Ocean—“the equivalent,” according to a USGS press release , “of making a roundtrip flight between New York and San Francisco, and then flying back again to San Francisco without ever touching down.”

Ornithologists Kristen Ruegg and Tom Smith launch the Bird Genoscape Project, an effort to map genetic diversity across the ranges of 100 migratory species. It will enable ornithologists to identify where in North America a migrating bird came from by analyzing its DNA.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientists kick off the second iteration of BirdCast , a project that uses weather radar data to predict nights of especially intense bird migration activity. (The original BirdCast, started in 2000 by Sidney Gauthreaux, was discontinued after a year due to the limits of the technology available at the time.) One major result of the project is initiatives that encourage cities to shut off disruptive nighttime lighting when large numbers of migrating birds are likely to be on the wing.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System , which uses miniature radio transmitters and an automated network of ground-based receiver towers, is launched in Canada. More than 30,000 animals (mostly birds) will be tracked by the system in the next decade.

Light-level geolocators  confirm  long-held suspicions that Blackpoll Warblers, songbirds that weigh roughly the same as a ballpoint pen, make a nonstop 1,400-mile, three-day flight over the eastern Atlantic Ocean during their fall migration from New England to South America.

Project Night Flight,  the largest nocturnal flight call monitoring project to date, operates more than 50 recording stations in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Spearheaded by Kate Stone and Debbie Leick, staff members at private research and conservation property MPG Ranch, Project Night Flight will record more than 100,000 hours of data in the next two years.

Icarus,  a new space-based wildlife tracking system with receivers on the International Space Station, begins operations. The initiative's overseers aim to provide transmitters that are lighter, lower-cost, and provide better-quality data than any trackers used before.

This piece originally ran in the Spring 2022 issue as “A Brief History of Discovery.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by  making a donation today .

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Migratory Birds

About the basics of bird migration.

Our world is full of biodiversity, we can see different kinds of birds, animals and plants all around us. There are different species of animals and plants that use various strategies to survive and keep the cycle of life going. One such strategy that birds use is called migration. Migration is a regular seasonal movement of birds in large groups. 

It happens in the case of migratory birds when they have to leave their home place to migrate to some other favourable place and for that, they have to adopt a long journey in which there is no guarantee whether they will be able to return back or not but if they do not migrate, in that case as well, their survival is not possible, thus they used to have migrated in any case. In this article, we will be talking about migratory birds and all about their migration. This article will help you to understand one of the most important behavioural patterns of the animal world, and will increase your subject knowledge as well.

What is Migration?

Migration of birds is one of the most fascinating phenomena in which birds travel from one habitat to another in search of favourable conditions and increased resources for survival and it also involves the journey to return to the original place. It also happens during seasonal change or movement between breeding and non-breeding locations. Migration is not an easy process, as birds have to cover long distances in order to reach their destinations and during these journeys, they need a lot of energy, food, water, sufficient rest, etc and not all the migration journeys become successful and some of the birds die as well in these journeys.

What are Migratory Birds?

Those birds who migrate from one location to another location in order to breed, feed, and raise their offspring, are known as migratory birds. They usually migrate from unfavourable locations to some favourable places which are having suitable conditions along with sufficient food and water resources and are also safe as well. The majority of the birds migrate during the breeding season and others migrate for food resources and because of change in seasons.

Types of Migrating Birds

The types of migrating birds can be judged through the type of migration they adopt which can be cleared from the following:

Seasonal Migration: It happens with the change in seasons. Birds migrate from a location when they are not able to survive in harsh conditions.

Latitudinal or Longitudinal: This kind of migration happens between different latitudinal or longitudinal locations. Either North to South or East to West or vice - versa.

Altitudinal: It generally happens for those birds who give birth at high altitude areas, and when they have to migrate again because of the harsh conditions over there.

Loop: Those who follow this kind of migration, those birds usually follow annual migration in a cycle again and again to enjoy the resources of two locations.

Nomadic: Understanding exact patterns and their timings are not easy, they stay in one place until sufficient resources are available otherwise they will migrate.

LeapFrog: It is a kind of skip migration in which birds migrate to long distances in order to skip a sedentary population.

Reverse: Aberration among birds is seen when they are confused and choose an unexpected path and go in the opposite direction.

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Features of Migratory Birds

These birds are known to have good morphology as well as physiology because of which they can cover long distances by flying fast and observing various other things.

They have the ability to navigate things with good accuracy. They use the sun, the stars, the Earth's magnetism, etc.

They know when to migrate and when to return. For their specific reasons, they do not hesitate to migrate to far present locations.

They can fly as far as 16000 miles and some of the birds fly at a speed of 30mph to reach their destination. With this speed, they can reach in 533 hours whereas if they fly on the Basis of 8 hours per day, they can reach the final destination in 66 days.

They fly at different speeds and at different altitudes. Some fly at low altitudes where we can see them whereas some birds fly at high altitudes as well such as Songbirds who travel at 500 to 2000 feet whereas if we talk about Geese or Vultures, they used to fly at 29,000 to 37,000 feet altitudes.

Before migration, they prepare themselves for the journey by increasing their body weight or by keeping food reserves.

Different birds migrate at different timings but most of the birds prefer to fly at night because usually, the night is much safer for them due to fewer predators or having cooler air at night with which they can fly and rest easily.

They also prepare for their return as well because, after exhaustion of their whole energy in the long-distance journey, they usually feel hungry and require food and water.

Why do Birds Migrate?

There are several reasons, a few of which are mentioned below:

Food is one of the major reasons for their migration. If they all stay at one place then food will be exhausted & scarce during the breeding time and thus breeding will be less successful. Thus, they migrate to food-abundant areas.

During the nesting season, the depletion of food will not only affect the adult birds but also attract a lot of predators because they become an easy meal for them.

Birds usually migrate for their family or we can say for healthy breeding. They always require healthy conditions for raising their offspring. These conditions depend upon different species such as sources of food, weather, habitat , adequate shelter, breeding colonies, safety, etc.

Another reason can be a change in the climatic conditions. Any severe change in these conditions can cause their migration because it makes it difficult for them to survive in harsh conditions be it extra warm or extra cold.

They also can migrate to save themselves and their offspring from predators and diseases. They usually migrate to places that are inaccessible to predators.

How do Birds Migrate?

They make different physical adaptations for the travel journey such as building extra fat supplies to provide extra energy during the journey.

Keeping food and water reserves by increasing their body weight before the migration and this phenomenon of increasing weight is known as hyperphagia and a lot of birds experience this phenomenon.

They also shed their old feathers in order to make their flight easy so that it takes less energy to fly.

They used to change the altitudes as well. They fly at higher altitudes for a speedy and fast journey.

They change their behaviour of flying as well. Sometimes those birds who used to fly in the day, during migration fly at night.

Sometimes they also fly in a V pattern or we can say in a group by following the leader who has much experience and this pattern makes the journey much easier.

Migratory Birds With Names

Let's see some of the examples of migratory birds which are mentioned below:

Siberian cranes and Greater flamingo are migratory birds that are usually seen in India in the winter season.

Asiatic Sparrow Hawk migrates to India and Myanmar during winters.

Swallow, which is a small bird, migrates from Southern England to Southern Africa.

Red Wing lives in Eurasia or the Himalayas but flies to Africa in Winter.

Sand Martin that live in Eurasia or North America usually migrate to southern areas which depend on their zones.

Whinchat who lives in Europe flies to Africa between October to March.

Common Rosefinch lives in Eurasia and flies to southern parts of Asia in Winters.

Names of other migrating birds are Black-headed gull, Green Sandpiper, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Hobby, Gray Heron, etc.

Threats and Conservation of Migratory Birds

When birds migrate from one place to another there can be many threats to them. It took a lot of energy to cover these long-distance journeys. The major threats include exhaustion, starvation, injuries, threats from predators or hunters, diseases, pollution, natural calamities or disasters, etc.

