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CrowdScience: Why do animals migrate? Part 1

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25/03/2022 GMT

Why do animals migrate? Part 1

BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Why do animals migrate? Part 1

How are migrating animals able to reliably navigate sometimes over thousands of miles?

Why do animals bother making such long and precarious migratory voyages? Is the lure of an arctic spring feast worth crossing an ocean for?

Wherever you are in the world you are probably near an animal that has undertaken a remarkable migratory journey, be that a butterfly, bird or sea turtle. But what CrowdScience listener Moses in Kenya wants to know is why they bother making such long and precarious voyages - and how they're able to reliably navigate over hundreds and sometimes even thousands of miles. In this first of two episodes, presenter Anand Jagatia travels to the Americas to meet the scientists finding and tracking these animals in order to solve the puzzle of where they go and why.

Deep in the lush and noisy Belizean jungle, Anand joins avian biologist Abidas who is collecting data on the beautiful birds that visit tropical forests to escape harsh winters. Here, using misting nets, Abidas and her team carefully catch birds to measure their health and status before tagging and releasing them so they can continue stocking up on jungle food. Anand finds out why having long term data on migrant birds can help in understanding why some birds, like the wood thrush, have been declining in their native homes further north.

Anand then jumps aboard a turtle boat in Florida where scientists from the Sea Turtle Conservancy have been collecting data on these dinosaur-like creatures. But finding them is harder it might seem. They move fast, so Anand accompanies the research team who are experienced in safely catching them, will he be lucky and find one of these magnificent creatures?

Presented by Anand Jagatia and produced by Melanie Brown

Contributors: 
David Barrie – Navigator & author
Tim Guilford – University of Oxford
Abidas Ash – University of Belize
Kristen Ruegg - Colorado State University
David Godfrey – Sea Turtle Conservancy


[Image credit: BBC Staff, Melanie Brown]

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