User:Lebontchiza/sandbox

'''Lebon Tchiza

Wikipedia User ID: Lebontchiza

Helena Meriam

LIB2002 – 400 13f – Reference I

November 4th, 2013

BIRD MIGRATION

This paper discusses the above subject from two different sources. The first one is a Wikipedia reference article by Peter Berthold, Hans-Günther Bauer, Valerie Westhead (2001), while the second one comes from the New World Encyclopedia. A critical analysis will be provided at the end, advice and further recommended reading will be provided as well.

Bird migration is well discussed in Wikipedia, particularly by the above-mentioned writer as regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway between breeding and wintering grounds, undertaken by many species of birds. The writer goes further underlining the cost it takes birds to migrate from point one point to another on the planet, and mentioned that the cost is not in monetary form but in lives. They die on their way due to food along their trip to tropical regions. According to the same writer, we learn about history of bird migration, that it has been recorded as much as 3,000 years ago by Ancient Greek authors including Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job, for species such as storks, Turtle Doves, and swallows. He furthermore points out the distances covered by birds which helps us really imagine the magnitude of such a risk trip done by birds, all this due to climate change, weather conditions, food and reproduction needs. Furthermore, as we can understand from the article on what drives the birds. It is not a Global positioning System (GPS) but the timing of migration is controlled primarily by changes in day length and they navigate using celestial cues from the sun and stars, the earth's magnetic field, and probably also mental maps. This is awesome!

I had to spend some time further in my research and dug deep in another source reference article. The New World Encyclopedia. When perusing through this encyclopedia, I found it very interesting and so touching as far as I am concerned with specific facts. It defines bird migration as “the regular (and often seasonal) journeys to and from a given area undertaken by all or part of a bird population” The encyclopedia goes more specific by stating that: “not all bird species (or even populations within the same species) are migratory. In contrast to more irregular movements such as emigration, nomadism, and invasion, which are made in response to changes in food availability, habitat, or weather, bird migration is marked by its cyclical pattern. Then it explains about the length, distance, direction of these species, whichever is involved and traces down which countries are more affected by this bird move.

It concludes by pointing out an implication of this movement, that it has an larger ecological implications that underscore the interconnectedness of life: The citation says: “Migratory cycles are closely attuned to seasonal food productivity cycles, which leads to a mutual gain for both the migrating species and the ecosystems in which they participate. Migratory birds are able to settle in areas where life is not tenable year-round, while the food resources of some regions would not be adequately utilized without the seasonal presence of migrating populations” – End of quotation. After critically analysing each article in these two sources, I can simply say that they are pretty good and detailed on the subject. One who really knows nothing about the subject would grasp a good understanding of what goes on with bird migration, its causes, risks, where they move to, the timing and what drives it. However, the “New World Encyclopedia” sounds more concise, specific, detailed and convincing on the subject matter. As pointed out in the above understanding, the later one specifically points out that “not all species” do migrate. It separates migration and emigration, nomadism and invasion, which are all characteristics of bird species in the world. I also like the conclusion of this New World Encyclopedia, where it underscores an ecological effect of bird migration. For someone who may read in Wikipedia only, he will never think of any additional effect related to bird migration. Again I quote the following from New World: “Migratory cycles are closely attuned to seasonal food productivity cycles, which leads to a mutual gain for both the migrating species and the ecosystems in which they participate. Migratory birds are able to settle in areas where life is not tenable year-round, while the food resources of some regions would not be adequately utilized without the seasonal presence of migrating populations” What an exciting conclusion which give more homework to the reader who probably may be interested in Environmental issues such as Algonquin College students doing Environmental Citizenship course online! I totally underscore the “New World Encyclopedia” for its clarity and commitment as opposed to Wikipedia article where everyone can edit the content and at the end no one is responsible nor is anybody accountable. For “bookworms” (I refer to people who enjoy and are devoted to reading), they may find the following additional sources very useful on this research:

REFERENCES

1. Eastwood, E., and G. C. Rider. 1965. Some radar measurements of the altitude of bird flight. Brit Birds 58: 393-426.

2. Eckstrom, C. K. 1996. A wilderness of water: The Pantanal. Audubon 98(2): 54-65.

3. Farnsworth, A., S. A. Gauthreaux, and D. van Blaricom. 2004. A comparison of nocturnal call counts of migrating birds and reflectivity measurements on Doppler

radar. Journal of Avian Biology 35: 365-9. Retrieved August 16, 2007.

4. Font, L., M. Geoff, D. Nowell, G. Pearson, C. J. Ottley, and S.G. Willis. 2007. Sr isotope analysis of bird feathers by TIMS: A tool to trace bird migration paths and breeding sites. J Anal At Spectrom 22: 513.

5. Geroudet, P. 1954. Des oiseaux migrateurs trouves sur la glacier de Khumbu dans l'Himalaya. Nos Oiseaux 22: 254.

6. Helm, B., and E. Gwinner. 2006. Migratory restlessness in an Equatorial nonmigratory bird. PLoS Biol 4(4): e110. Retrieved August 16, 2007.

7. Ibáñez, C., J. Juste, J. L. García-Mudarra, and P. T. Agirre-Mendi. 2001. Bat predation on nocturnally migrating birds. PNAS 98: 9700-9702.

8. Liechti, F. 1996. Instructions to count nocturnal bird migration by watching the full moon. Schweizerische Vogelwarte CH-6204. Sempach, Switzerland.

9. Lincoln, F. C. 1979. Migration of birds. Fish and Wildlife Service, Circular 16. Retrieved August 16, 2007.

10. Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (Co-ordinates bird migration monitoring stations across Canada).

11. Berthold, P. 2001. Bird Migration: A General Survey, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198507879

12. Dingle, H. 1996. Migration: The Biology of Life on The Move. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195089626