Migration of Birds

The subject of bird migration is of special interest to Americans, because it is probable that migrating birds aided Columbus in the discovery of America. During the latter part of his voyage, when his sailors were beginning to mutiny, he fell in with flocks of birds which were making their annual flight from the Bermudas to the Bahamas. Columbus followed these birds and was thus guided to land. Otherwise it is quite possible that he could not have induced his sailors to continue farther, and thus the discovery of America would have been postponed.

Recent records of migration. During recent years, there has been kept at Washington a very complete record of the facts of migration, relating to the times and routes of migration and to the winter homes of birds. For more than twenty years these records have been collected by the Bureau of Biological Survey, through the cooperation of over two thousand bird students throughout North America, so that now they have a large array of reliable data regarding bird migration, comprising over a half-million records.
Changes due to migration. The conspicuous seasonal changes in bird life which occur regularly every year are due to bird migration. Birds may be divided into four groups in accordance with the portion of the year that they remain in a given locality. Permanent residents remain in a locality all the year. In the cold Northern States these include such common birds as the blue jay, nuthatch, chickadee, downy woodpecker, goldfinch, and a few others. Farther south the list becomes longer.

Summer residents remain for the summer only, during which season they are nesting. They spend the winter in regions farther south. Most of the common birds found during the summer in the northeastern section of the United States belong to this group, such as the oriole and the house wren.

Winter residents are found in a locality only during the winter, the summer being spent in regions farther north. In the Northern States, this group includes such birds as the winter wren, snow bunting, tree sparrow, redpoll, and red-breasted nuthatch.
Transient visitants are birds which are seen for a few weeks in the spring and again for a few weeks in the fall as they are migrating. These birds spend the winter farther south and the summer farther north, and are seen only when passing through, on their way to and from their breeding-grounds. Many warbiers belong to this group. The birds which belong in each of these four groups vary according to the locality.

The general changes in bird life due to migration which occur annually in any locality may be briefly summarized as follows: During the winter months the birds found in a locality belong to the permanent residents and winter residents. For several months there is little change in the kinds of birds seen. But beginning with the early spring the migration commences, the exact date varying with the latitude and the weather. New birds continue to come in large numbers up to the middle or last of May, some remaining for the summer and others passing farther north. Meanwhile the winter residents have been leaving. Then follows the breeding-season, and for several months there is little change in the kinds of birds seen. About the first of September the fall migration begins, extending into November, the birds gradually leaving for the South, slipping away so quietly that they may be gone for some time before their absence is noted. In the late fall the winter residents arrive, and bird life settles down again to the winter quiet. Thus this annual change occurs year alter year with great regularity.

Regularity of migration. The time at which each species of bird arrives at a certain place varies little from year to year for most birds. The date when the early migrants arrive may vary considerably according to the season, but the dates for the later migrants are fairly constant.

The order in which the various birds arrive is also well fixed. Certain birds are always among the first migrants regardless of the season, such as the robin and the bluebird, and other birds are always among the last migrants to arrive, such as the indigo bunting and wood pewee, and this order remains about the same from year to year.

migration - Yahoo! News Search Results
migration - Yahoo! News Search Results

Whooping crane migration comes up short
While following an ultralight aircraft guiding them to Florida, young Maryland-bred birds get distracted in Alabama. They'll stay there for now. What's that saying about leading a horse to water? The latest effort to teach Maryland-bred whooping crane chicks to migrate to Florida for the winter has been called off because the endangered birds will no longer follow the ultralight aircraft leading ...
Migration figures to turnaround - report
Net migration flow into New Zealand remained positive throughout the global financial crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes, but the Government predicts more people will have left the country than entered this year.
Net gain in migration forecast
Permanent and long term migration is forecast to move from a cyclical low and return to a net gain to New Zealand during the latter part of 2012 and in early 2013, according to new Department of Labour research: "Permanent and Long Term Migration: The Big Picture".
U-Pack Migration Trends 2011
U-Pack Migration Trends: Where Are People Moving?FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Considering the rapid pace that U.S. citizens change their careers, homes, and lifestyles, it comes as no surprise that thousands of ...
Permanent And Long Term Migration Forecast to Improve
Permanent and long term migration is forecast to move from a cyclical low and return to a net gain to New Zealand during the latter part of 2012 and in early 2013, according to new Department of Labour research: ?Permanent and Long Term Migration: The Big Picture?.
With whooping cranes unwilling to continue, annual migration ends in Alabama
By Barbara Behrendt, Times Staff Writer Thursday, February 2, 2012 CHASSAHOWITZKA ? The annual migration of ultralight-led whooping cranes had barely gotten off the ground in October when the problems began. First it was rain and wind that halted the birds in Wisconsin and across the Midwest. They would fly for a day, then have a week of downtime. In December, they finally reached northern ...
U-M professor studies migration through items left in Arizona, Mexico desert
The toe and heel of the boot are scuffed and a bit dusty. The sole has a few holes, and a small sock is tucked inside.
Bison slaughter planned if migration occurs
Bison slaughter planned if migration occurs By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Published Feb 4, 2012 12:44PM MDT BILLINGS, Mont. ? Yellowstone National Park administrators plan to capture and ship to slaughter potentially hundreds of wild bison if they migrate into Montana this winter in a bid to reduce disease and control the population of the animals. The captures could begin as soon as mid ...
A Whooping Crane Migration Will Finish By Truck
The wayward birds could not be persuaded to follow a pilot flying an ultralight plane.
Open Source Migration Checklist
PC Quest: "Presented here are the key points to keep in mind before moving to open source software."