How do birds find their way?
How do birds find their way?
Dr Henrik Mouritsen
Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences
If you need to find your way to a friend’s house, you’ll take note of certain guides you come across along the way. You remember a large building or a road sign that you recognise. Every autumn, billions of birds, both large and small, face a similar problem as they fly from Germany to Africa. Do they go there on holiday? And how on earth do they find their way there? The problem for a young bird is that it has never been to Africa before, and there aren’t any guides pointing the way there. How does it manage to find its way to Africa anyway?
The simplest way is to follow their parents. That is exactly what some bird species do, but not all. In other species, the parents leave their young to fend for themselves. Fortunately, however, birds are born with a built-in compass and an internal clock. They have inherited these abilities from their parents. Nevertheless, they must make important preparations for the journey. For example, they must learn the constellations and eat plenty to ensure they have a full ‘tank’ for the journey and can manage the long flight. Then they are well equipped.
Presenter: Anke Genius (NDR)
Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 4.30 pm
Audimax Lecture Theatre Centre