For their conservation, we have CMS which means Convention on Migratory Species at the international level which is also famous as the Bonn convention which aims to protect migratory species such as territorial, avian, or marine,  throughout their ranges and all the countries coordinate with each other for their conservation.

To sum up we can say that avian migration is not an easy task but also important for the birds as well. They require favourable conditions in order to survive and raise their young ones for which they adopt long journeys which are exhausting for them and in these journeys they have to cross the boundaries which can lead to more problems and threats for them and for which every country should adopt conservation measures for them. In this article, we have covered everything about migratory birds, why and how birds migrate, several features, their examples, etc. We believe that this comprehensive article will help you to understand this important topic and you will also think about the conservation of these species.

Migratory Birds - Survival out of their Habitat

The birds who migrate from one unfavourable location to some favourable location in order to breed, feed, and raise their children are known as migratory birds. They migrate to some locations which are having abundant food and water resources with good climatic conditions. They make different physical adaptations for the travel journey such as building extra fat supply and keeping food and water reserves by increasing their body weight before the migration. 

Migratory birds shed their old feathers in order to make their flight easy and on the other hand, they used to change their attitudes as well. They fly at higher altitudes for a speedy and fast journey along with the change in their behaviour of flying as well. Sometimes those birds who used to fly in the day, during migration fly at night. Sometimes they also fly in a V pattern or we can say in a group by following which makes the journey much easier. Some of the examples of migratory birds with names are the Black-headed gull, Green Sandpiper, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Hobby, Gray Heron, Siberian Cranes or Greater Flamingo, etc.

FAQs on Migratory Birds

What are the Major Reasons For Bird Migration?

There can be several reasons for the birds' migration. Food is one of the major reasons for their migration. If they all stay at one place then food will be exhausted & scarce during the breeding time. Thus, they migrate to food-abundant areas. During the breeding season, the depletion of food will not only affect the adult birds but also attract a lot of predators because they become an easy meal for them. 

Birds usually migrate for their family or we can say for healthy breeding for which they require healthy conditions for raising their offspring. Another reason can be a change in the climatic or weather conditions of the locations and if any change occurs in these conditions can cause their migration because it makes it difficult for them to survive in these harsh conditions. On the other hand, they also can migrate to save themselves and their offspring from predators and various diseases. They usually migrate to places where they are safe and are inaccessible to predators.

What is Latitudinal Migration?

There are different types of bird migration. In latitudinal migration,  birds migrate from north to south (or south to north) between their breeding and non-breeding area. Some migrant species breed in temperate North America and migrate to tropical America.

What is Altitudinal Migration?

Altitudinal migration is not as common as longitudinal Migration but has the same principle. Unlike the latitudinal migration when the migrants cover long distances, altitudinal migrants cover short distances from montane regions to lower elevations outside of their breeding season. This is usually triggered by food abundance in these areas.

How do birds navigate during migration?

The secrets of amazing navigation skills of birds aren't fully understood, they combine several different types of senses during the journey to navigate. They use information from the sun, the stars, and by sensing the earth’s magnetic field they are able to navigate easily. Birds get information from the position of the setting sun and from landmarks seen during the day. There is even proven evidence that sense of smell plays a role, at least for homing pigeons.

Biology • Class 11

Bird migration is one of nature’s great wonders. Here’s how they do it.

Some fly 11 days nonstop. Others trek 8,000 miles. Each year, thousands of bird species leave home in search of food.

Every spring and fall, a spectacle unfolds in the night sky as millions of birds attempt long, perilous journeys between their summer breeding and wintering grounds.

Most of the thousands of bird species that engage in this annual migration travel at night, when wind currents are smoother and the moon and stars guide their way.

The birds typically follow established flyways , generally north-south routes that offer the best opportunities for rest and refueling along the way.   Multiple bird species share these flight paths as they contend with rough weather, dehydration, starvation, and the threat of predation. ( Read more about the legendary treks of migratory birds .)

Arctic terns , for instance, undertake pole-to-pole roundtrips spanning more than 60,000 miles —a record, believed to be   the world’s longest migration of any animal . Other migrations involve birds flying east-west or up and down mountains. Even flightless birds migrate, such as the Adélie penguin , which makes a nearly 8,000-mile trek through frigid Antarctica.

Because migration is such an integral part of the avian life cycle, it was likely almost as prevalent thousands of years ago as it is today, says Martin Wikelski , director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and a National Geographic Explorer .

Why some birds migrate and others don’t is the focus of a complex and active field of research. Finding food generally is believed to be the main driver. Additional motivations could include to escape from inclement weather and to reduce exposure to predators or parasites, especially during breeding season.

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New technological advances, such as sophisticated GPS tags and radar-detection systems, are giving scientists unprecedented opportunities to observe bird migration.

As part of his ICARUS project , for instance, Wikelski has outfitted some birds with Fitbit-like devices that track their movements and the environmental conditions they encounter.

These miniature solar-powered satellite transmitters could one day reveal animal migrations and behavior at a global scale from space.  

“There’s just so much to learn,” Wikelski says. “I’ve been tracking birds for over two decades, and the ease with which birds seamlessly migrate between worlds is absolutely astounding.”

Which birds migrate?

Roughly half of the world’s nearly 10,000 known bird species migrate, including several songbirds and seabirds, waterfowl and waders, as well as some raptors. The Northern Hemisphere has the most diverse array of migratory birds .

Among the most well known are Arctic-breeding bar-tailed godwits, champions of endurance. In 2020, scientists recorded a godwit undertaking the longest-known nonstop migratory flight between Alaska and New Zealand, traveling more than 7,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean for 11 days straight. ( Learn why birds matter, and are worth protecting.)

There are also feathered migrants that fly far and fast. The great snipe, for instance, covers distances exceeding 4,200 miles and reaches speeds of up to 60 miles per hour when traveling nonstop between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, making it the fastest flying migratory bird.

Even tiny birds embark on gargantuan journeys.   Calliope hummingbirds—North America’s smallest bird—make 5,600-mile roundtrips between the high-elevation meadows and open forests of the northern Rockies and the pine-oak forests of Mexico.

Most species of migratory birds may be partial migrants , meaning that some populations or individuals within the species migrate while others stay put. A fraction of American robins, for example, remain near their breeding grounds across seasons while others travel south and then return north.

Yellow-eyed juncos breeding at high elevations along southeastern Arizona’s mountains are most likely to migrate up to a mile downslope during severe snowy winters, compared to those at lower elevations facing fewer food constraints. Even tropical birds , especially insectivores, undertake short-distance elevational trips.

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How do they know where to go  .

In addition to following celestial cues, such as the position of the sun, stars, and the moon, adult birds use a magnetic compass to navigate. Even when there are no landmarks, this internal “GPS system” can prevent them from getting lost.

Such navigational acumen can enable individual birds to move through regions not typically traveled. In experiments, when solo-flying common cuckoos were transported nearly 1,500 miles away from their breeding grounds prior to migration, they often steered back to their normal migratory routes.

But what about inexperienced birds migrating for the first time? In one experiment, geographically displaced young common cuckoos navigated back to roughly the same flight path used by those birds that weren't displaced from their home.   ( Read about amazing animal navigators .)

Whether this navigational capacity is inherited and innate or learned is an ongoing debate . “I think it’s a combination of innate tendency, but you learn from others on the way,” says Wikelski, who has been tracking common cuckoos since 2012.

One way to learn might be tuning into nocturnal flight calls from other migrating birds. Distinct from a bird species’ regular vocalizations, these acoustic signals could especially guide the inexperienced, sometimes even those of other species, Wikelski says.

How do they know it’s time to go?  

For some birds, changes in environmental conditions, such as the length of the day, may trigger migration by stimulating hormones, telling the birds it’s time to fly.

Birds’ internal biological clocks can also detect when a season shifts, using cues such as changes in light and possibly air temperature.

Once the birds are in migration mode, a feeding frenzy ensues. This allows the birds to accumulate fat to power their journeys, says Lucy Hawkes , a migration scientist at the U.K.’s University of Exeter who currently tracks Arctic terns.

