Bird migration, a perilous journey - Alyssa Klavans
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0:06 - 0:10Each spring, nature lovers eagerly greet the signs
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0:10 - 0:12that winter is finally coming to an end.
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0:12 - 0:13As the days grow warmer,
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0:13 - 0:15the flowers and trees start to bloom
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0:15 - 0:17and the world comes alive
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0:17 - 0:18with the melodious call of birds
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0:18 - 0:20in search of a new mate.
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0:20 - 0:22But where have these enchanting sounds
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0:22 - 0:24been hiding all winter?
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0:24 - 0:26For almost 200 species of song birds,
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0:26 - 0:28their winters have been spent
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0:28 - 0:29down in the tropical climates
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0:29 - 0:32of Central and South America.
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0:32 - 0:33While this may sound ideal,
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0:33 - 0:35it involves one of the most perilous journeys
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0:35 - 0:38known in the entire animal kingdom.
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0:38 - 0:40This journey is called migration,
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0:40 - 0:41and for song birds,
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0:41 - 0:43this can involve travelling somewhere
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0:43 - 0:45between a few hundred to almost 7,000 miles
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0:45 - 0:47in a period of several weeks
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0:47 - 0:49to four months.
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0:49 - 0:50Birds spend weeks preparing
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0:50 - 0:51for the intense journey
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0:51 - 0:53by gorging on large quantities of food,
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0:53 - 0:55sometimes doubling their weight
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0:55 - 0:57prior to departure.
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0:57 - 0:58While flying, birds can lose
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0:58 - 1:01almost one percent of their body weight an hour,
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1:01 - 1:04so packing on the pounds is crucial to their survival.
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1:04 - 1:06However, more than the physical stress,
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1:06 - 1:08migrating birds are now facing
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1:08 - 1:10a new source of hardship:
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1:10 - 1:12landscape change.
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1:12 - 1:13Just imagine you're the one
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1:13 - 1:15getting ready to take a trip.
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1:15 - 1:16You've packed the car
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1:16 - 1:17with everything you think you need,
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1:17 - 1:18fueled up the tank,
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1:18 - 1:20eaten a huge breakfast,
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1:20 - 1:21and hit the road.
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1:21 - 1:23You've taken this journey before.
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1:23 - 1:25You know all your favorite rest stops
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1:25 - 1:27and little back-alley diners to grab a bite.
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1:27 - 1:29Everything is planned out.
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1:29 - 1:31But just as your fuel gauge starts
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1:31 - 1:32dipping into the red zone,
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1:32 - 1:34you pass by what should have been a gas station,
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1:34 - 1:36except it's closed.
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1:36 - 1:37"Not a problem," you think,
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1:37 - 1:40"the next one can't be too far away."
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1:40 - 1:42But then that next station never appears.
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1:42 - 1:45Unfortunately, as you continue on your route,
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1:45 - 1:48the reality of the situation starts to set in.
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1:48 - 1:50More and more stations are closed
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1:50 - 1:52or just erased from your map.
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1:52 - 1:54All of a sudden, your routine trip
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1:54 - 1:55has become a desperate search
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1:55 - 1:57just to find somewhere safe to rest
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1:57 - 1:59and refuel for the night.
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2:00 -This scenario has become the reality
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Not Syncedfor the majority of migrating song birds
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Not Syncedas human land development continues unchecked.
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Not SyncedHumans are altering important stop-over sites
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Not Syncedthat birds have been using for generations.
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Not SyncedAs migrators pass over the continent,
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Not Syncedthey run a gauntlet of dangers,
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Not Syncedincluding pesticide ingestion in rural farmlands,
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Not Syncedhabitat loss in suburban developments,
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Not Syncedas well as disorientation from light pollution,
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Not Syncedand even structure collision
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Not Syncedwith tall, reflective glass buildings in cities.
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Not SyncedOf the estimated 20 billion individual birds
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Not Syncedthat comprise the fall population,
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Not Syncedonly about half will return to breed the following spring.
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Not SyncedAlmost one billion of these deaths
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Not Syncedare attributed just to building collisions.
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Not SyncedWith such astounding yearly losses,
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Not Syncedhumans risk more than just the loss
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Not Syncedof the beautiful colors and songs of birds,
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Not Syncedthey also play an important role in the ecosystem.
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Not SyncedBirds help with insect control,
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Not Syncedpollination,
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Not Syncedand disbursing seeds throughout the landscape.
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Not SyncedWithout birds, the natural world
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Not Syncedwould be a very different place.
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Not SyncedAlthough birds face an on-going threat
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Not Syncedfrom human land development,
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Not Syncedthere are actions that we can all take to help.
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Not SyncedMany countries and local governements
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Not Syncedhave already passed important laws
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Not Syncedthat restrict the use of poisonous pesticides.
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Not SyncedBy using more natural, plant-based products,
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Not Syncedwe can maintain our farms and gardens
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Not Syncedwithout the dangerous side effects.
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Not SyncedIn addition, as our global populations continue to grow
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Not Syncedand people need places to call home,
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Not Syncedgreen spaces can offer both bird habitat
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Not Syncedas well as a peaceful and natural place for us to enjoy.
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Not SyncedSmall changes at home
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Not Syncedcan also make a huge difference.
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Not SyncedBy hanging up feeders
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Not Syncedand building bird houses in outdoor areas,
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Not Syncedwe can provide much-needed food and safety
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Not Syncedduring long migrations.
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Not SyncedTurning out lights in suburban and urban environments
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Not Syncedcan also help birds
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Not Syncedthat look for stars to navigate.
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Not SyncedWith our help, these sky travellers
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Not Syncedcan reach their destination safely,
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Not Syncedand hopefully keep returning year after year.
- Title:
- Bird migration, a perilous journey - Alyssa Klavans
- Description:
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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/bird-migration-a-perilous-journey-alyssa-klavans
Nearly 200 species of songbirds migrate south for winter, some traveling up to 7,000 miles. No easy task, the annual journey is dangerous to birds due to landscape change -- so much so, that only half the birds that migrate south will return home for spring. Alyssa Klavans details why bird migration is so taxing and how we can assist our chirping friends.
Lesson by Alyssa Klavans, animation by Igor Coric.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 04:10
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Andrea McDonough edited English subtitles for Bird migration, a perilous journey - Alyssa Klavans |