Bird Migration

animals · nature · journeys

Finding the way. Birds use the sun, stars, Earth's magnetic field, and even landmarks to navigate thousands of miles across oceans and mountains without GPS or maps.

Superhero stamina. Some birds fly for 20+ hours without stopping, and the Arctic tern travels from North Pole to South Pole and back every single year, covering over 44,000 miles.

Two big journeys. Most migrating birds travel north in spring to breed and raise babies where food is plentiful, then fly south in fall when winter arrives and food becomes scarce.

Dangerous adventure. The journey is treacherous, with birds facing hungry predators, exhaustion, storms, and collisions with buildings and power lines along the way.

Precise timing. Many birds return to the exact same nesting spot and wintering area every single year, sometimes remembering locations they visited as babies.