“Somehow, [the birds] know that they have to migrate soon and get massive,” Hawkes says.

Local and regional weather conditions , such as rain, wind, and air temperatures can also influence decisions about when migratory birds take to the skies.

Migrating in a changing world  

Overall, migration schedules seem to be shifting, as a result of climate change . “It looks like bird migrations are commencing a little earlier in the spring,” says   Kyle Horton, an aeroecologist at the University of Colorado who uses radar technology to map realtime and historical bird migrations in the United States.

Black-throated blue warblers, for example, are migrating almost five days earlier now, on average, than they did in the 1960s. Canada-bound American robins are arriving 12 days earlier in the spring than they did in 1994. Migrating whooping cranes are showing up nearly 22 days earlier at their stopover site in Nebraska in the spring and leaving almost 21 days later in the fall than they did in the 1940s. ( Learn how climate change has affected the annual migration of the yellow warbler .)

Such early starts to migration may benefit birds if plant and insect productivity at the breeding grounds mirror the trend. However, not all migratory birds may be able to adapt to a warming world, and if they did, the full costs of doing so remain unclear.

As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of bird migration, the phenomenon remains one of nature’s great wonders.  

“They’re flying all night, feeding all day, and doing it again,” Horton says. “That’s sort of remarkable."

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Bird Migration: Definition, Types, Causes and Guiding Mechanisms

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In this article we will discuss about the Migration of Birds:- 1. Definition of Bird Migration 2. Types of Bird Migration 3. Causes 4. Guiding Mechanisms 5. Disadvantages.

• Disadvantages of Bird Migration

1. Definition of Bird Migration:

The word “migration” has come from the Latin word migrara which means going from one place to another. Many birds have the inherent quality to move from one place to another to obtain the advantages of the favourable condition.

In birds, migration means two-way journeys—onward journey from the ‘home’ to the ‘new’ places and back journey from the ‘new’ places to the ‘home’. This move­ment occurs during the particular period of the year and the birds usually follow the same route. There is a sort of ‘internal biological clock’ which regulates the phenomenon.

Definition :

According to L. Thomson (1926), bird migration may be described as “changes of habitat periodically recurring and alter­nating in direction, which tend to secure optimum environmental conditions at all times” .

Bird migration is a more or less regular, extensive movements between their breeding regions and their wintering regions.

2. Types of Bird Migration:

All birds do not migrate, but all species are subject to periodical movements of vary­ing extent. The birds which live in northern part of the hemisphere have greatest migra­tory power.

Migration may be:

(i) Latitudinal,

(ii) Longitudinal,

(iii) Altitudinal or Vertical,

(iv) Partial,

(vi) Vagrant or Irregular,

(vii) Seasonal,

(viii) Diurnal and

(ix) Noctur­nal.

(i) Latitudinal migration:

The latitudinal migration usually means the movement from north to south, and vice versa. Most birds live in the land masses of the northern temperate and subarctic zones where they get facilities for nesting and feeding during summer. They move towards south during winter.

An opposite but lesser movement also occurs in the southern hemisphere when the seasons are changed. Cuckoo breeds in India and spends the summer at South-east Africa and thus covers a distance of about 7250 km.

Some tropical birds migrate during rainy season to the outer tropics to breed and return to the central tropics in dry season. Many marine birds also make considerable migra­tion. Puffinus (Great shearwater) breeds on small islands and migrates as far as Greenland in May and returns after few months.

It covers a distance of 1300 km. Penguins migrate by swimming and cover a considerable distance of few hundred miles. Sterna paradisaea (Arctic tern) breeds in the northern temperate region and migrates to the Antarctic zone along the Atlantic. It was observed that Sterna covers a distance of 22 500 km during migration!

(ii) Longitudinal migration :

The longitudinal migration occurs when the birds migrate from east to west and vice- versa. Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), a resident of east Europe and west Asia migrate towards the Atlantic coast. California gulls, a resident and breed in Utah, migrate westward to winter in the Pacific coast.

(iii) Altitudinal migration :

The altitudinal migration occurs in moun­tainous regions. Many birds inhabiting the mountain peaks migrate to low lands during winter. Golden plover (Pluvialis) starts from Arctic tundra and goes up to the plains of Argentina covering a distance of 11 250 km (Fig. 9.54).

Birds migrate either in flocks or in pairs. Swallows and storks migrate a distance of 9650 km from northern Europe to South Africa. Ruff breeds at Siberia and travels to Great Britain, Africa, India and Ceylon thus travelling a distance of 9650 kilometers.

(iv) Partial migration:

All the members of a group of birds do not take part in migration. Only several members of a group take part in migration. Blue Jays of Canada and northern part of United States travel southwards to blend with the sedentary populations of the Southern States of U.S.A. Coots and spoon bills (Platalea) of our country may be example of partial migration.

(v) Total migration :

When all the members of a species take part in the migration, it is called total migration.

(vi) Vagrant or irregular migration :

When some of the birds disperse to a short or long distance for safety and food, it is called vagrant or irregular migration. Herons may be the example of vagrant or irregular migration. Other examples are black stork (Ciconia nigra), Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), and bee eater (Merops apiaster).

(vii) Daily migration :

Some birds make daily journey from their nests by the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, light, and humidity also. Examples are crows, herons and starlings.

(viii) Seasonal migration :

Some birds migrates at different seasons of the year for food or breeding, called seasonal migration, e.g., cuckoos, swifts, swallows etc. They migrate from the south to the north during summer. These birds are called summer visitors. Again there are some birds like snow bunting, red wing, shore lark, grey plover etc. which migrate from north to south during winter. Th ey are called winter visitors.

Nocturnal and Diurnal Flight :

(i) Diurnal migration :

Many larger birds like crows, robins, swal­lows, hawks, jays, blue birds, pelicans, cranes, geese, etc. migrate during daytime for food.

These birds are called diurnal birds and gene­rally migrate in flocks.

(ii) Nocturnal birds :

Some small-sized birds of passerine groups like sparrows, warblers, etc. migrate in darkness, called nocturnal birds. The darkness of the night gives them protection from their enemies.

3. Causes of Migration :

Most species of birds migrate more or less on schedule and follow the routes in a regular fashion. The actual causative factors deter­mining the course and direction of migration are not clearly known.

The following factors may be related to the problems of migration:

i. Instinct and Gonadal changes :

It is widely accepted that the impulse to migrate in birds is possibly instinctive and the migration towards the breeding grounds is associated with gonadal changes.

ii. Scarcity of food and day length:

Other factors, viz., scarcity of food, shortening of daylight and increase of cold are believed to stimulate migration. Migration in birds depends upon two important factors— stimulus and guidance.

Scarcity of food and fall of daylight are believed to produce endocrinal changes which initiate bird migration.

iii. Photoperiodism:

The increase of day length (Photoperiodism) induces bird’s migration. The day length affects pituitary and pineal glands and also caused growth of gonads which secret sex hormones that are the stimulus for migration. In India, Siberian crane, geese, swan those come from central Asia, Himalayas, begin to return from March and onwards with the increase of day length.

iv. Seasonal variation:

The north-to-south migrations of birds take place under stimulus from the internal condition of the gonads which are affected by seasonal variation.

The experiments of Rowan with Juncos (summer visitor to Canada) have esta­blished that light plays an important role in the development of gonads, which has indirect role on migration. If the gonads undergo regression, the urge for migration is not felt. So the seasonal changes in illumination appear to be a crucial factor for determining migration.

Despite all these suggestions, it is not clear how birds — through successive generations — follow the same route and reach the same spot. The instinctive behaviours like migration, breeding, moulting are phasic occurrences in the annual cycle which are possibly controlled by the endocrine system. In all migratory birds, accumulation of fat takes place for extra fuel during prolonged flight in migration.

