'Just 500m more and we will reach our destination', said Mukul.
'No bro, I can walk no longer. Besides, we really can't see your company here. Are you sure you are checking the correct location on map?', queried Vibhor.
Mukul, Vibhor and I were on a unintended walkathon in Whitefield, Bangalore. Fresh out of our MBA, Mukul and I were to join the IT MNC and hence thought of visiting it a day before. But we were taken-for-a-ride by the phone map as it misguided us when it showed the distance as just 2 kms. We soon realised that we were following some wrong location over the map.
Hence, at Ascendus Park Square mall near ITPL, we resorted to the conventional means of help. The Pan Vendor.
Hence, at Ascendus Park Square mall near ITPL, we resorted to the conventional means of help. The Pan Vendor.
It is not incorrect when we say that the Pan vendors are the source for all sorts of information. The person didn’t only tell us the company location but also the nickname of that particular office, as was prevalent among the company people (I got to know it later). With the office still 3 kilometers away, we hired an auto and progressed towards our destination.
Four years later, present day, Google map shows data quite accurately. It is an integral part of our daily lives taking over the earlier struggles we faced in reaching a place. But ever wondered how do birds migrate to one fixed location over several thousand kilometers, every year? What serves as the Google map for them? Don't they get lost ever? Wittyscribble tries to answer these questions.
How do birds find their route during migration?
A study funded by BBC programme Springwatch found out that an Arctic Tern completed a journey of 96,000 kms from UK to Antarctica and back, to record the farthest travel by a migrating bird. Amazed? Shocked? Well I am. Both.
An Arctic Tern is a medium-sized bird weighing around 100 grams but the feat it achieves, is by no measure small. How do they manage to travel through the snowy mountains, across the valleys, over the circuitous rivers, wide bays, never ending oceans (Read the difference between a Bay and an Ocean), above the big cities without getting lost?
Scientists and Ornithologists across the world have propounded a few theories and as always, there are a few takers and naysayers to all of them.
Scientists and Ornithologists across the world have propounded a few theories and as always, there are a few takers and naysayers to all of them.
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| Arctic Tern |
Theory 1
The very first explanation is that the birds have a sort of Photo chemical compass in their eyes which aligns with the earth's magnetic field to help them identify the North and South direction. The process, called Vision based magneto-reception, allows the birds to 'see' the earth's magnetic fields and hence follow them accordingly.
The compass reminds me of the movie Pirates of Caribbean. Our beloved hero, Jack Sparrow, will definitely be in awe of these birds !
Theory 2
The compass reminds me of the movie Pirates of Caribbean. Our beloved hero, Jack Sparrow, will definitely be in awe of these birds !
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| Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of Caribbean series |
The second theory suggests that since the birds have been migrating since ages, they 'know' the route. The younger ones learn the course on their first flight with the parents.
But how are they able to memorize/recognize the terrains and water bodies? Birds when flying high up in the air, see the ground as a map, with all the natural and man-made things serving as their objects for remembrance. For example, birds tend to follow the course of rivers and even highways to reach their destination. While the landscape of a city may alter, the naturally occurring identifiers don’t change that often.
But how are they able to memorize/recognize the terrains and water bodies? Birds when flying high up in the air, see the ground as a map, with all the natural and man-made things serving as their objects for remembrance. For example, birds tend to follow the course of rivers and even highways to reach their destination. While the landscape of a city may alter, the naturally occurring identifiers don’t change that often.
Theory 3
One other theory suggests that the birds flock to new places following the celestial objects such as stars, much similar to the sailors of the past. This means that they are also able to discern the constellations in order to accurately chart their path. Strange, ain't it?
Whatever be the reason, the animals and birds are much smarter than we actually comprehend them to be.
Whatever be the reason, the animals and birds are much smarter than we actually comprehend them to be.
It isn't just the birds that do migrate in search of food, better weather; even animals are known to follow the same trait (though they really don't migrate to such longer distances). Camels are known to travel distances such as 200 kilometers a week in search of food and water ( Read on What keeps the camel going long distance without water? ).
If we talk about aquatic animals/amphibians, sea turtles are known to travel 16000 kilometres in search of jellyfish. (Read the difference between a Turtle and a Tortoise).
Nerd Notes:
- Over its lifetime, the Arctic Tern travels approx. 3 million kms which is equal to 4 trips to moon and back
- The great Snipe travels a distance of 6750 kms at a speed of 90 kms/hr; fastest in the long distance flight
-Prakhar
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