Bird Migration A General Survey

by Berthold, Peter; Bauer, Hans-Gunther; Tomlinson, Tricia

• ISBN13: 9780198546917
• ISBN10: 0198546912
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-01-27
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book, written by a leading researcher in the field, describes thescience of bird migration in an accessible way. Not merely describing theincredible stamina and navigation skills of birds in their seasonal movements,Berthold also discusses recent ideas, hypotheses, experimental results, andmethods in this fascination field, giving a sense of how we know. No other bookcovers this ground in such a concise text.There are twelve chapters, including information on types of migration,migratory behaviour, physiological adaptations, orientation mechanisms andnavigation, and conservation needs of migrants. For birdwatchers andnaturalists, as well as professional ornithologists, this book will inspire anew appreciation and understanding of migrating birds.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
Origin and current extent of bird migration	5	(5)
History of bird migration studies	10	(3)
Current methods of studying bird migration	13	(18)
Observation of visible migration	13	(1)
Shooting	14	(1)
Acoustic registration	15	(1)
Radar recording	15	(3)
Telemetry	18	(1)
Bird-ringing	19	(2)
Standardized trapping methods	21	(2)
Recording migratory restlessness; breeding and keeping of test birds	23	(3)
Studies of orientation performance	26	(2)
Laboratory methods	28	(3)
The phenomena of bird migration	31	(58)
Some definitions	31	(1)
Periodic seasonal return migrations, annual migrants	31	(3)
Dispersal and spacing	34	(4)
Irruptions	38	(3)
Nomadic movements	41	(3)
Pursuing movements	44	(2)
Escape movements	46	(2)
Spreading movements	48	(1)
Differential migration	49	(2)
Partial migration and changes in migratory behaviour	51	(3)
Moult migration	54	(1)
Locomotion during migration	55	(2)
Migratory directions: general overview	57	(1)
Broad-front migration	58	(4)
Small-front migration	62	(1)
Funnel-shaped migration, fan-shaped migration	63	(2)
Migratory divides	65	(1)
Historically based detours	66	(1)
Directional changes: migration bends, arched migration	67	(1)
Loop migration	68	(2)
Leap-frog migration	70	(1)
Intermittent migration, early return migration	71	(2)
Reverse migration, mild-weather migration, weather-related commuting movements	73	(1)
Diurnal and nocturnal migration	74	(2)
Migration stages: normal and record performances	76	(1)
Migration periods, duration of migration	77	(2)
Spatial precision	79	(1)
Temporal precision	80	(1)
Flight altitudes during migration	81	(2)
Resting areas	83	(1)
Risks of migration	84	(1)
Bird migration in relation to environmental factors: models	84	(2)
Morphological adaptations	86	(3)
Physiological bases and control of bird migration	89	(50)
Adaptive juvenile development	89	(3)
Hyperphagia	92	(1)
Fat deposition	93	(2)
Metabolic adaptations, fat production, fat utilization	95	(3)
Nutritional adaptations	98	(2)
Changes in body composition during migration	100	(2)
Fat reserves and migratory behaviour	102	(2)
Models of the relationships between energy expenditure, fat load, and migratory performance	104	(2)
Thermoregulation and water balance	106	(1)
Initiation of the first autumn migration	107	(3)
Control of period and pattern of migration in inexperienced migrants	110	(5)
Termination of the first autumn migration	115	(1)
Control of migratory stages and speed during the first autumn migration	116	(2)
Strategies to overcome barriers during migration	118	(2)
The resting area: result of migratory behaviour and life-form	120	(1)
Control of homeward migration and later migratory periods	121	(1)
Control of partial migration	122	(2)
The relative role of endogenous programmes and genetic and environmental factors	124	(2)
Potential evolutionary speed of recent migratory behaviour	126	(2)
Behavioural changes during migration	128	(2)
Choice of habitat on staging and wintering grounds	130	(4)
The neuronal and hormonal basis of migration	134	(2)
The relationship between migration and other annual processes	136	(3)
Orientation mechanisms	139	(37)
Some definitions	140	(2)
Simple and complicated orientation mechanisms	142	(1)
Preprogrammed goal directions, genetic determination, and the influence of social bonds and imprinting	143	(3)
Compasses	146	(10)
Sun-compass	147	(2)
Magnetic compass	149	(2)
Star-compass	151	(2)
Further possible reference cues	153	(2)
Development and co-ordination of different orientation mechanisms	155	(1)
Sensory basis	156	(3)
Navigation hypotheses	159	(10)
Inertial navigation	160	(1)
Magnetic field navigation	160	(1)
Magnetic field--Coriolis force--navigation	161	(1)
Sun navigation	161	(1)
Star navigation	162	(1)
Olfactory navigation	163	(2)
Vector navigation	165	(3)
The map-compass concept	168	(1)
Ecological aspects	169	(5)
Evolutionary aspects	174	(2)
Synopsis: course and control of migration of a typical migrant	176	(5)
Threats and the conservation and future of migrants	181	(16)
General aspects	181	(1)
Examples of the decline of migrant populations	182	(7)
Main threats	189	(3)
Conservation measures	192	(2)
Future prospects for migrants	194	(3)
Evolutionary aspects of bird migration in the future	197	(6)
The significance of bird migration for human societies	203	(2)
Outlook	205	(2)
Bibliography	207	(18)
Index	225