4. Guiding Mechanisms in Bird Navigation :

For more than a century the celestial navigations of birds have fascinated the ornithologists. Different explanations have been advanced to explain how birds navigate. It is difficult to generalize on the means of orientation and navigation in migration. The different groups of birds with different modes of existence have evolved different means of finding their way from one place to another (Pettingill, 1970).

The other reasons may be:

Fat deposition :

Migratory birds become greedy and fat is deposited in the subcutaneous region of the body. The fat deposition plays an important role in the migration of birds. Birds, those migrate a long distance, reserve enough fat which provides energy in their arduous jour­ney and helps the birds to reach its desti­nation, following a particular route. After fat deposition, restlessness (Zugunruhe) is seen among birds for migration.

Inherited instinct :

Birds that take part in migration or follow a more or less definite goal, evidently possess an inherited instinct. Both the direction and the goal must have been implanted in the bird’s genetic code when a population can adjust to a particular location or environment.

Experienced Lead the Flock :

The theory is sometimes advanced that old and experienced birds lead the way and thereby lead the whole route and show the whole route the younger generation. This the­ory may be applicable to some birds like swans, geese and cranes because they fly in flocks but not applicable in all species where old and youngs migrate at different times and mainly youngs start ahead of the adult.

Werner Ruppell of Germany, a leading experimenter on avian migration, found that Starlings of Berlin find their way back to their nestling places from about 2000 km away. A sea bird named Manx shearwater collected from the western coast of England after being flown by plane to Boston was found back in its nest in England within 12 days.

The shearwa­ter had flown its own way about 4940 km across the unknown Atlantic Ocean! The gold­en plover of North America migrates from its winter home in the Hawaiian islands to its breeding place in northern Canada.

This bird lacks webbed feet and it is quite natural that it must fly for several weeks over thousands of kilometers of ocean to reach its destination. The birds have wonderful power of navigation and orientation to find their destination even under odd conditions.

There are many theories regarding the phenomenon of migration in birds.

Various theorists propose that birds are guided by a number of agencies:

a. Earth’s magnetic field—as the guiding factor:

Some ornithologists believed about the existence of a “magnetic sense” as the impor­tant factor in the power of “geographical orientation”. The theory was conceived as early as 1885 but conducted by Yeagley in 1947 and 1951. Yeagley suggested that birds are sensitive and guided by the earth’s mag­netic field.

The Coriolis force arising from rotation of the earth plays the guiding role in migration of birds. The basic question of the theory may be asked — “can birds detect such minute differences in the earth’s magnetic field and can these forces affect bird’s behaviour?”

Attempts to demonstrate by experimental evidences have not supported Yeagley’s experiment. Experiments, in which the earth’s magnetic field was changed, had no effect on the direc­tion which the birds undertook.

b. Sun—the guiding agent in diurnal migration:

The concept that birds are guided by the position of the sun was advanced by Gustav Kramer in Germany and G. V. T. Matthews in England. They have shown by intensive experimentations those homing pigeons and many wild birds use the sun as the compass and that they possess a ‘time sense’ or ‘internal clock’ which allows them to take account of motion of the sun across the sky.

Kramer (1949, 1957, 1961) performed experiments on Starlings (diurnal migrants) and showed that these birds use the sun for setting their migratory course. When the sky remains clear, the Starlings succeed in taking the right direction.

If the sky remains overcast they become bewildered and fail to orient themselves. Mechanical placement of a mirror which deflects rays of the sun result into con­siderable deviation of orientation to a pre­dictable extent. The experiments of Kramer and others failed to explain the navigation and orienta­tion of night migrants. This aspect was exten­sively worked out by E.G.F. Sauer (1958).

c. Stars—the guiding agent in nocturnal migration:

The warblers and many other birds orient themselves during navigation by the sun during daytime. But the warblers as well as many other birds navigate mainly at night. What sorts of system do these birds use to the pathways during navigation at night?

Sauer performed experiments on white throat warblers to give an insight to the prob­lem. Sauer put the birds in a cage placed in a planetarium having an artificial replica of natural sky. When the light of the planetarium was poorly illuminated, i.e., when the stars were not visible, the warbelers failed to orient themselves.

When the illumination was better and the planetarium sky matched with the natural night sky, the birds followed up the proper direction. It has also been shown by Sauer that a warbler which has spent its life in a cage (i.e., never navigated in natural sky) has an inborn ability to follow the stars to navigate along the usual route the members of the species follow.

Sauer has suggested that the warblers possess hereditary mechanism to ori­ent themselves by the stars during nocturnal migration. The warbler can adjust the direc­tion perfectly at the latitude.

Suggestions have been advanced by many workers that the configuration of the coastline possibly helps in navigation, but Sauer has dis­proved the idea and advocated that the birds are exclusively guided by the stars during night.

d. The ‘compass’ and the ‘internal clock’ in bird migration:

It is a known fact that mil­lions of birds fly to their winter ‘home’ in every autumn. In doing so they cover often thou­sands of kilometers from their native ‘home’. In the following spring they again return to their breeding grounds. This is a regular bio­logical phenomenon in avian life.

It has been established that the young birds caught during migration, when released afterwards, follow exactly the original route their undisturbed fellows followed. This phe­nomenon suggested the presence of a sort of ‘compass’ the birds use during navigation.

But Kramer’s experiment gave a clue to the problem. The position of the sun is vital in con­trolling the navigation pathways. During the day the position of the sun in the sky is changed from east to west via the south. Despite such changes birds tried to navigate in the same direction. This means they have the inherent ability to make appropriate allowance for the time of day.

How do the birds know the time of day? They have possibly a built-in time­keeping mechanism (internal clock) which is synchronized with the earth’s rotation. The ‘internal clock’ can be made to synchronize with external happenings.

Existence of biological clocks is a pro­perty of living organisms. It is not confined to animals, it is found in plants and even in sim­ple cells too. It is a common experience that if we are in the habit of getting up every day at a particular time, we frequently wake up at the same time. Besides, many of our bodily func­tions have a rhythm of their own. These are possibly controlled by an ‘internal clock’ of which we are normally unaware.

Telemetry means methods of tracking of the movement of birds or other migratory ani­mals by using radio. This is the most promising method that has been applied to trace the route of bird’s migration. The method consists of attaching a small radio transmitter, weighing about 2-3 gm. that sends periodic signals or “beeps”.

The miniature transmitter can be placed on birds and it does not interfere flight and the signals can be detected by means of a receiving set mounted on vehicles or aero planes that can detect the routes of migratory birds.

Though there are some limitations of telemetry but this technology gives encoura­ging results. More recently researchers are engaged largely to track the routes of the migratory birds with the aid of satellites and radar tracking instruments.

5. Disadvantages of Bird Migration:

i. Many youngs are not, able to reach the destination because they die during the course of the continuous and tiresome journey.

ii. Sudden changes in the climate such as storms and hurricanes, strong current of wind, fog are the causes for the death of a sizeable number of migrants.

iii. Sometimes man-made high tours and light houses cause the death of migratory birds.

iv. Man themselves are responsible for the death of the migrants. They shoot at these poor birds just for their own leisure and amusement.

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Biology , Phylum Chordata , Birds , Migration , Migration of Birds

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Bird Migration: A General Survey

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The question of how birds migrate over enormous distances with apparently minimal guidance continues to excite both professional and amateur ornithologists. Nearly ten years have elapsed since Peter Berthold, a leading researcher in the field, wrote the first edition of this highly readable and fascinating book. During that time the field has advanced by strides, so that this new edition has been extensively revised, expanded, and updated. No other book exists that brings together the vast amount of information that is available on the subject of bird migration, so that the book will be an inspiration to birdwatchers, naturalists, and ornithologists alike.

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Migration of the Caribou Birds Essay

The northern landscapes fascinate the viewer, whether in summer or winter. A mixture of cold but saturated colors in the dim rays of the sun, which always tends to go down, makes them ascetic and magical. The caribou herds enjoy this splendor from season to season as they watch the green, moist hillsides covered with sparkling white snow. However, such a change in the landscape means much more for them than for any human being, to which nature is more static.

