LadyFluffyOrcaMar 14, 2023

Incredible. A female falcon was equipped with a satellite tracking system in South Africa before migrating to Finland. Image shows tracker data. In just 42 days she flew over 10.000km at an incredible average of 230 km per day and almost in a straight line.

📷via reddit@ChemBioJ

Show threadTimo GrünMar 14, 2023
@weaniejeanie53
Fascinating. The route straight across Turkey and then along the Black Sea coast is interesting. I would have expected to see her fly along the Aegean coast of Turkey instead.
Show threadLadyFluffyOrca
@khoji seems like she feels it’s better to travel over land as much as she could. I guess she knows best, she’s made the trip countless times I imagine, it would be interesting if they tracked her again to see if she takes the exact same route.
Mar 14, 2023 at 10:40amWeb
Show threadTimo GrünMar 14, 2023
@weaniejeanie53 Yes, I was thinking that too. The land she flies across probably also has known hunting, resting and watering places.
Show threadKavana RamaswamyMar 14, 2023
@khoji
Also seems to avoid the Sahara desert, and go near the coastline instead when she hits the desert 😊
@weaniejeanie53
Show threadLadyFluffyOrcaMar 14, 2023
@khoji @kavana yes she’s a smart bird! I wonder what altitude she flies at? These birds are so good at Catching thermals.
Show threadSimon LucyMar 14, 2023

@weaniejeanie53 @khoji

Keep any body of water on the left.

Show threadPusher Of Pixels (old account)Mar 14, 2023

@weaniejeanie53 @khoji and really amazing tech to fit something on a bird...that doesn't affect it significantly on such a monumental journey.

Even a high single digit increase in energy expense to the bird could be catastrophic on this long a journey

Show threadLadyFluffyOrcaMar 14, 2023
@pixelpusher220 @khoji yes that’s true, it seems it was a honey buzzard which I imagine are larger stronger birds than a falcon which are pretty small as birds of prey go. They’ve fitted a few of these birds in Finland.