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.

đź“·via reddit@ChemBioJ

Show threadAttila KinaliMar 14, 2023

@weaniejeanie53 Ok... enough about why the chicken crossed the road. Why did the falcon fly to the other side of the planet?

Honestly, I'd like to know.

Show threadLadyFluffyOrcaMar 15, 2023
@attilakinali like many birds they breed in Europe but when winter comes there’s not enough food so they fly south to warmer climes where food is more plentiful. This is a fascinating step by step account of another honey buzzard’s journey from the UK to Africa. https://www.birdguides.com/news/intrepid-honey-buzzard-completes-spectacular-journey-to-africa/
Intrepid honey buzzard completes spectacular journey to Africa

One of the Roy Dennis Foundation's satellite-tagged Scottish youngsters made two risky sea crossings during its first southbound migration.

BirdGuides
Show threadAttila KinaliMar 15, 2023
@weaniejeanie53 Yes, I'm aware of many European birds migrating to Africa in Winter. But I thought most of them would stay in northern Africa and at most go to equatorial Africa. I wasn't aware the some migrated as far as south Africa.
Show threadLadyFluffyOrcaMar 15, 2023
@attilakinali yes it’s an awfully long way to fly when they could just go to central Africa but they must know what they’re doing, they wouldn’t fly that extra distance if they didn’t need to, it must be because of food sources I imagine.
Show threadAttila Kinali
@weaniejeanie53 Well, yes. Migration is an innate behaviour for birds. So there must be an evolutionary advantage for it. Or must have been at some point and it is still good enough today.
Mar 15, 2023 at 10:22amWeb
Show threadLadyFluffyOrcaMar 15, 2023
@attilakinali yes despite the dangers they face on such a journey they must know it’s worth it. I wish I could migrate for the winter too tbh!