Caribou unmistakably determine the moment when it is necessary to set off on another long journey, which is as familiar to them as to migratory birds. With the first signs of a change of season, the herd rushes north as an indispensable condition for survival in the cyclical nature of life. They will overcome many hundreds of kilometers along the beaten path to find shelter and food (“Caribou ,” n.d.). Although the northern landscape seems monotonous, with endless hills stretching as a satin ribbon, caribou will never get lost. Side by side, within a large herd, they will stretch one after another like an endless rumbling river. They will rush along the northern hills and plains, migrating from the northern refuge to the southern one, constantly repeating their route.

During such periods, everything around is filled with the loud clatter of hooves and the endless roar of restless caribou. No creature dares to cross their path, which they protect and cherish for generations. They are alone for many kilometers around, a living river that gives energy to the northern area. Caribou fill the lifeless hills with a sudden stream of life that sweeps like a hurricane and leaves behind only paths that will never be abandoned forever. They will return the same route with the change of season, still racing loudly through familiar landscapes.

Caribou . (n.d.). National Geographic. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, August 31). Migration of the Caribou Birds. https://ivypanda.com/essays/migration-of-the-caribou-birds/

"Migration of the Caribou Birds." IvyPanda , 31 Aug. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/migration-of-the-caribou-birds/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Migration of the Caribou Birds'. 31 August.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Migration of the Caribou Birds." August 31, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/migration-of-the-caribou-birds/.

1. IvyPanda . "Migration of the Caribou Birds." August 31, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/migration-of-the-caribou-birds/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Migration of the Caribou Birds." August 31, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/migration-of-the-caribou-birds/.

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• 19 March 2024

The 50th anniversary of a key paper on how bird flight evolved

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Kevin Padian is in the Department of Integrative Biology and at the Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

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One could speculate about how birds evolved flight without knowing what ancestors they evolved from, or with no information on the specifics of their body form, ecology or behaviour. And that had been exactly the state of the debate among palaeontologists and ornithologists since the issue was first broached in the 1870s, using imaginary ancestries, imaginary life histories and imaginary aerodynamics. In 1974, writing in the Quarterly Review of Biology , the palaeontologist John Ostrom 1 approached the conundrum using evidence from both the fossil record and the behaviour of living animals. And he effectively turned the debate on its head.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00746-w

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Ostrom, J. H. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 8 , 91–182 (1976).

Ostrom, J. H. Bull. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 30 , 1–165 (1969).

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Essay on Birds

500 words essay on birds.

Birds are very special animals that have particular characteristics which are common amongst all of them. For instance, all of them have feathers, wings and two legs. Similarly, all birds lay eggs and are warm-blooded. They are very essential for our environment and exist in different breeds. Thus, an essay on birds will take us through their importance.

Importance of Birds

Birds have different sizes and can be as small as 2 inches and as big as 2.75 metres. For instance, bee hummingbird (smallest) and ostrich (largest). Bird’s existence dates back to 160 million years ago.

There are different types of birds that exist which vary in characteristics. For instance, there are penguins that cannot fly. Further, there are birds that are known for their intelligence like Parrots and Corvidae.

Moreover, we have peacocks which are beautiful and symbolize rain and good weather. Next, there are bats and vultures as well. Birds connect very closely to the environment and are quite intuitive.

They can predict the weather conditions and some are kept near coal mines for the prediction of a mine explosion. It is because they are sensitive to the release of high levels of carbon monoxide. They are quite social and enjoy singing as well. Birds enjoy the freedom of moving anywhere without boundaries.

My Favourite Bird

My favourite bird is the parrot. It is a colourful bird that is present in many parts of the world. It comes in many shapes, sizes and colours. Parrots are famous for having vivid colours.

Some have a single, bright colour while others have a rainbow of different colours. Parrots are usually small and medium in size that mostly eats seeds, nuts and fruits. The lifespan of a parrot depends on its species.

Larger ones like cockatoos and macaws live for 80 years while the smaller ones like lovebirds live for around 15 years. In fact, parrots are quite intelligent. They have the ability to imitate human speech which is why many people keep them as pets.

Consequently, they are also the most sought-after type of bird for commercial purposes. All over the world, people are taking measures to ensure parrots get nice treatment. Many cultures also consider them sacred.

Parrots are highly intelligent and thrive at their best when they are free and not captured in cages. I used to have a parrot when I was little and I never kept it in a cage. It used to sit on my shoulder wherever I went and never flew away. Parrots are my favourite bird.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Birds

Due to hunting, poaching and disruption of the ecological balance, many birds are getting extinct. As a result, birds living in water like swans, ducks and more are also falling drastically in number because of pollution. Thus, we all must take proper measures to help the birds live and save them from extinction. Birds are vital for our ecosystem and its balance, thus we must all keep them safe.

FAQ of Essay on Birds

Question 1: How can we save birds?

Answer 1: We can save birds by doing little things like providing a source of water for them to drink. Further, we can elevate bird feeders and plant native plants and trees for them. Similarly, we can put up birdhouses and garden organically so that birds can feed on insects and worms.

Question 2: Why birds are important in our life?

Answer 2 : Birds are significant for our environment as well as for human beings as they play an important role in every living thing present on earth. Birds are one of the seed dispersers for plants who deliver us food, shelter and medicines and more.

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Essay on “Bird Migration” for School, College Students, Essay, Paragraph and Speech for Class 10, Class 12, College and Competitive Exams.

Bird Migration

In countries like England, France and North America, when the weather gets very cold in winter, rich people move to warm climates. We have seen rich people move to hill resorts and live there when the weather gets hot in summer.

The birds and animals also move from one place to another when the climate changes. It is one of the mysteries of nature that birds are able to travel thousands of kilometers and come back to their original resting places at regular intervals.

During September and November flocks of birds come from somewhere and then go away.

Bird watchers after years of patient observation and study of these migrating birds have concluded that there is a regular and systematic about their behaviour. People used to think that small birds such as Swallows, Nightingales and Cuckoos went to sleep during the winter; but now it is known that they go to warm countries.

Why do birds migrate? They are not directly affected by the cold because of their feather covering and warm blood, but in winter getting food is not easy.

Snow lies thick on the ground in winter and even lakes and rivers are frozen over. The weather is such that birds will not be able to catch either insects or fish. If they do not migrate, they will perish. As the nights are short the time available for searching for food is short, So, they have to fly over to warm places.

The birds fly to the same places and return to their original breeding grounds with amazing accuracy. During migration, it is usually the young birds that fly at the front and the older ones in the rear. Though the young ones have never flown that way, yet they fly to the right places and return to the right places covering hundreds of kilometers. They do not need any training in finding their direction during migration, for they are guided by instinct. Birds from north and north western parts of India fly to South India and Sri Lanka.

It is now found that some of the white strokes that are seen in India come from Germany.

Birds such as ducks and geese fly at a speed of between sixty-five and ninety kilometers per hour. Some birds fly from six to eleven hours a day. Some birds can fly 885 kilometers non-stop in about eleven hours. A bird known as the Eastern Golden plover which comes to India from western Alaska and North eastern Siberia flies 3200 kilometers non-stop. The snipe flies 4800 kilometers over the sea from Japan to Australia. There is scientific evidence to prove all this. They fly at a height of 1000 meters and 4000 meters above the ground.

More and more people are taking an interest in bird behaviour and in course of time, the answers to a lot of questions about bird migration will be available.

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The Clock Is Running Out on Migratory Birds

Climate change is creating a mismatch between these travelers and their food supply.

This article was originally published by High Country News .

At a glance, the male western tanager looks like a little flame, its ruby head blending seamlessly into its bright, lemon-colored body. Females are less showy, a dusty yellow. The birds spend their winters in Central America and can be found in a variety of habitats, from central Costa Rica to the deserts of southeastern Sonora, in western Mexico. In the spring, they prepare to migrate thousands of miles to the conifer forests of the Mountain West, flying through grasslands, deserts, and occasionally, suburban yards.

