Migratory Paths of Birds

Birds have a different style of migrating and they also use different things to help them travel long distances. First, they use visual landmarks such as highways, railways, and rivers to help them migrate even if the routes are not direct. For example, some waterfowl follow watercourses to help them migrate but often they are scared to cross open bodies water unless it’s windy. Birds also use the sun and the stars as compasses. For a long time, scientists were curious that birds traveled by the sun but, they did not know how they do it. Common starlings and homing pigeons follow the sun to lead them home and will not travel until they can see the sun. On the other hand, land birds and waterfowl maintain their directions at night by using the stars as their source of direction. Baby Indigo cannot navigate without seeing the stars when it’s their first time flying. In order for them to fly, they need to see the stars regularly during their first month in order for them to see their migratory paths.