Interesting, Enlightening Books on Bird Migration

Here is a compendium of interesting, enlightening books on a wonderful, and fascinating topic in the natural world: bird migration.

Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere With Migratory Birds

5 stars If you enjoy birds or natural science, read this great book! 

By Richard E. Hegner

I have been a birdwatcher for 39 years, and rarely have I encountered a book that I enjoyed as much as this. Unlike another reviewer, I learned a great deal about migration from reading this book--though, truth to tell, the book is as much about population dynamics among Western Hemisphere birds as it is about migration. One of the particular insights I gained from the book is a better realization of the somewhat parochial viewpoint many of us birdwatchers in North America take, considering migrants who spend only a brief part of the year breeding here to be "our birds," when they spend most of their lives either in Latin America or migrating between the two continents. The author has an unusually captivating writing style and most of the book was hard for me to put down; he reminds me of some of the best nature writers I have encountered--Hal Borland, John Burroughs, Loren Eiseley, Pete Dunn, and Thoreau. One of the book's particular strengths is its focus on certain critical locales as well as individual species; the general observations have much more meaning because of these case examples.

Atlas of Bird Migration: Tracing the Great Journeys of the World's Birds

"The photos and illustrations in this large volume are so beautiful that one is tempted to skim the text. . . . That, however, would be a mistake: while brief, the text provides all the information readers need to understand the how, why and where of bird migration." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) 

Amazon Description

 Every year, billions of birds leave their North American breeding grounds for winter quarters thousands of miles south. That so many birds migrate so far through life-threatening conditions and to the same place each year is simply stunning. 

This lavishly illustrated book provides comprehensive information on migration and its great mystery: How do the birds know where to go? The latest scientific discoveries are explained, and a comprehensive directory presents accurate profiles and chronicles the migratory routes of more than 500 typical migrant species. Colorful maps, photographs, calendars and fact files feature easy-to-read symbols and abbreviations. 

Atlas of Bird Migration includes: 

• North American birds of prey 
• Hummingbirds, grosbeaks and starlings 
• Eurasian shorebirds, storks and cranes 
• Winter visitors from the Far North, such as swans, geese and finches 
• African, South American and Australasian migrants 
• Migratory sea birds, such as penguins, albatrosses and terns. 

 The use of satellite tracking methods, current environmental threats and conservation initiatives are explained, and a comprehensive catalog of migrating species from all continents closes the book.

The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing

"Leaves the reader with a thorough explanatory answer to the main questions that a student, birder, or naturalist might want to ask about bird migration."--John D. Newman, National Institute of Health Science Books and Films

Amazon Description

Why do birds migrate -- and just how do they do it?

The Migration of Birds is a comprehensive illustrated presentation of the mysteries of bird migration.

Ornithologist Janice M. Hughes describes the findings of the most recent research and surveys as-yet-unanswered questions. She unravels the exciting contributions of cutting-edge technological innovations and scientific developments.

Over 70 stunning full-color photographs show some of the world's most dauntless voyagers. Maps show migration routes, and illustrations depict the mechanics of flying. The text is engaging and straightforward as well as authoritative and comprehensive, covering:

• Bird migration through human history, with profiles of Chinese cranes and phalaropes
• The five Ws of avian migration, with profiles of shrikes and Arctic terns
• The phenomenon of flight, with profiles of wheatears and dippers
• How birds find their way, with profiles of redwings, fieldfares and Bohemian waxwings
• Migratory birds in peril.

This book will fascinate birders, naturalists and conservationists as well as general readers.

The Migration Ecology of Birds

"The many charts, figures and graphic illustrations in the book give new views on the migratory phenomenon and on the incredible adaptive ability of birds to the variations and changing circumstances like the warming climate, to cite one example. The text is clear and is not solely interesting to researchers but also all those who are intrigued by the extraordinary migration of birds."--Aluada, The journal of the Societet d'Etudes Ornithologiques de France

Amazon Description

This book presents an up-to-date, detailed and thorough review of the most fascinating ecological findings of bird migration. It deals with all aspects of this absorbing subject, including the problems of navigation and vagrancy, the timing and physiological control of migration, the factors that limit their populations, and more. Author, Ian Newton, reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe, including current climate change. This adventurous book places emphasis on ecological aspects, which have received only scant attention in previous publications. Overall, the book provides the most thorough and in-depth appraisal of current information available, with abundant tables, maps and diagrams, and many new insights. Written in a clear and readable style, this book appeals not only to migration researchers in the field and ornithologists, but to anyone with an interest in this fascinating subject. 

