Discover the fascinating science behind bird migration bottlenecks

One of the wonders of the natural world, migration “bottlenecks” occur where vast clouds of large soaring birds – especially raptors – concentrate at narrow land passages. Get a bird’s eye view on the science behind the world’s largest bird migration congregations.

 

By James Lowen

After successive damp days in central Colombia’s Andes, the November morning has delivered rain-free warmth. And how the Swainson’s Hawks Buteo swainsoni are responding. Flanking a mountain ridge swathed in tropical forest, hundreds of broad-winged, spread-tailed forms are swirling upwards. Their simultaneous release of pent-up migratory urges manifests itself as a fairground helter-skelter in reverse.

Harnessing a column of rising air, the migrants ascend hundreds of metres into the sky until they have gained sufficient altitude to relax into an energy-saving glide towards a distant mountain ridge. Here they will repeat the trick, each successive rise and fall forming another vital step in their 9,000 km journey from North American breeding grounds to Argentina’s pampas grasslands. For me, however, the show is over: I can finally exhale.

Read more from the original source

Al Hima Magazine 6th Issue

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has released the sixth issue of Al Hima magazine, focusing on the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 8–15, 2025), where SPNL will join four key sessions. The issue features an exclusive interview with IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, who emphasizes aligning IUCN’s work with global biodiversity agendas, governance, member responsiveness, multilateral engagement, ethical use of technology, and amplifying diverse voices.

Read Previous issues

spot_img
spot_img

More like this

Applications Open for Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership with...

The University of Cambridge has officially opened applications for its prestigious Masters in Conservation Leadership, a ground-breaking...

Nature’s Silent Guardians: Celebrating Vultures on International Vulture Awareness...

A Misunderstood Bird with a Vital Role They circle high above the savannas, deserts, and mountains, their silhouettes...
A tranquil path leads through a vibrant Hima site, where wildflowers bloom and cedar forests thrive under Lebanon’s summer skies. This landscape reflects the harmony between nature and community conservation.
Photo Credit: Spyro Klitira

HIMA: A Lebanese Model Showcased for Integrating Nature Conservation...

BirdLife International Middle East, in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL),...