A short article on 'Migration of Birds'
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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.
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.
Permanent residents do not migrate. They are able to find adequate supplies of food year-round.
Short-distance migrants move only a short distance, as from higher to lower elevations on a mountainside.
Medium-distance migrants cover distances that span from one to several states.
Long-distance migrants typically move from breeding ranges in the United States and Canada to wintering grounds in Central and South America. Despite the arduous journeys involved, long-distance migration is a feature of some 350 species of North American birds.
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 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.
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.
Permanent residents do not migrate. They are able to find adequate supplies of food year-round.
Short-distance migrants move only a short distance, as from higher to lower elevations on a mountainside.
Medium-distance migrants cover distances that span from one to several states.
Long-distance migrants typically move from breeding ranges in the United States and Canada to wintering grounds in Central and South America. Despite the arduous journeys involved, long-distance migration is a feature of some 350 species of North American birds.
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 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.
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