To fuel them on their lengthy journey, western tanagers fill up on insects and berries. Like most migrating birds, they eat enormous amounts of food. But as global climate change causes spring to start earlier, birds such as western tanagers are arriving at their destination after what’s known as “green-up,” when flowers begin blooming and insects emerge. According to a study published in early March in the journal PNAS , this kind of timing mismatch between migrants and their food sources, which is happening across North America, could have dire consequences for migratory birds’ survival. “In discussing climate change, we often focus on warming,” says Scott Loss, a professor at Oklahoma State University and a co-author of the study. “But the length and timing of seasons—like when winter ends and spring begins—are some of the most dramatic effects of climate change.”

Loss and his colleagues used satellite imagery from 2002 to 2021 to calculate the average start of spring green-up along the typical migration routes of 150 North American bird species, then compared that timing with the current green-up. They found that spring is indeed beginning earlier along birds’ migration routes. The trend continued this year, when, following an unusually mild February, leaves and blooms emerged well ahead of schedule along the West Coast, making this year’s green-up the earliest on record in some areas.

The authors then turned to a trove of citizen birders’ observations from eBird to track bird migration. The analysis showed that, as spring shifted earlier, roughly 110 of 150 bird species failed to keep up by migrating in time. “A lot of these birds were tracking long-term averages of green-up more closely than they were current green-up,” says Ellen Robertson, a co-author of the study who was a postdoctoral researcher at Oklahoma State when conducting this research. Other studies have found that many bird species are adapting to climate change by migrating earlier, but this study shows that it might not be early enough to keep up with the pace of climate change.

“The paper continues to build this picture of the extent and pervasiveness of an inability of birds to track the changing seasons caused by climate change,” says Morgan Tingley, an ornithologist and associate professor at UCLA. Timing mismatches between birds and their food could affect whether birds survive the migration and how many chicks they have. A recent study from Tingley’s lab showed that songbirds that reach their spring breeding grounds either earlier or later than plants emerge have fewer young than the ones that arrive on time with the start of spring, for example.

Previous studies have mainly focused on songbirds in Eastern North America, Tingley says, but this new investigation shows that bird species in the West and at different levels of the food web might be just as vulnerable. However, Tingley notes, some questions remain unanswered. For example, he says that although previous studies show that a timing mismatch could have grave consequences for herbivorous songbirds, it’s unclear if the same is true for birds that feed on other animals, such as insects.

The awe-inspiring feat of migration has captivated humans for millennia, yet scientists have limited knowledge of how birds manage to fly as far as they do, up to tens of thousands of miles a trip, or why exactly they leave when they do. The migratory cues that birds rely on are myriad: temperature, day length, landforms, the stars, even the Earth’s magnetic field, as well as the instructions coded in their genetics. Some of the environmental cues, such as temperature, are likely affected by climate change. But others, such as day length, are not. “That might be one reason some [migratory] birds are more affected by climate change” than others, Robertson says.

Birds that migrate longer distances had a greater mismatch between green-up and migration, the study found. The researchers suspect that’s because even if birds are tracking temperature or other migration cues at their winter home, they can’t know what conditions are like farther away—whether spring is arriving earlier along their migration route or at their destination than it did at their winter headquarters. Long-distance migrants also tend to rely more on their genetic encoding to tell them when to begin their journey.

Read: The quiet disappearance of birds in North America

Worldwide, bird populations are in decline. The number of birds in North America has dropped by roughly 30 percent since 1970. Even abundant species, such as crows, have suffered a population dip. Scott Loss says that the migration research could inform conservation efforts in the future. “Part of it is knowing which species are vulnerable to various threats,” Loss says. “This adds to the knowledge about vulnerability of a wide range of bird species.” And he hopes that the information will serve to highlight the urgent need to lower greenhouse-gas emissions as fast as possible: “It’s really important, if we can’t address climate change immediately, to try to stop habitat loss as much as we can.”

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Guest Essay

When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place

Mr. Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,” investigates animal perception.

Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland, Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds. Throughout the summer, I was breaking in my first pair of binoculars, a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had gone somewhere solely to watch birds.

In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that overlooks the forces that create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would identify as a dancer, because the term suggests, if not skill, then at least effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.

Since then, my birder derangement syndrome has progressed at an alarming pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating — looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to pish . I’ve gone owling.

I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the social media platform Bluesky . I went out with experienced birders to learn how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.

I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birding Quiz lets you practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.

This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses. At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.

Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline while being utterly serene.

I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded in place, time and experience.

When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there and that I might have previously overlooked. The passing of the seasons feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small differences in habitat. I think about the tides.

So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and western bluebirds would be easy, but not black skimmers or peregrine falcons or loggerhead shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the past six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons, all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into “Where can I find that?”

Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being productive.

I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my community beyond ceaseless production and that pursuits like birding that foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled life but their essence.

It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the one with the sparrow.

More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.

Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,” investigates animal perception.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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How to Write an Essay on Birds: 9 Interesting Areas to Focus

How to write an essay on birds? There are some interesting facts you can write about. Information about birds can be an excellent source for a creative essay. Birds are found in every part of the globe, creating a large variety of species to write about, especially when well-researched. Interesting bird facts can create wonderful topics for an essay, including unique theses that a student can explore and develop an enjoyable piece of writing.

When writing an essay about birds, it’s important to consider researching these facts, especially their biological composition. For instance, one can write an essay about birds by highlighting some distinguishing characteristics between bird species. This type of writing would be most interesting in English, particularly due to the distinctive nature of scientific descriptions. You can also include a short note about their biological differences in each section to make the essay more appealing.

Interesting Facts for Writing an Essay on Birds

Feather distinction.

One of the most interesting topics for an essay on birds is their feather diversity. Birds have distinctive appearances in structure, order, and color. Feather distinction is one of the distinguishing characteristics between species. However, some species have different colors based on various biological and environmental factors. For instance, some bird species have distinctive differences between the feathers of a male and a female. In other cases, the differences may appear disorderly but are worth investigating.

Migration marvels and global distribution

Some bird species are migratory, traveling between regions, even continents. Since the migrations coincide with seasons, they create some migration marvels worth writing about. For instance, seagulls migrate between winter and summer, running from the cold weather. During their travels, the birds create awesome displays of their traveling routines, mating habits, and hunting traditions. This topic is most suitable for nature lovers, people willing to investigate many species for their beauty and scientific facts.

Nesting prowess

You can also write an essay on birds based on their architectural techniques. Birds build their nests differently depending on their size, primary predators, and location. While the weaverbird prefers loosely hanging tree branches, the penguin can only nest on the ground near mountains and ocean shores. The structure and composition of the nest also differ significantly, creating an array of architectural designs to compare. Any person interested in birds understands the importance of a nest, especially during mating and incubation.

Egg laying facts

Birds are oviparous or egg-laying animals in English. Different species lay different egg sizes, colors, and shapes. They have distinctive characteristics based on their egg-laying habits, including location and responsibility. Some birds, such as the Cuckoo , exhibit parasitic behaviors in brooding. They lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, forcing the foster parents to incubate a foreign egg and feed an adopted chick afterward. Egg-laying habits can be quite an impressive topic for an essay on birds, especially due to the amount of scientific evidence available online.

Sociocultural rituals

Another interesting concept you can write about birds is their social lives. Like humans and any other living thing, birds socialize on different occasions. Some live in large groups, while others are loaners. However, all birds have distinctive mating rituals. Some specials engage in colorful, elaborate courtship traditions. They display marvelous moves to attract mates, using their wings and, in some cases, their avian architectural prowess to assert dominance. Birds engage in long relationships that resemble marriage in humans. The bald eagle is a good example of a bird species that marries or mates for life. The differences in sociocultural behaviors can create an amazing topic for a good essay.

