Speedy Songbirds

Posted by NG Kids in News Bites on February 17, 2009
i-99903744918125c0702162900d5c0b52-songbird-kids-full.jpg

Songbirds fly faster than scientists thought they did

–two to three times faster, in fact! A researcher from York University in Toronto outfitted wood thrushes and purple martins with miniature geolocators and tracked them as they migrated. The geolocators work by detecting light, which allows scientists to estimate the latitude and longitude where the data was recorded.

Scientists found that the birds fly two to six times faster during their spring return journey than in fall. One purple martin flew from Brazil to back to its breeding colony in the United States in only 13 days!

Find out more about the songbird study on National Geographic News.

Learn about tiny bee backpacks in this News Bite.

Large photograph courtesy Timothy J. Morton
Inset photograph courtesy Bridget J. Stutchbury

Tags: , ,
Categories: Animals

Comments

  1. jayshawn
    February 17, 2009, 4:16 pm

    it cant be real

  2. esteban95
    February 17, 2009, 6:54 pm

    I helped my cousin’s cousin’s dad with the tech on those.if you don’t believe me,lie detector me!

  3. luckstomper
    February 19, 2009, 7:20 am

    That’s just amazing!!!! See you learn something new everyday!!!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)

  4. cow30025
    February 19, 2009, 7:06 pm

    Those look so awesome

  5. pratyush3as
    February 22, 2009, 6:10 am

    Never expected songbirds to be this speedy! They’re cool!!

  6. jimmyjojo
    February 26, 2009, 7:09 pm

    yo wasup all me think dat this is one cool invention and dat these songberd tings are kool. me helpd my cousins dad on the tech on those and if you dont beleive me, iie dector me!!!! I bet my legs are faster than those bords wings though!!!! Know Why!?!? Wanna Know Why!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    CUZ I AM A SSPPPPPEEEEEEEDDDDDD MMOONNSSSTEEERR!!!!!!!!!
    RRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    —————-ZZZZOOOOMMMMMM————————–
    And i am out!

  7. sonicguy22
    March 18, 2009, 5:46 pm

    *who cares jimmyjojo how fast you can run*anyway, that is cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    *sonicguy22*

  8. esteban95
    April 17, 2009, 6:19 pm

    hey, jimmyjojo!you stole my line!

You must be logged in to post a comment.