The Aerial Migration Of The Bar Headed Goose

Every week, Oregonian Pat Johnston makes a 45-mile pilgrimage to Chehalem Mountain, she is on a serious mission. Her journey doesn't revolve around hiking, climbing, or mountain biking, however, she comes for the birds. During her weekly excursions, Johnston circles the mountain. Frequently stopping to check on the well-being of more than 30 bluebird nest boxes. And their

The purpose of this paper is to explore available research on the overpopulation of the Snow Goose on the North American continent. The snow goose has been rising in population since the middle of the century and has been escalating so much it is destroying their natural habitat. Wildlife managers have just recently begun to implement strategies to combat this problem. Mainly through the use of hunters the managers are trying to curb the population growth.

Canada geese are generally found in North America. However, the specific geographic range of the Canada goose varies depending on the season, as well as the species’ migration pattern. For the majority of the year, Canada geese are found in more northern areas of North American and during colder months, they migrate south. This migratory pattern generally results in the species travelling to Mexico or the southern portion of the United States where they remain until the spring (“Canada Goose”, 2011).

A total of 116 subjects monitored by weekly airplane transects from February 2002 to March 2008 generated data for mortality due to predators, disease, or natural causes. Independent temperature data of daily maximum and minimums corroborated closely with NOAA temperature data throughout November 2002 to February 2008. Categorizing temperature data into four seasonal groups, a metric heat stress index (HSI) reflected variance in temperature, which correlates alongside increased energy expenditure for moose to maintain thermal equilibrium. Calculation of survival using non-parametric estimation partitioned 6 annual and 24 seasonal periods for regression analysis between temperature and survival. Dependent variables for seasonal survival and independent variables for HSI calibrated a linear model to predict magnitude of temperature variance on survival.

Many scientists that have studied the waterfowl migration, have figured out that ducks use the sun, stars, and stellar maps as visual cues to migrate (Ducks Unlimited). Also, ducks use landmarks such as coastlines, mountain ridges, and waterways are used as directional cues (Ducks Unlimited).

The Pharomachrus mocinno has evolved many behavioural and physical traits as a result of adaptation to the current environment and lifestyle it leads, however this proposal will focus on the unusual plume tail length of the male P. mocinno. This particular species habitat requires nests as high as 22 meters in rotting trees (Seigfried et al. 2010). Therefore, the function of the feathers would typically be assumed to enhance flight, as that would make sense as a useful function in this scenario due to the high elevation. Surprisingly, however, the long length of the plume tail actually decreases the speed of the male bird due to the drag force of air (Norberg 1995) and requires it to drop backward off the branches before being able to fly forward normally (LaBastille et al. 1972). With such issues with the long plume tails, would sexual selection really be in this traits’ favour? In a study done on the widowbird such was the case; males with longer plumes were mated the most (Andersson 1982). However, the widowbird is completely black (including its tail), while in the case of Pharomachrus mocinno it is a very colourful bird. Previous studies also have shown, that the bright reflective colours on the male’s bodies help in attracting females (LaBastille et al. 1972).

weather have hurt the ability for monarch to make their long journeys south and north

It was a nippy Thursday night. The rustling trees, whispering to the innocent birds, warned them to fly way. The lost birds, searching for a nest to keep them warm. A nest where they could sleep and stay cozy as the wind continued to blow like smoke out of a cigar; however, the stubborn trees showed no signs of letting their guard down.

