My Summer Migration

I am currently travelling through the rolling green fields on my journey south for the summer. This is the opposite direction to most summer migrations, and the only preparation I had to make was packing my stuff up. Migrating birds, on the other hand, have to go through a lot more preparation, including building up flight muscles and fat reserves. 

Birds migrate to avoid harsh weather and move to areas with plenty of food (this is also one of my motivations, thanks mum!) Migration is dangerous, exhaustion and predators ready to take advantage of the large numbers of animals all in one place mean that surviving can be a challenge. There is also the possibility that the place the birds are migrating to may not be able to support them. This is an increasing problem with climate change, as insects emerge earlier than they used to and so are not at their peak when the birds arrive. The benefits of migration must be huge for the birds to take all of these risks. My train journey on the other hand, contained no such risks. Aside from the extortionate ticket price and the chance of sitting next to someone a bit weird, of course.

My migration was triggered by the end of my third year at university, and so I have three months to relax before I get back to work. I guess the benefits will be seeing my lovely family and friends. And the free food. Definitely worth the cost of a ticket and nine hours of boredom! 

My navigation home was pretty simple (which is just as well because geography was never my strong subject). I just bought the right tickets, got on a train and hoped for the best. Navigation for migrating birds is much more challenging. They use the sun as a compass alongside an internal clock, which guides them towards their destination. Some birds also use magnetic fields to guide them (it is useful to have more than one method of navigation in case the sun goes in and that method cannot be used). The magnetic field of the earth is stronger towards the north and south poles, and by sensing it using specialised molecules the birds can navigate.

Obviously, all of these methods only work if you know where you are going. So birds need maps, compasses and clocks to find their way to their destination. Much more impressive than me trying to catch a train!!

So now that I am in Norfolk for the summer this blog will hopefully become more frequent. I have swapped the rugged cliffs and mountains of Scotland for the pretty river and marshes of Norfolk, so let the summer commence!