<
https://theconversation.com/we-used-tiny-sensors-in-backpacks-to-discover-the-extraordinary-ways-birds-migrate-to-find-water-259988>
"Every year, nomadic Australian waterbirds fly vast distances to find food and
the perfect nesting site. They have to be good at finding not just water, but
the right kind of water. But across much of Australia, that can be hard.
These species need long periods of flooding to produce the shallow, food-filled
wetlands that support them and their chicks during breeding seasons. If the
floodwaters fall too rapidly, the whole season can be threatened.
We don’t yet fully understand how these birds find these temporary wetlands.
But by putting satellite trackers on species such as great egrets, plumed
egrets, royal spoonbills and straw-necked ibis, we found the hidden flyways –
bird highways – they use to search for wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Our research has also shown how important it is for these birds to be flexible
to survive in a tough environment. Birds dependent on flooding can’t just do
the same thing every year – they have to constantly change destinations.
Our research can help focus conservation and protection efforts to ensure the
most important breeding and feeding sites have reliable access to water."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
