Flight and Migration
“If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.”- Charles A. Lindbergh
Feathers
• Modified from epidermis – lots of keratin protein (as in scales, nails, skin, hair)
• Function:• Insulation• Flight• Regulate body heat (endotherms)• Sexual display
Types of Feathers
1. Down- irregular shape (dead air space)
2. Contour- give body a smooth, aerodynamic shape- some are specialized specifically for
flight
Feather Structure
Molting• Feathers are a dead structure
(analogous to hair in humans)• Molting essential to replace worn
feathers• Kinds of molts• Complete (patchy look)• Partial (gradual)
* Molt 1-2 times/year (lots of energy spent)
Migration• Migration = the regular, seasonal shift of
birds from one region to another (Instinctive)
• Origins of migration:• Glacial era• Ancestral home in tropics• Went north to avoid crowding when
breeding• Stimulus to start migration (“Biological
Clock”)• Inherent in hormones, related to length of
daylight
Why Migrate?• Adequate supply of food (or enough
daylight to find it)• Favorable climate in which to live• less stress on thermoregulation and
young• Most migrations are latitudinal (N-S)• Some permanent residents – tropical
birds• Some far north to far south (ex. Artic
Tern 11,000 miles one way!!)
Factors Used for Navigation
• Topographical features• Position of sun (starlings and pigeons)• Star patterns• Magnetic fields• Prevailing winds• Sounds and smells
Routes• Well established flyways• Blue Goose (James Bay Louisiana
5,000 km nonstop)• Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1000 km
across Gulf of Mexico
* Arrivals are often very precise and can range from slow (4 months) to fast (several weeks)
Routes
Hazards to Migration
• Hunters• Planes• New predators • Storms• Population densities
Studying Migration
• Tagging/banding• Radar