Cognitive capacity

Some bird species are worth writing essays about, especially those that have shown high intelligence. Students can investigate intellectual abilities in birds to find impressive topics for their term papers and final research. You can even hire an experienced academic writer to help with the information gathering and drafting. For instance, CustomWritings professional essay writing service is a prominent helper with over ten years of experience supporting students’ journeys. While intelligent avian is attractive, finding accurate and reliable supporting evidence on such a topic can be daunting. With professional assistance, you can access scholarly articles and integrate findings from research in your essay on birds.

Vocal abilities

Birds are also known for their vocalization capabilities. While students cannot transcribe bird songs into writing, investigations into singing abilities can constitute a good essay. Most importantly, one can research birds’ ability to vocalize or mimic different sounds. Some bird species are known for their vocalization, especially when imitating humans and other birds. Others can produce relatively unique sounds, making them an attractive piece of marvel for analysis.

Scholars and researchers tend to focus on the biological differences between birds. Notably, biologists have invested significantly in understanding the genetic differences for classification and knowledge gathering. With this information, students can develop exciting topics for their essays or end-term research papers. Another interesting point of focus is the survival instincts and abilities of birds. While some species rely on camouflage for safety, others are birds of prey. The details about each bird’s genetics can help explain distribution and preferences.

Life expectancy

Similarly, the biological differences explain the differences in life expectancy. It’s difficult to ascertain the length of life in wild birds due to constant migration. However, scientific evidence suggests that some birds live longer than others. A good essay writer would consider analyzing the reasoning behind these differences and identify genetic and environmental characteristics affecting the length of life.

How Do I Write an Essay on Birds?

The best approach for writing an essay on birds involves conducting sufficient research. A good student would start by identifying an interesting fact to write about birds and research it. The information gathered from the knowledge search can then be used to create a comprehensive essay topic with a compelling thesis. The interesting facts about birds can also be a good hook for the introduction. The essay on birds should be organized professionally, adopting a basic paper structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Writing an essay on birds should also incorporate scientific and scholarly evidence. A good writer understands the need to integrate external sources with supporting and counterarguments. This approach will make your essay more interesting to read and easy to grade. Your professor may be impressed by your capacity to research a wild topic and investigate evidence found in scholarly works. Besides, supporting your arguments with reliable and verifiable arguments makes your writing believable. You can also impress the reader with ideas corroborating your knowledge of birds. For instance, you can integrate information about mating in an essay about birds’ vocal abilities to demonstrate a connection between the two issues. In the end, your essay about birds should be compelling and informative.

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Essay on Birds 3 Models

Last updated Friday , 15-03-2024 on 10:59 am

Essay on birds is interesting because it deals with the life of birds in detail. Several examples such as a short essay on types of birds, a paragraph on raising birds at home, the economic value of keeping birds, names of some birds of prey, how to take care of domestic birds, how birds take care of their young, and what is the largest bird.

Information about birds that benefit all students, the food of birds, their reproduction, in addition to the migration of birds, why do birds migrate from their home to another place that may be thousands of kilometers away from their original home.

Essay on birds is a sample topic for fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, and first, second, and third grade students of middle school and high school.

Essay on birds

Birds are beautiful creatures, which is why all children love them. There are many types of birds, which we will mention in the essay on birds, and the forms of birds differ in terms of size, color, and the way nests are built.

All birds are characterized by beauty and bright colors, in addition to the softness of their feathers. Some birds are able to fly very long distances, even crossing the ocean during their migration without resting. Among the few species that cannot fly at all are penguins and ostriches.

Birds are vertebrates, and they are among the most diverse organisms, with approximately 10,000 species. Birds live in a variety of environments, where they live in mountainous areas, deserts, forests and farms, fields, gardens, cities and homes. That is, they live in diverse environments.

Supernatural qualities distinguish some birds

• Voice: God distinguished some birds with amazing sounds, which musicians cannot imitate. Examples include the goldfinch and other birds with wonderful sounds, which are more beautiful than the sounds of musical instruments in their beauty. Birds use sounds and vibrations to talk to each other. These sounds are the language of the birds through which they communicate, express their fear or happiness, and other important matters for them, such as places of food, water, and expressions of feelings also during the mating seasons.
• Feather colors: Birds are characterized by the beauty of their feathers, and its bright colors, and there is an amazing consistency between the colors of birds, which no artist can imagine, just as fashion designers cannot imitate it with the same accuracy. In the essay on birds we will show examples of birds with dazzling colors as the peacock. The male peacock is considered a beautiful painting, as it is characterized by colors and patterns that no artist can paint with such beauty. The colors of birds have many benefits, including attracting females during mating seasons, hiding from enemies, and so on.
• The power of sight: Some birds are distinguished by the power of sight, such as the falcon, the eagle, and others. The power of sight is useful in hunting prey, as they are seen and their movements are monitored from long distances. Thus, the bird can pounce on its prey without getting away from it. Birds of prey are often distinguished by the power of sight, as they can see prey 1.5 km away.
• The strength of the limbs: Birds are characterized by the strength of their limbs, as they carry their prey with their claws for long distances. They carry prey to the top of the trees where they build their nests, they carry prey to feed their young, so it is important that their limbs are strong. Some birds also use their legs and wings to defend themselves, or to defend the young.
• The strength of the beak: Birds’ beaks are generally considered strong, but in birds of prey they are strong and sharp. For example, a hawk or an eagle can slaughter its prey by using the beak. It can also tear the prey into small pieces that it can eat, and the bird also uses its beak to defend itself, and the best example of the strength of the bird’s beak is the woodpecker, which can make holes in the trunks of trees with its beak, while these trees were not affected by storms or rain, and a small bird was able to make large holes in the trunk of the tree so that this hole would be its home, and the birds also feed on solid grains.
• Sharp claws: Birds have sharp claws, and this helps them in self-defense, as well as in steadfastness on tree branches, so they do not fall while they sleep. Likewise, birds of prey catch their prey with claws, so that they cannot escape, then they also carry it with their claws and fly in the sky until they reach their nests.

Interesting information about bird life

• Birds are social beings: Most birds live in groups, flying in flocks. Essay on birds We explain the social life of birds, where there is understanding and cooperation between a group of birds, and they support each other. We also see the family bonding between birds, where both the male and the female participate in building the nest, incubating the eggs, feeding the young and defending them. The role played by the male or female varies depending on the type of bird. There are birds in which the male is in charge of preparing the nest, and in other birds the female is in charge of preparing the nest. Sometimes both the male and the female participate in preparing the nest. There are also birds, the male is associated with only one female throughout his life, and the birds grieve when they die or lose one of the spouses or one of the children, they have feelings of love and compassion.
• Birds lay eggs: the size and color of eggs varies from one bird to another. The ostrich egg is the largest egg, while the smallest egg is the eggs of some types of small birds. Bird eggs are characterized by the strength and hardness of their shell to suit environmental conditions. The male and female exchange incubating the eggs until the young hatch, and in most cases the incubation period for eggs may reach 21 days, as in chickens, or 30 days, as in ducks, geese, and others.
• The body of birds is lightweight: light weight helps them to fly. In the essay on birds, we will explain this, as birds have a lightweight body, and a streamlined shape that helps them fly. Birds were the source of inspiration for humans in the manufacture of aircraft, scientists have studied the physical characteristics of birds so that they can make aircraft. Its streamlined shape also helps it dive into the water and catch fish.
• Feathers are soft and shiny: There is no doubt that bird feathers are the source of their beauty, but they also have other benefits, such as protecting the flying body from direct shocks, helping the bird to fly, protecting the bird from weather fluctuations, especially as it protects the bird from rainwater, as rainwater slips on the feathers and does not reach the body of the bird.

