The Migration of BirdsCoward, T. A. (Thomas Alfred)
Science
The Migration of Birds
Coward, T. A. (Thomas Alfred)
Birds -- Migration
Under ordinary circumstances are we justified in saying that birds make
use of the winds blowing with a certain force at the point of departure,
or that they ignore them? Certainly we cannot judge by either the force
or direction of the wind at the point of arrival, as Mr Clarke points
out. The bird may have dropped into most adverse currents.
In Hungary, where migration has been very carefully studied, we find
evidence supporting Mr Clarke's theory, and yet giving it a slightly
different complexion. Low atmospheric pressure, depression (the warm
cyclonic conditions of spring) very often shows the greatest rate in
the arrival of the swallow. If there is a centre of depression west of
Hungary, and its path is directed north or north-east, swallows appear
in crowds. The fair side of the depression, with its warm southerly
winds, is therefore favourable. A list of twelve other birds, which also
appear in spring under these conditions in greatest numbers, is added.
The "bad" side, with cool northerly winds causes delays in the arrival
of these thirteen species. The depressions often have a sphere of
influence extending so far as North Africa, so that birds, on the fair
side, can cross the Mediterranean with southerly winds all the way (31).
I have endeavoured to show that often the force of wind is greater
at a high than a low altitude, and there is ample evidence to prove
that birds fly at a great height when conditions are favourable. Birds
usually leave Scandinavia when there are descending currents flowing
outwards from the centre of high pressure; is it wild speculation to
suggest that it is the southward flowing currents, which are also
deflected westwards, upon which the birds intend to travel? Thus the
bulk of the Scandinavian birds might not touch Britain at all, but
those which started upon light to moderate north-east to easterly winds
from the western shores of Norway would be helped to Britain. Mr Clarke
mentions that when he was at Fair Island, north-west to westerly winds
did not stop migration from the north, but is it certain that the birds
did travel in or against these westerly winds? May they not actually
have travelled on the "good side" of the cyclonic system, with these
very winds carrying them towards Fair Island? their actual visible
approach from the north does not prove that they had travelled all the
way in this line.
On September 22nd, he says--"The favourable meteorological conditions
of yesterday--fine weather and moderate south-east breezes,--has had a
marked effect, for to-day goldcrests are swarming everywhere." But what
does he mean? Favourable to him as an observer or to the goldcrests?
Surely the birds did not aim for Fair Island; were not these weak-winged
birds probably making for the south, when the south-east wind caught
them and drifted them to the west? Fair Island was a refuge, but hardly
the objective of their flight (17).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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