* Hot ecological aspects include: various types of bird movements, including dispersal and nomadism, and how they relate to food supplies and other external conditions 

* Contains numerous tables, maps and diagrams, a glossary, and a bibliography of more than 2,700 references

* Written by an active researcher with a distinguished career in avian ecology, including migration research

The Peregrine's Journey

 5 stars A great book for geography, ecology, biology education

By "cedar@webtv.net" 

 I found this book to be an excellent read-along book for 5-9 year olds. Behind the lovely writing style and beautiful pictures is a plot that invites lots of questions from kids about many different subjects. (And that's the way they learn!) The book follows the migration of peregrine falcons from the arctic, through the tropics and all the way to the sub-antarctic of Argentina. It was obviously well researched, yet it is not stuffy - it has heart! Highly recommended.

Amazon Description

The Peregrine’s Journey vividly describes one of the most remarkable feats in the animal kingdom. Beginning in Alaska and ending two months later in Argentina, the peregrine falcon’s annual migration is an 8,000-mile flight across the Americas. This beautifully illustrated book allows young readers to follow one bird on its journey. Based on the actual migration of a real bird that was tracked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the book is filled with amazing facts about the bird’s diet, habits, and navigational abilities, as well as stunning views of the many habitats the peregrine visits along the way.

Bird Migration and Global Change

"A wonderful and insightful work, Bird Migration and Global Change provides the first accessible and comprehensive guide to the leading conservation concern of our time. Written by a world authority, this definitive work introduces the subject ecologically, physiologically, and geographically in ways that promote clarity and understanding."--Keith L. Bildstein Director, Acopian Center for Conservation Science, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Amazon Description

Changes in seasonal movements and population dynamics of migratory birds in response to ongoing changes resulting from global climate changes are a topic of great interest to conservation scientists and birdwatchers around the world. Because of their dependence on specific habitats and resources in different geographic regions at different phases of their annual cycle, migratory species are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In Bird Migration and Global Change, eminent ecologist George W. Cox brings his extensive experience as a scientist and bird enthusiast to bear in evaluating the capacity of migratory birds to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.

Cox reviews, synthesizes, and interprets recent and emerging science on the subject, beginning with a discussion of climate change and its effect on habitat, and followed by eleven chapters that examine responses of bird types across all regions of the globe. The final four chapters address the evolutionary capacity of birds, and consider how best to shape conservation strategies to protect migratory species in coming decades.

The rate of climate change is faster now than at any other moment in recent geological history. How best to manage migratory birds to deal with this challenge is a major conservation issue, and Bird Migration and Global Change is a unique and timely contribution to the literature.

The Toughest Migration of Them All

This time of year it seemed appropriate to write about bird migration. I recently ran across what appears to me to be the toughest migration of them all. Interestingly enough it is performed by the eastern Asian population of the intriguingly named Demoiselle Crane.

This bird, shown above, is the smallest crane in the world, weighing only 4-7 lbs (2-3 kg) and measuring 3 feet in length. Yet one population of this species must perform the herculean task of crossing the Himalayas to reach its wintering grounds on the Indian subcontinent! To me it doesn't get any tougher than that.

I learned of this migratory route from watching the DVD of the BBC series "Planet Earth". It is on Disc one in the episode entitled "Mountains". The segment on the Demoiselle Crane shows them initially trying to cross as a storm begins to blow. As the narrator informs us they must turn back or risk death. They return the next day and push on through to success, despite what must be incredible exhaustion. As if the weather and altitude are not enough of a peril they must also face Golden Eagles waiting to make a meal of them. The hunting efforts of a cooperative team of two Golden Eagles is shown. The BBC does a tremendous job of documenting this migration and I highly recommend it to interested parties. (As an aside this episode also contains some of the most extraordinary nature footage I have ever seen. This is breathtaking footage of the mythical Snow Leopard shot in the Karakoram mountains of Pakistan. It was a thrill to behold!).

Resources:

• Species Facts
• Migration Map

Whooping Cranes on the Move!

The following is the latest information on the 2008 Whooping Crane migration from Charlie Luthin, Natural Resources Foundation

March 26

Eleven of the 17 ultra-light led juveniles from 2007 have begun their northern migration! Yesterday afternoon, 6 of the cranes left the pen site area at the Chassahowitzka NWR and flew to southwest GA. This morning, biologist Richard Urbanek saw the birds and noted that they had split into groups of 4 and 2. The group of 4 resumed migration today, but the other 2 have not. Today, another group of 5birds left the pensite and are currently flying north. Only 6 birds now remain at "Chass".

