Migration

[grumpyhippo]

An incredible number of geese just flew over head of Thurso.

I can't but wonder what drives them to undertake such a massive journey each year. I know it's nature but ... heh if evolution works why go they fly so far north when they could breed in the North of Scotland or in the Northern isles.


Isn't nature brilliant.

[Sairheed]

I witnessed this awesome sight (thousands of them).

It struck me that there migration obviously coincided with the switch in the air stream to the SW.

[Kenn]

Always sad to see them go, I just love the geese and look forward to hearing them coming over the coast with their usual noisy calls again in Autumn. Had a small flock go over yesterday headed north west so Iceland next stop I'm thinking.
There are quite a few Greylags who don't migrate see them all year and it won't be too many weeks before they have goslings in tow.

[wavy davy]

Bird ignoramus here - I presume they head north (where?) for the summer and come back before winter hits. Do they stay in the UK or go further south (where?) Cheers

[sprint95m]

Geese are Arctic breeders.
The various species that winter in the UK primarily come from Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland.
The trigger for their annual migration is the length of the day.

We are surrounded by Arctic seabirds that have managed to adapt enough to permit breeding here,
eg kittiwakes, fulmars, Arctic skuas, guillemots, razorbills, puffins, Arctic terns, etc.

It is difficult for us to comprehend, but the North Pole is the centre of their world.


Some of the geese that breed in Canada migrate to more southerly latitudes than the UK, but in the Americas.
The same is possibly true for the Siberian breeders wintering in Asia.



A fascinating book is "The Winter Birds" by M. Ogilvy. I got a copy for very little on ebay......

[wavy davy]

Geese are Arctic breeders.
The various species that winter in the UK primarily come from Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland.
The trigger for their annual migration is the length of the day.

We are surrounded by Arctic seabirds that have managed to adapt enough to permit breeding here,
eg kittiwakes, fulmars, Arctic skuas, guillemots, razorbills, puffins, Arctic terns, etc.

It is difficult for us to comprehend, but the North Pole is the centre of their world.


Some of the geese that breed in Canada migrate to more southerly latitudes than the UK, but in the Americas.
The same is possibly true for the Siberian breeders wintering in Asia.



A fascinating book is "The Winter Birds" by M. Ogilvy. I got a copy for very little on ebay......

Thanks for the info. Will try and get the book - it's not on Amazon so will try EBay. Cheers