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See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Back to basics
- The very fact that many species of birds migrate is common knowledge. In fact, it’s one of the first phenomena we learn about in biology class.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Schooled
- As kids, we learn that every year flocks of birds move from their breeding (summer) homes to their nonbreeding (winter homes), in search of food and shelter.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Did you know?
- It is less well known, perhaps, that as they move from A to B, many species of birds make pit stops along the way.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Pit stoppin'
- During these pit stops, the birds tend to do whatever will prepare them best for the remainder of their journey.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Dropping feathers - Often they molt (the process by which they shed and regrow some of their feathers), which is the equivalent of changing the tires on your car.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Big city life
- Perhaps unexpectedly, many of the pit stops that birds make during their migration are in urban locations.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Swainson's thrush
- According to one study by graduate student Ana Morales at McGill University, a species of bird called the Swainson’s thrush makes a surprisingly long pit stop in Montreal, for example.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Piqued interest
- Scientists are very interested in why birds are attracted to cities. To quote Morales, “It’s pretty amazing that this small green area can support a bird for 40 days.”
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Leading theory
- According to Barbara Frei of Environment and Climate Change Canada, a department of the government of Canada, it may have a lot to do with light.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Wealth of evidence
- Indeed, there is ample evidence dating back more than 100 years to suggest that birds are naturally drawn to sources of light.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Proof
- One of the earliest recordings of this phenomenon was made by the turn of the century Irish anatomist and ornithologist Charles Patten.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Sad truths
- Patten stationed himself at a lighthouse off the coast of Ireland, where he observed huge swarms of birds flying towards the lighthouse and, unfortunately, crashing into its windows.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Some things don't change - Just as it did back then, this mesmerizing effect that light appears to have on birds can be very deadly.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Gruesome end
- When Patten made his discovery, many of the birds he observed ended up dying as a result of their collision with the lighthouse.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Statistics
- Nowadays, millions, perhaps even billions, of birds die every year as a result of crashing into lit-up buildings. Tall and particularly bright buildings are likely to cause the most deaths.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Number crunch - For example, it is estimated that the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago was responsible for up to 11,567 avian deaths between 2000 and 2020.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Double threat
- And brightly lit buildings are not the only threat faced by birds migrating to cities, either. Many also meet a bitter end when they cross the path of a domestic cat, for example.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
What does it all mean?
- The fact that cities are so treacherous to migratory birds has left scientists wondering what we can do to make them safer.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
The obvious solution
- The main suggestion made so far is to try and reduce the amount of light emitted in urban areas. Of course, much of the light in cities is unnecessary.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Simple remedy
- According to Frank La Sorte at Cornell University, the simple act of turning off more lights at night could save the lives of thousands of birds.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Some stats
- According to one study from 2021, switching off half the lights at McCormick Place in the spring and fall could reduce bird mortality by almost 60%.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Security lights
- There are measures we can take at an individual level, too, to reduce the amount of light we emit, such as making sure our security lights point downwards.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Cycle paths
- City councils may also consider introducing other measures, such as cycle paths that are lit by low-level lighting only.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Can trees help? - There is also research to suggest that migratory birds fare better in cities that have adequate tree cover.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Strong habitat
- Well-watered and mature trees can provide a habitat for hundreds of insect species, and are therefore great for birds that are insectivores.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Looking good
- On this basis, it may be on city planners to ensure that cities have enough tree cover to accommodate any and all migrating birds, should they wish to enter the city.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Caveat
- Of course, that is not to say that green spaces in cities should take the place of wetlands or dense forests when it comes to providing a habitat for certain bird species.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
It goes without saying
- Planting a few trees in an urban area should never be considered compensation for the destruction of natural bird habits.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
All in all
- That said, it does seem that birds are and will continue to be attracted to cities, and that there are things we can do to make our cities more accommodating to them.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Food for thought
- So when you’re getting ready for bed tonight, remember to turn off your lights. You might just save the life of a bird! Sources: (BBC) (All About Birds) See also: Grounded! Flightless birds of the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Back to basics
- The very fact that many species of birds migrate is common knowledge. In fact, it’s one of the first phenomena we learn about in biology class.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Schooled
- As kids, we learn that every year flocks of birds move from their breeding (summer) homes to their nonbreeding (winter homes), in search of food and shelter.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Did you know?
