Bird Migration [Paperback]

The most comprehensive book available on the phenomenon of bird migration.Bird migration is one of the most astonishing feats in the natural world. Millions of birds migrate, often over very large distances, to benefit from seasonal resource surpluses and to avoid predators and competitors. The aim of this study is to survey the phenomena.Bird migration is one of the most astonishing feats in the natural world. Millions of birds migrate, often over very large distances, to benefit from seasonal resource surpluses and to avoid predators and competitors. The aim of this study is to survey the phenomena.The aim of this book is to give a general overview of the whole subject of bird migration. After a chapter describing the Earth's climate and ecosystem, the book is divided into three main sections. The first presents the life histories and migratory habits of nine different ecological categories of birds. The second section deals with the course and timing of the flight journeys, flight behavior, fuel economy, flocking, and the hazards from disorientation and predation. The final section covers the ways that birds navigate and shows that this process is still by no means fully understood.1. The journeys of birds and the ideas of man; 2. The rotating world of migratory birds; 3. Summer and winter quarters, Birds in wetlands, Birds which forage on lake and sea bottom, Birds which feed on terrestrial plants, Birds which feed on fish, Birds which obtain food at the water's surface, Birds of prey, Insect-eaters, Seed-eaters, Omnivorous birds, The evolution of bird migration; 4. The migratory journey, Methods of studying bird migration, Flight speed, Migration in flocks, Soaring flight, Flight altitude, Fat as flight fuel, Diurnal and nocturnal migration, Weather and wind, Dangers during the migration; 5. Orientation and navigation, The sensory world of birds, Different compasses, How do birds find the right migration route?; Bibliography; Index. ... presents both the basic ló(