Impact

GOOD GOOD GOOD MIGRATIONS

Migrating white egrets touch down in a pond.

This week, we are in the full throes of spring migration, as billions of birds fly north towards their summer breeding grounds. Like magnificent living waves, the roll up towards the top of the planet as it tilts towards the sun. Birdwatchers are in heaven.

There are gorgeous sightings. There’s a symphony of birdsong. But the most beautiful thing about migrating birds, is that they help keep our planet, and us, alive.

Birds help us maintain balance.

“Migratory birds connect people, ecosystems and nations. They are symbols of peace and of an interconnected planet,” Secretary-General António Guterres stated. “World Migratory Bird Day is an opportunity to celebrate the great natural wonder of bird migration – but also a reminder that those patterns, and ecosystems worldwide, are threatened by climate change.”

Swarm of migrating birds flies over the sea.

Image: by Don McCullough. “Migration.”

About 20% of our 11,000 birds species migrate seasonally, flying hundreds and thousands of miles, along established routes, to breed, feed, and raise their young. Their journeys are filled with diverse array of increasing threats and about 40% of their populations are in decline, with about 13% under threat of extinction, largely thanks to habitat-loss and degradation, caused by agricultural, urban, and coastal development, as well climate change.

Migrating birds fly in chevron formation at sunset.

Image: by Chris Bentley. “Birds.”

In addition, it is estimated that as many as 5 billion birds die accidentally, by flying into the rotors of wind turbines or into power lines, meeting up with pet cats, or encountering any number of other human-made problems, according to data provided by Scott R. Loss, assistant professor of Global Change Ecology and Management in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State University.

We need international cooperation to save them. You can do your part in surprisingly simple ways.

Migrating snow geese at rest in the water.

Image: by Appalachian dreamer. “Snow geese at rest.”

Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme ( UNEP), warns that we all have a responsibility to “save such a precious component of the natural world.” By protecting migrating birds, we protect our planet.

There is new hope with raised awareness -- and now new technology.

BirdCast Map showing bird migrations on the night of May 19 to 20, 2018.

Image: BirdCast Map. Night of May 17 - 18, 2019. Courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

BirdCast, a sophisticated mapping system developed at Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, can now show locations, directions, and volumes of bird migrations in real time.

Originally developed in 2012, BirdCast, once relied only on human input to forecast and assess migration. Each year thousands of observers submit millions of observations from around the world to to eBird, the Lab’s online repository. Now, Lab scientists have launched their newest tool, which can now map migratory birds traveling throughout the world as they fly.

Group of Great White Egrets wade in water in pink twilight mist.

Image: by costanavarino. “Ardea (Egretta) alba - Great White Egret.”

Birdcast now utilizes an automated system driven by new and historical data gathered from US-based radar network NEXRAD, to measure the flight activity of millions migratory birds. Specialized algorithms translate the radar information into intuitive maps that indicate the number of birds in flight.

Image: by Hauke Musicaloris. “Migrating Birds and Moon.”

BirdCast site measures and forecasts migration at night, when most birds migrate so they can take advantage of cooler air temperatures and calmer air currents. Birds of prey, on the other hand, migrate during the day, when their large wings can ride on thermal heat columns.

Migrating birds fly across sky with pink clouds.

Image: by Nick Kakouros. “Migrating birds.”

The sweet spot, for best bird viewing, tends to be the first two hours after the sun rises, when many of the night fliers are active, foraging for food to replenish their spent fat stores and ready for the next stretch of their journeys. New waves of migrants move in each morning as spring progresses.

Image: by Bob Wick. “BLM Winter Bucket List Cosumnes River Preserve, California, for the Someone With Tiny Handset and Dance of the Sandhill Crane.” Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management.

Whether you are an avid birdwatcher or an occasional feather-loving thrill-seeker, these maps can help you to know when and where to look up. Check out the online guide to learn about how to use the new migration forecast tools. You can also use the map to help save the world.

Flock of migrating birds fly over the ocean as wave breaks on shore.

Image: by Teddy Llovet. “Sooty Shearwaters.”

It is hoped that these BirdCast data will be used to reduce the mortality of birds during peak spring and autumn migratory seasons. BirdCast broadcasts migration forecasts and live migration maps on social media, so followers can help. For example, knowing when the birds are flying through a given territory, municipalities, energy producers, and homeowners can take preventative measures. Here are some things that can help during peak migration times:

Turning off unnecessary lights at night, to lessen noise pollution which disorients the migrating birds.
Turning off wind turbines in main migration paths, such as the Central Flyway of Texas and Oklahoma through Kansas, where billions of birds fly through during the spring migration.
Keeping pet cats indoors.
Stocking bird feeders.

For great tips and info about beautiful birdwatching, check out HobbyHelp.

Group of metallic starling birds gather at bird feeder.

Image: by Art G. “Metallic Starlings.”

Read more about Beautiful Birds in Go to Bird Heaven: Kenya and

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Group of iridescent blue and white tree swallows gather on rocks.

Image: by Keith Williams A 'Pile' of Tree Swallows.

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Flock of migrating pink flamingos fly over blue water.

Image: by costanavarino. “Flamingos.”