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coevolution and animal migration

Bar-headed Geese migrate over the Himalayas between breeding grounds on the Mongolian steppes (May to September) to wintering areas in coastal India (October to March). They miss the worst of the weather by timing their movements between the two monsoons. From June to August warm air rises over the Himalayas, dragging moisture from the Indian Ocean, creating rain, snow and storms. Then from December to February this reverses strongly. The atmosphere cools creating snow storms and the rush of air drops spectacularly, propagating a wave of cloud and rainfall that sweeps across entire continents. This predictable burst of moisture kick starts wildlife processes over much of the world and is responsible for delivering healthy soils and food. By this time, 100,000 geese are foraging in low lying fertile floodplains, along with billions of other migratory birds. Over hundreds of thousands of years, they've transferred, amplified and concentrated nutrients in these places, delivering food conditions for more sedentary animals like us. This is how our survival is inextricably bound to the movements of birds and the climate conditions they help keep stable. Drawing, Simon Mustoe.

Coevolution explains the mystery of animal migration

by simon January 1, 2022

The other day I was listening to an ABC show talking about the miracles of migration. Always we cut to a technical explanation of how animals navigate. Barely ever do …

January 1, 2022

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