Populations of Canada geese display monogamy, forming pair bonds for life, only taking new mates after mate loss (Mowbray et al., 2002). Reaching sexual maturity by an average of 2 years old, Canada Geese search for mates (via honking) and copulate near bodies of water (2002). Males and females both select nesting sites near water and build nests using available nearby materials, usually dry grasses, twigs, and leaves (2002). Creating their nests near bodies of water, Branta canadensis can take advantage of abandoned nesting sites of birds and can also make their nest on top of mammal homes like beaver lodges, and mounds (2002). Clutch size depends on subspecies and if the nesting was late, usually ranging from 2-8 eggs (2002). Late nesting

The history of these birds is phenomenal, being consider object of controversy’s hundreds of years ago, the monk parakeet gave people reasons for belonging. In the 1970’s a national eradication programs were in effect due to the alarming number of monks. Several hundred birds were reducing from their population, but that did not stop these gregarious parrots from becoming one of the broadly distributed birds in the United states. It is believed, these birds double every year, due to easily adapting to non-tropical

An albatross crosses thousands of kilometres of ocean during a single foraging trip. Once airborne the albatross does not flap its wings and expends almost no energy through muscle use. For many years scientists have wondered how the energy requirement for this foraging strategy is sustained. New work has now uncovered the albatrosses secrets of flying for free.

Based on my opinion, this picture best illustrates Canada as a whole and Canadian culture. Firstly, the picture truly complements Canada’s beautiful and appealing landscape. Starting with the colorful and luscious forests and the clean and eye-opening sceneries, this genuinely shows our gorgeous landscapes and natural parts of Canada. Secondly, the image shows two geese: one a Canadian geese and another, a white goose. This shows Canada’s diverse wildlife and also the national bird that represents Canada; the Canadian goose. Finally, the image shows a jaw dropping view of an autumn forest with leaving in almost every color, this represent the diversity in Canada, as no religion nor rare is discriminated here!

Montane forests occur in the tropics on the windward side of mountains at elevations between 1000 and 3500 meters (Scatena, Hamilton, & Juvik, 1995). These high-altitude environments generate orographic lift, the process of a geographic barrier forcing an air mass to ascent from a low to high altitude, which rapidly cools the air, and condenses water vapor into clouds (Fabry & Lapointe, 2015). At sea level, tropical regions also receive larger year-round energy inputs from the sun than higher latitude areas, which promotes greater evaporation, thus increasing orographic lift (Fabry, & Lapointe, 2015). On the mountain, however, the persistent cloudiness lowers radiation, which reduces air temperature and light availability. (Reinhardt, Smith, & Carter,

Evolution occurs when an animal species develops new bodily structures and functions in order to adapt to their new environment. These developments are seen as positive adaptations that enhances survival. However, some animal species have lost these new developments. Based on the geographic location and climate, some evolutionary developments that are no longer needed are lost due to the fact that the new bodily structure itself does not enhance the chance of survival in a particular environment (Kirchman 2009; Vieites, et al. 2009). In most cases these lost developments are passed down through future generations and are never redeveloped. However, more information is needed to decide whether or not the loss of these evolutionary developments was due to natural selection or by random mutation over years (Wilkens and Strecker 2003). In this paper, I will examine three studies from a diversity of taxa, which illustrate the history of flightless birds, how climate has influenced the evolution of salamanders and how life lived in darkness has influenced the blindness in cave fish. Together these studies depict how these evolutionary abilities are lost and their affects on the animal species.

Bird use fine-tuned homing and migration techniques for a variety of different reasons. Migration and homing will most often conjure ideas of birds that migrate thousands of miles on a seasonal basis from their breeding grounds to their wintering areas. Almost half, over four thousand of the world’s ten thousand species of birds migrate on a regular basis. They do this to find suitable habitat for breeding and wintering. The godwit bird will travel from Alaska to Australia flying day and night over the Pacific Ocean (Heinrich 70), raptors will travel thousands of miles during the day over land along well-established corridors (Bildstein 2) while thrushes travel at night over land, typically taking off after sunset (Chu 53) . Homing also plays a very real role in everyday living. Birds also use their homing instinct on a daily basis because of their constant coming and going from their nest. Albatross will travel hundreds of miles crisscrossing the ocean in search of a meal to bring back to their nest and once finding it will fly straight back home (Heinrich xi) and Shearwaters will never cross land spending all their time over water gathering food (67). Compared to other areas of research about bird’s lives most about how birds migrate is unknown. There are over a million birds a year that are banded in just America to try to understand how and where different species travel (Heinrich 67). What is understood is that