There and Back Again - nocturnal migratory behaviour of birds during spring and autumn

Håkan Karlsson

Forskningsoutput: AvhandlingDoktorsavhandling (sammanläggning)

Sammanfattning

This dissertation explores the migratory behaviour of nocturnally migrating passerines and common swifts (Apus apus). Birds passing Lund (southern Sweden) and Abisko (northernmost Scandinavia) where sampled using tracking radar. The aim has been to investigate potential diverging strategies between spring and autumn migration. We have found that both passerines and swifts compensate for wind drift, the swifts more so than passerines. Such compensation for displacement by winds where found both during spring and autumn migration. At Abisko the birds exhibited an exaggerated scatter of flight directions, particularly during spring migration. We have suggested that this behavior reflects the final approach orientation and navigation of the migrants. Additionally, both swifts and passerines flew at higher air speeds (speed relative the air) in spring than in autumn, indicating a selection for time minimization on migration to the breeding grounds. However, we saw no indications of birds favouring tailwind conditions for their migratory flights.
Originalspråkengelska
KvalifikationDoktor
Tilldelande institution
  • Biologiska institutionen
Handledare
  • Alerstam, Thomas, handledare
Tilldelningsdatum2010 okt. 8
ISBN (tryckt)978-91-7473-026-5
StatusPublished - 2010

Bibliografisk information

Defence details

Date: 2010-10-08
Time: 09:30
Place: Blå Hallen, Ekologihuset

External reviewer(s)

Name: Moore, Frank
Title: Prof
Affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, USA

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The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)

Ämnesklassifikation (UKÄ)

  • Ekologi

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