- It is less well known, perhaps, that as they move from A to B, many species of birds make pit stops along the way.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Pit stoppin'
- During these pit stops, the birds tend to do whatever will prepare them best for the remainder of their journey.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Dropping feathers - Often they molt (the process by which they shed and regrow some of their feathers), which is the equivalent of changing the tires on your car.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Big city life
- Perhaps unexpectedly, many of the pit stops that birds make during their migration are in urban locations.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Swainson's thrush
- According to one study by graduate student Ana Morales at McGill University, a species of bird called the Swainson’s thrush makes a surprisingly long pit stop in Montreal, for example.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Piqued interest
- Scientists are very interested in why birds are attracted to cities. To quote Morales, “It’s pretty amazing that this small green area can support a bird for 40 days.”
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Leading theory
- According to Barbara Frei of Environment and Climate Change Canada, a department of the government of Canada, it may have a lot to do with light.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Wealth of evidence
- Indeed, there is ample evidence dating back more than 100 years to suggest that birds are naturally drawn to sources of light.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Proof
- One of the earliest recordings of this phenomenon was made by the turn of the century Irish anatomist and ornithologist Charles Patten.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Sad truths
- Patten stationed himself at a lighthouse off the coast of Ireland, where he observed huge swarms of birds flying towards the lighthouse and, unfortunately, crashing into its windows.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Some things don't change - Just as it did back then, this mesmerizing effect that light appears to have on birds can be very deadly.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Gruesome end
- When Patten made his discovery, many of the birds he observed ended up dying as a result of their collision with the lighthouse.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Statistics
- Nowadays, millions, perhaps even billions, of birds die every year as a result of crashing into lit-up buildings. Tall and particularly bright buildings are likely to cause the most deaths.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Number crunch - For example, it is estimated that the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago was responsible for up to 11,567 avian deaths between 2000 and 2020.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Double threat
- And brightly lit buildings are not the only threat faced by birds migrating to cities, either. Many also meet a bitter end when they cross the path of a domestic cat, for example.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
What does it all mean?
- The fact that cities are so treacherous to migratory birds has left scientists wondering what we can do to make them safer.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
The obvious solution
- The main suggestion made so far is to try and reduce the amount of light emitted in urban areas. Of course, much of the light in cities is unnecessary.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Simple remedy
- According to Frank La Sorte at Cornell University, the simple act of turning off more lights at night could save the lives of thousands of birds.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Some stats
- According to one study from 2021, switching off half the lights at McCormick Place in the spring and fall could reduce bird mortality by almost 60%.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Security lights
- There are measures we can take at an individual level, too, to reduce the amount of light we emit, such as making sure our security lights point downwards.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Cycle paths
- City councils may also consider introducing other measures, such as cycle paths that are lit by low-level lighting only.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Can trees help? - There is also research to suggest that migratory birds fare better in cities that have adequate tree cover.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Strong habitat
- Well-watered and mature trees can provide a habitat for hundreds of insect species, and are therefore great for birds that are insectivores.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Looking good
- On this basis, it may be on city planners to ensure that cities have enough tree cover to accommodate any and all migrating birds, should they wish to enter the city.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Caveat
- Of course, that is not to say that green spaces in cities should take the place of wetlands or dense forests when it comes to providing a habitat for certain bird species.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
It goes without saying
- Planting a few trees in an urban area should never be considered compensation for the destruction of natural bird habits.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
All in all
- That said, it does seem that birds are and will continue to be attracted to cities, and that there are things we can do to make our cities more accommodating to them.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Food for thought
- So when you’re getting ready for bed tonight, remember to turn off your lights. You might just save the life of a bird! Sources: (BBC) (All About Birds) See also: Grounded! Flightless birds of the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Mass migration: the reason birds are flocking to cities
And what we can do to welcome them
© Shutterstock
The concept of the migratory bird is nothing new. We learn early on that birds fly south for the winter in search of shelter and food. The more interesting concept is the migration of certain birds to cities. What do they want in urban areas, and how can we help them survive?
Check out this gallery to learn all about why birds flock to cities.
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