Benefits of birds

• Birds play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance. Some birds feed on insects, such as the Cattle egrets bird, which works to clean the soil which make the agricultural plants free from parasites and harmful insects, in addition to aerating the agricultural soil, and this helps in improving agricultural production.
• Birds are an important source of white meat, and bird meat is more beneficial than the meat of other animals such as cows, buffaloes, and sheep, and therefore it is preferred by most people.
• Bird meat is an important source of proteins that we need for the growth of the body and strengthening the immune system. Bird meat is also characterized by its delicious taste.
• Pillows are made from the feathers of some birds, and for example, ostrich feathers, from which comfortable pillows are made, and therefore they are sold at very high prices.
• Birds carry pollen from one tree to another, and this helps trees pollinate naturally without human intervention. This helps to increase the production of fruits such as fruits and others.

The economic importance of birds

We cannot neglect to talk about the economic value of birds. We will mention the importance of expanding bird breeding in the essay on birds, especially poultry farms, which have become widespread in all countries of the world. Poultry farming has become an important industry with high economic value.

Man has been able to develop this vital industry, so that it produces the largest quantity of poultry, in order to meet human needs. There are modern ways to raise poultry, as it provides medical care for poultry, as well as the quality of food, setting the appropriate temperature inside farms and other things that help achieve good profits from poultry farming.

At the end of the essay on birds, interesting information about the life of birds, miraculous qualities that distinguish some birds, and the economic importance of birds have been presented.

It is important to realize that birds are social beings, and they have feelings like us, and they express their feelings by issuing certain sounds, and they grieve at the death of one of the spouses, so that they also become depressed and may die of grief.

Therefore, we must treat birds gently, and provide them with the necessary health care, and you can seek the help of a veterinarian to learn how to properly raise birds.

I hope you benefited from the essay on birds, and I would love to receive your comments.

To read more, click on the following link:

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Essay on Migration | Causes and Effects of Migration

December 3, 2017 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

Animals and man have been ever travelling. From grassy plains to fertile land, in search of better food, better opportunities. ‘Migration’ means the movement of population from one place to another for better opportunities.

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What is Migration?

Everyone wishes to lead a happy and secure life. A place where they can offer security to their family and a better future both for themselves and family. Migration many be of two types- permanent and temporary. Some migration may also occur annually, seasonally, or diurnally. According to certain census it has been found that migration mostly happens in three stages- (a) rural to rural , (b) rural to urban , (c) urban to urban , and (d) urban to rural

Maximum migration is from rural to urban, especially in developing countries like India. Even urban to urban migration happens quite a lot. But migration of the type (a), (d) is very rare. Migration of type (a) happens only when a person goes from another village to sell his items during bazaar or Melas. Some migration also happens from rural to small then from small town to urban. Such type of migration is called step wise migration.

In India there is a crazy race of the population travelling from the rural areas to the metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore etc, seeking for better employment and better work opportunities. And this craze is increasing more and more in the coming years.

That is why competition in the job sector is increasing in the urban sphere. Metropolitan cities act a crowd puller. People are attracted to the vibrant colours of life in the cities. They fall in the wrong notion that they can pull up something big or great in the cities and earn a living but not everyone gets equal opportunities. Some end up rag-pickers, some end up as street dwellers, and some end up beggars who don’t get any means of livelihood.

Another term that comes along with migration is commutation. Commutation is the means of travelling on a daily schedule of the people to cities from the neighbouring towns and villages for the purpose of job and other works. This is a type of temporary migration.

Some people commute seasonally- incase or family gathering or wedding ceremonies. While some immigrants migrate annually. Migration is not just a re-location of human resources and settlements but it is a process which has three-fold impact:

(a) On the area experiencing immigration,

(b) On the area experiencing out-migration, and

(c) On the migrants themselves, the purpose of migration may be employment, business, education, family movement, marriage, calamity, etc.

These migrants have very little skill and professional expertise, moreover they lack literacy. They mostly get involved in the low grade activities and fields of manual labour, where there is not much sophistication or use of literary capabilities.

Very few are in administrative, professional or technical sphere. The condition of women migrants is worse. Majority of them are illiterate or have very little literacy. Such people take up even lower grade of jobs like the domestic maid servants, hawkers or vendors. This change has been termed by many as ‘evolutionary urbanization’.

This sudden migration burst has led in detoriation in the look of the city and spreading of cities. Rapid human pressure has led to the unprecedented growth of shabby towns, slums and bastees and squatter settlements. Cities are spreading far beyond its boundary limits.

There are also other evils like the overflow of urban unemployment, rapid exploitation of the items of daily necessity like- food, clothing and shelter and their unavailability and there is a very sharp decline of human values and moral and it is increasing over the years( as observed its increase from 1981-1999 and will steadily increase over the 21st century).

Hence the metropolitan cities are becoming like blown-up urban villages which fail to offer basic necessities of life to the people residing in it. Due to unchecked or unprecedented human growth the cities lack in urban functions, characteristics, urban infrastructure and services, and without a strong economic base.

They are slowly stepping towards what is called as ‘degeneration’ or ‘decay’.

The urban areas not only attract the poor and the illiterate class but it has become a place for the educated and elite class to earn a living and lead a comfortable and relaxed life. There have been many cases where students from villages have come in cities to get higher education, managed with a good job and become a part of the city itself.

Even some big landlords and rich farmers have shown their interest in investing a good part of their agricultural profits in the different businesses that goes on in the city and also commercial activities. Hence the cities of developing countries like India are developing on the plunder or the remains of the rural parts (both natural and human). Unless this exploitation of blood-sucking trend is terminated for once and for all, the development or the revival of the ‘desi’ villages is a farfetched dream.

Not just there are rural immigrants to deal with. There are international migrants as well. Majority of the international migrants to India come from Asian countries, which are in turn followed by Europeans, Africans, etc. The neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Russia etc. have contributed large number of migrants to India.

Since there is no restriction along Indo-Nepal international boundary large numbers of Nepali people come to India for seeking employment, education, business etc. Assam, West Bengal and north eastern states attract large number of legal and illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

This has created a number of social, economic and political problems in these areas. Nepalese are seen in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi. Similarly migrants from Sri Lanka are most frequented in South India especially in Tamil Nadu

Migration not only creates confusion and commotion, but also an ill-growth of cities. That does not mean that we will shun away the immigrants.

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Implementing EBSCO FOLIO: Migration Isn’t Just for the Birds

EBSCO FOLIO has created a seamless implementation process that includes meeting stakeholders, strategizing data migration, streamlining workflows, and soaring into a successful go-live phase. Keep reading to l earn more about the teams that make your library's transition to FOLIO as smooth as migrating south for winter.

Getting to know each other.

Once we’ve signed the FOLIO contract, the journey begins. Our teams will work through getting acquainted with key stakeholders, reviewing roles and responsibilities, and what will be needed to get the implementation process off the ground. Our Project Management Implementation Consultants will be your primary point of contact. They are well-versed in the FOLIO migration. Some have even been in your shoes very recently and have gone through library system migrations themselves.

Get to know EBSCO FOLIO's implementation teams.

An eagle eye approach to data migration.

You will be the heart of this project. Our dedicated migration team will take the time to learn what your data means to you. We’ll look at how it’s used and what’s essential to delivering good service for your patrons. Then, we will work with your library to document what data the library wants to migrate and what will be needed from you. Last but certainly not least, we will share the next steps of the process with you in a checklist documentation process.

We’ve simplified it into four categories:

• Dress rehearsal

“Our migration team of seasoned library professionals with extensive knowledge of workflows, Library Management Systems (LMS), and data will consult with you in depth. Together, we'll document a custom plan detailing mutual responsibilities to ensure FOLIO best meets your needs. You are in good hands with us.”

Streamlining the workflow and getting things ready to fly..

The FOLIO implementation team has created a project management process that promotes transparency, flexibility and collaboration. Our team creates a complete project plan and meeting schedule that covers everything from data migration questions to patron engagement and circulation resources. Nothing is left out of this process, and where it makes sense, EBSCO will work on facilitating the integrations with other EBSCO products used by your library. 

It's time to fly: Going live with EBSCO FOLIO.

It’s time to go live, get excited! We’ve made sure your library is ready. EBSCO has been with you every step of the way; we’re ready to see you fly.

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