Bird Migration

This Thursday, the swallows formally make their storied return to San Juan Capistrano. But how do they and all the other migrating birds find their way thousands of miles to their winter and summer grounds? Scientists have found they do it much the way man has historically navigated around the world: the position of the sun and stars and familiar landmarks. They also take note of distinctive smells and the Earth’s magnetic field. To learn more about bird migration, use the direct links on The Times’ Launchpoint Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/.

LEVEL 1

Where Do You Plan to Spend the Summer? An illustrated introduction to bird migration. Learn how birds navigate and orient themselves.

https://www.ipalco.com/ENVIRONMENTAL/Bird_Migration/

The Miracle of Migration: Did you know that hawks, vultures and falcons are just some of the birds that fly between North and South America each year? Read how birds navigate and how they use different flight strategies to get to their destination.

https://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/006migration/bird_strategy.html

Bird Migration Facts: ‘Flyways” are the established routes that birds take in their migrations. Learn about factors that affect birds on their travels as well as some ways you can help the birds in your neighborhood, both the tourists as well as those who live there year-round.

https://north.audubon.org/facts.html

LEVEL 2

Redeye to Peru: Trace the journey of a scarlet tanager as it travels from the Adirondack Mountains in New York state to the sunny treetops of Peru. Learn about the dangers bird face as they migrate and see if you can make the right choices to get a bird to its destination.

https://www.discovery.com/DCO/doc/1012/world/nature/redeye/migration1.html

Bird Migration: Birds look for good nesting sites during the summer and flock to warm climates with ample food during the winter. Find out how threats like global warming, coastal flooding and the loss of wetlands affect birds and their migratory habits.

https://www.panda.org/climate/migration/

Heading South: Follow the Bewick’s Swan on its journey from arctic Russia to Norfolk, England. Learn the different methods scientists use to study migration and try an online migration game.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/heading_south/edumigrt.htm

LEVEL 3

Physiology of Bird Migration: Migratory birds have an aerodynamic shape and hollow bones for minimal air resistance, special feathers for airlift and insulation, and the most efficient breathing system in the animal kingdom. Find out what scientists know about migration as well as what aspects remain a mystery.

https://www.uwrf.edu/~cg04/physiology/Bird_Stuff.html

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center: Read about critical issues affecting bird migration and find out which migrating birds have been sighted in South America. You can even submit an essay on your favorite migratory bird as part of the special “bird of the month” profiles.

https://www.si.edu/natzoo/zooview/smbc/smbchome.htm

How Do the Birds Migrate? Migrating birds prepare themselves for their long journeys by storing extra fat as fuel and strengthening their muscles through short practice flights. Learn specifics about migration including the reasons why some birds fly during the day while others fly at night.

https://www.mc.hik.se/ottenby/hemsidor/migrhem.html

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This week’s column was designed by Stan Woo-Sam and Anna Manring.

EXPLORER’S QUEST:

QUESTION: What are ideal flying conditions for a migrating bird?

Clue: See Bird Migration Facts at https://north.audubon.org/facts.html

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history coming up? Need help getting a math problem done? Launch Point now covers nearly 40 topics, giving you direct links to the best Internet sites for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects.

Answer to last week’s quest: The Mayan calendar is more precise.