Animal Planet: Incredible Journeys

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Journeys

AMAZING ANIMAL MIGRATIONS

I n c r e di b l e Jo u r n e ys

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Conceived and produced by Weldon Owen Pty Ltd 59-61 Victoria Street, McMahons Point Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia Published in the United States by Kingfisher, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010 Kingfisher is an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books, London. All rights reserved. Distributed in the U.S. by Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for. Kingfisher books are available for special promotions and premiums. For details contact: Special Markets Department, Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. For more information, please visit www.kingfisherbooks.com

Copyright © 2011 Weldon Owen Pty Ltd First printed 2011 WELDON OWEN PTY LTD Managing Director Kay Scarlett Publisher Corinne Roberts Creative Director Sue Burk Senior Vice President, lnternational Sales Stuart Laurence Sales Manager, North America Ellen Towell Administration Manager, International Sales Kristine Ravn Managing Editor Averil Moffat Designer John Bull Cartographer Will Pringle/Mapgraphx Images Manager Trucie Henderson Production Director Todd Rechner Production and Prepress Controller Mike Crowton All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the copyright holder and publisher. ISBN 978-0-7534-6726-8 Printed by Toppan Leefung Printing Limited Manufactured in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The paper used in the manufacture of this book is sourced from wood grown in sustainable forests. It complies with the Environmental Management System Standard ISO 14001:2004 A WELDON OWEN PRODUCTION © 2011 Discovery Communications, LLC. Animal Planet and the Animal Planet logo are trademarks of Discovery Communications, LLC, used under license. All rights reserved. animalplanet.com animalplanetbooks.com

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T h e m at ic s

Journeys

AMAZING ANIMAL MIGRATIONS Dwight Holing

I n c r e di b l e Jo u r n e ys

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Contents Introduction 6

The migration story 8

Land

Preparation and travel 10

Journeys by Land 16 African elephants 18 Zebras 22 Wildebeests 24 Caribou 36 Polar bears 40 Emperor penguins 44 Forest primates 46 Mountain dwellers 48 Scuttlers and sliders 51

Finding the way 12

Air

Journeys by Air 54 Flyways 56 Seabirds 58 Shorebirds 62 Arctic terns 64 Swallows 66 Flamingos 70 European white storks 72 Cranes 74 Songbirds 78 Waterfowl 80 Butterflies 84 Bats 86 Locusts 87

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Water

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Journeys by Water 90 Blue whales 92 Gray whales 94 Humpback whales 96 Great white sharks 98 Whale sharks 100 Northern bluefin tuna 102 Bottlenoses and relatives 106 Salmon 108 European eels 112 Walrus 114 Elephant seals 116 Sea turtles 118 Krill 120

Index 122 Picture credits 126

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Introduction

arthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seasons roll in an endless cycle, bringing winds, rain, heat, and chilling cold. Some lands dry out under fiercely hot temperatures; others are covered by deep snow. For the creatures of the animal kingdom, life is a constant challenge. In the air, through the water, and across land wild, wonderful, and intriguing animals are on the move. Their journeys in search of food, better weather, and a safe place to bear their young are called migrations. And the story of how they manage to find their way is amazing. Incredible Journeys is filled with such stories. Meet a bird that flies from pole to pole and back againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a yearly trip of nearly 50,000 miles (80,000 km). Follow a sea turtle hatchling so small, it would fit in your hand as it cracks out of its egg, scrambles across a beach, and catches a current that carries it across the ocean. See why a newborn caribou must hit the ground running if it is to keep up with its family and stay ahead of the wolves. Come and explore a world where colorful birds and butterflies fill the sky, whales and sharks swim from sea to sea, and herds of huge African elephants march tirelessly across the savanna.

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The migration story Year round and all over the world, animals of many kinds set out on remarkable seasonal journeys, or migrations. They travel—by air, water, and land—to avoid cold, gather food, or find safe places to give birth to their young. Some, like these North American caribou, take weeks to trek vast distances, while others move swiftly to another habitat or breeding area. Exactly how animals know where and when to go is still something of a mystery.

