Monday, March 21, 2011

Another Secret of Migration

This is the time of year we are all itchy to watch the migrants moving through wherever it is we live. How these little dynamos do it has been a question that still doesn't have a complete answer.


A report in New Scientist describes a paper that sheds a new piece of information on part of the answer. This is a very important paper and should lead to a whole new study of migration from a molecular level.

On a more personal level this may lead to me understanding why my spouse is so bad at understanding directions....

...just kidding dear!
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3 comments:

  1. birdermurdermamaMarch 22, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    I took a look at the article you linked to, since I just finished reading Altar of Eden, and it discusses magnetite in animal brains as a possible contributor to migration behavior. This article is looking for genetic reasons, but if nighttime restlessness plays into migration, I should have migrated long ago since I suffer from nighttime restlessness, too...maybe we're all just over-evolved birds?

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  2. Minnesota BirdnerdMarch 22, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    I think this is the time of year when all birders get restless! I always loved the word for this nighttime restlessness - zugunruhe.

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  3. EmilyApril 1, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    Just stumbled across your blog. Happy to see you're in education! I don't know much about birding, but I do SO love hearing them sing this time of year. Makes me hopeful.

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