How do biologists think migrating birds find their way?

Answer 1

The ability of birds to find their way home is equally amazing. Birds have been taken by airplane fro their home to places 400 miles away. When they were set free, they flew back to their home!

To say they have an instinct to " go home" doesn't really explains the mystery. How do they find their way? We know that young birds are not taught the road by their parents, because often parents fly off first on the annual migrations, And birds who fly home often fly by night, so they can't see landmarks to guide them. Other birds fly over water, where there are no landmarks of any kind.

One theory is that birds can sense the magnetic fields that surround the earth. Magnetic lines of force Magnetic lines of force stretch from the north to the south magnetic poles. Perhaps the birds direct themselves by these lines. But this theory has never been proven.

Answer 2

Biologists think migrating birds use a combination of navigational cues such as the Earth's magnetic field, the position of the sun and stars, visual landmarks, and even their sense of smell to find their way during migration. Some species are also thought to learn their migratory routes from other experienced individuals in their population.

Answer 3

Biologists think migrating birds use a combination of navigational cues such as the Earth's magnetic field, the position of the sun and stars, visual landmarks, and even their sense of smell to find their way during migration. Some species are also thought to learn their migratory routes from other experienced individuals in their population.

Answer 4

They can study the migration of animals with tracking devises.

Answer 5

Animals leave the area in which they were born in search of mates, food, and new territories, and other animals arrive from outside a population for the same reason.