A never-before-seen picture of eagle migrations
In 1899, scientists began tracking avian migration by placing a small ring with an identifier around birds' ankles. Researchers then had to recapture the birds elsewhere, leaving the journey between those points a mystery. Today, GPS tags allow researchers to see every stage of bird migration. The tags are small, have long-lasting batteries and solar panels, and track dozens of metrics. Migration…
For the first time, scientists have mapped the migratory routes of two endangered raptor species along the East Asia–East Africa Flyway. Nathan Murthy, a University of Utah undergraduate, led the study that used satellite tracking to follow steppe and booted eagles on their journeys from Siberia and eastern Russia to Africa and back again.
These birds travel thousands of kilometers each way, navigating major challenges in the Middle East and other regions. The steppe eagle flew 4,410 kilometers to Sudan via the Suez Canal, while the booted eagle covered 5,081 kilometers to Uganda and 6,786 kilometers back to Russia. Both species used human-dominated habitats during their migrations, stopping at places like trash dumps, agricultural areas, and cities.
This discovery sheds light on the complex challenges and intriguing patterns of these birds' long-distance migrations.
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