March 25

We received the sad news that DAR 43-07 collided with a power distribution line in a corn field in Fayette Co., IN and died. The photo we received showed a large cut above her bill. 43-07 and 5 other 2007 DAR subadults began migration from the Hiwassee NWR in TN on March 16. They stopped in Adair Co., KY their first night, then moved to Clark Co., IN on the 17th. On March 21, they resumed migration and stopped in Fayette Co., IN, where 43-07 died the next morning. As is the case with all eastern flock Whooping Cranes that are found dead, the carcass is being transported to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison for necropsy.

Whooping crane 1-01 was the first to return to the Necedah NWR, completing migration by March 14. Female 2-01 was the next to arrive, on March 23. Only 3 birds now remain on FL winter territories -- male 16-05 in Marion Co. and DAR 27-06 and DAR 28-06 (both males) in Pasco Co.

Two cranes who had been missing for quite awhile, males 7-03 and 12-05, were reported together in Houston Co., MN, on March 14 & 15. 7-03 had last been reported with 5 other whoopers at a migration stop in northeastern GA on November 30. The signal of 12-05 had last been detected in the Paynes Prairie area in FL on December 29. These birds may have wintered together at an undetermined location in FL. On March 23, 7-03 was back at Necedah.

Another group of 3 Whooping Cranes was sighted in MN (Morrison Co.) on March 18. Biologists speculate that these are males 8-04 and 14-05, and female 19-05, who left FL together on February 26. W1-06, the wild-produced female, left FL by herself on March 9. She spent her first night in Thomas Co., GA, and has not been observed since then.

DAR 40-07 (the female that has associated with Sandhill Cranes all winter) remained with large numbers of migrating sandhills near the Jasper Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in northwestern IN through at least March 22.

Reports of sightings of migrating Whooping Cranes are coming in frequently now, including sightings in La Crosse Co. (March 13) and Green/Lafayette Co. (March 23).

Keep your eyes to the skies and report your whooping crane sightings to the International Crane Foundation at 608-356-9462. Pay close attention to color bands on their legs and note the sequence these bands are in, as that is how individuals are identified.

Extra Special Birding - High Island, Texas

With the advent of spring tomorrow, I thought it would be a good time to write about my experiences at one of my all time favorite birding locations - High Island Texas.

If you are unfamiliar with High Island, it is special because it is a piece of land that is literally bowed up by a rising salt formation below it (i.e. the surface manifestation of a subsurface salt dome). As such, it allows for the growth of oak trees and other vegetation amidst the coastal marshes. This turns out to be a magnet for migrating passerines who have just made the long trip over the Gulf of Mexico.

I lived in Houston from August, 1981 to December, 1986. Back then, of course, there was no Internet, so in order to find out where the birding action was I phoned the Houston Audobon Society (HAS) and got on their mailing list. It was through them that I found out about the most excellent softcover book "A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast" by James A. Lane (1980) (Note: I checked and you can still get a used copy of this book at amazon.com). I have used this book extensively and found many great spots to go birding including High Island. One late April day in 1982 I set sail for the coast.

On my way to High Island that day I spotted my life lister King Rail from my car. This got me excited because you figure if you are seeing life listers in the car on the way to the place, how good is it going to be when you get there! I was right to get excited, because over the next four years High Island turned out to be one of the most spectacular birding places that I have ever been fortunate enough to be able to visit.

There were always lots of birds to be found on April days at High Island, but a few observations stand out for me. The most beautiful "routine" bird that I saw every year was the Summer Tanager. Always a pleasure to roll into the sanctuary and fight it right away - a bit of a touchstone for me. The best life lister I found in Boy Scout Woods was the Swainson's Warbler. In those days I visually identified all my life listers - I didn't have any song skills at that time. I worked really hard to find the bird low in the shrubery and persisted to get a good enough look to properly identify it. I felt triumphant upon figuring out what it was.

High Island is a place for spectacular birding, but in 1984 it outdid itself. On that occassion the weather was such that northerly headwinds left the sanctuary literally filled to the brim with tired passerines. When I walked into the sanctuary that day there was a fellow birder with a male Hooded Warbler sitting an his shoe, obviously too tired to move. We made eye contact and a rather bemused look passed between us, and then we started laughing at the site. Later that day I spotted what was to be one of my most memorable sights in all my birding days - a flock of about thirty Painted Buntings feeding on the ground. I had trouble driving home after that day because I was so excited by my day at the refuge!

I was looking at the HAS High Island Information page and the place has changed since I last went there in 1986. They now have added a visitor's kiosk and some grandstands. Unfortunately the sanctuarys also took some hits from Hurricanes Rita and Humberto. Hopefully the place will recover, I'm sure the HAS has done some great work to restore the area.

I hope to get back to High Island someday, and continue on with the transcendental birding experience that it has already provided to me.