The marvel of migration

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1 May 1991, Page 26

The marvel of migration

A ROUND MARCH and April, birds migrate from New Zealand to far away destinations such as the Arctic, or closer ports of call such as Australia. Migration also occurs within New Zealand as birds such as the black stilt and wrybill leave their South Island breeding areas for northern wintering-

over grounds. Despite our increasing knowledge about destinations, routes and reasons for migration, the mystery still remains: how does a bird find its way to its destination, perhaps halfway around the world? Although researchers know birds use the sun, stars and

the Earth’s magnetic field to set a compass course, their capacity for true navigation has yet to be explained. Some bird migrations are fantastic feats of endurance. Perhaps the greatest of all migrants is the arctic tern which will fly from the Arctic to Antarctica (more than 15,000 km)

and back again each year. Photographer Brian Chudleigh’s specialty is wading and migratory birds. His ability to capture the birds in the acts of preening and feeding is unmatched among New Zealand photographers as the following images attest. |