Subject: [Tweeters] avian migration, mystery bird (links)
Date: Jan 18 08:17:20 2010
From: Devorah Bennu - birdologist at yahoo.com




hello everyone,

i am still getting settled in here in germany, but have managed to get some essays written recently for you to read and enjoy.

this essay discusses research that was just published in SCIENCE that investigates the evolutionary reason why birds, especially shorebirds, migrate so far north to breed. the data suggest that for every degree farther north in latitude, the relative risk of predation declined by 3.6%;

http://bit.ly/755YFL

this essay translates another paper, published in PNAS, that uses new microtechnology to track the migratory routes of Arctic Terns. not only is this really cool technology, but it documents that Arctic Terns are the true champions among the migratory species, traveling an average of 70,900 kilometers per year, which during the lifetimes of 30+ years for each tern, adds up to three round-trips to the moon! so of course, i had to give this essay the title, "Fly Me to the Moon: The Incredible Migratory Journey of the Arctic Tern";

http://bit.ly/7wiJXx

today's mystery bird is one that some people think is easy to ID, while others disagree. perhaps you can provide your insight?

http://bit.ly/5oSJhP

cheers,
GrrlScientist
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
http://twitter.com/GrrlScientist
http://profile.to/grrlscientist/
American Expat living in Frankfurt, Germany