Escaping to warmer climates Where winter brings severe cold and reduced food supplies, animals may leave for warmer places in the fall and return in the spring. Migrations of this kind are common among highly mobile animals such as birds and marine mammals.

Partial migration Among some bird species, such as the European robin, some members of a group may stay in one place all year, while others migrate for the winter.

Ducking out Mallard ducks live all over the Northern Hemisphere. Those that breed in the far north migrate south for the winter.

Ice flow Walrus follow the movements of the Arctic pack ice, migrating north as the ice melts in the summer and returning south as it reforms during the colder months.

Whale of a trip After breeding through the winter in the warm Gulf of California waters, gray whales travel over 5,000 miles (8,000 km) to summer feeding grounds off Alaska. Nomadic migrants In East Africa, huge herds of wildebeests (left) and smaller groups of impalas (right) are constantly on the move, following rains that bring growth to the grasslands.

A search for food Food supplies are affected by rainfall, plant-growth cycles, and the movements and breeding patterns of prey. This leads some animals to migrate more frequently, shifting from place to place as food sources increase and dwindle.

A search for water Not many animals, especially land animals, can survive for long without , water to drink. So it s not surprising that shifting water supplies can prompt migrations, especially in arid zones and places with distinct dry and wet seasons.

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Dry run In June, African elephants begin to migrate toward lakes and larger rivers that are less likely to dry out during the dry season, which usually lasts until November.

A journey to breeding grounds To reproduce successfully, animals need plenty of food as well as a secure place to bear and nurse their young. Many animals migrate to the same location every year for this purpose. Arctic nursery In the summer, caribou travel north by the thousands to calving grounds on the Arctic tundra. The plants that grow here help the mothers produce rich milk that makes baby calves grow.

Grasslands North American pronghorns migrate up to 150 miles (240 km) to find snowfree grasses to eat during the winter. They use long grasses to conceal newborns from predators.

Back again Twice a year, southern elephant seals migrate north from their hunting grounds off Antarctica to subantarctic islands, once to breed pups like this one and once to shed skin.

Home run After spending their adult life at sea, Pacific salmon return to the river where they were born to spawn and die.

One-way trips Usually migration is a round-trip, but sometimes there is no way back. One-way migrations may involve a permanent move to new territory or a last long journey prior to death.

Mass exodus If a lemming colony grows too crowded, a large group may migrate in search of new territory.

Solitary creatures Regional populations of blue whales migrate to and from the same summer and winter grounds. However, they normally travel alone or in pairs.

In groups or alone Traveling in a group can allow animals to hunt together or provide a measure of safety. However, some animals travel alone because they prefer not to share scarce food or, especially if small, are less likely to be spotted by predators.

Long march Native to tropical South America, army ants migrate many times a year in search of food. Marching in columns as long as a soccer field, they devour any small creatures in their path.

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Preparation and travel m igrating to another habitat can be a risky business. The

way may be long and filled with danger. Animals have to prepare themselves well and follow a route that will take them to their destination as swiftly, easily, and safely as possible. Prior to departure, most creatures, like these gray whales exercising in Baja California, spend time building up their strength. Once on their way, they may travel nonstop or stop to rest, eat, and drink along the way. While many migrants travel by day, others journey at night to avoid their predators.

Getting ready Most animals gorge before departure to increase their energy reserves, and many exercise intensively to strengthen particular muscles. Some can even reduce the size of their internal organs to make them lighter for the trip. Fueling up Before they set off, migrants such as snow geese (far left) and hummingbirds (left) increase their body fat, the most efficient form of energy storage.

Routes and timing The routes followed by migrating animals may be determined by the terrain, the availability of food, and the climate. Timing a journey is critical, as even a short delay may mean missing a helpful tide or running into bad weather.

Pit stops Mountain meadows (below) and barrier islands (below right) provide migrants with places to feed and rest. Often, the same locations are visited on every trip.

Well armed In response to overcrowding, locusts develop longer wings and prepare to migrate. They fly in huge swarms that may contain billionsÂ of insects. Flying high White storks must travel by day because they rely on rising air currents, or thermals, to carry them from Europe to their winter grounds in Africa.

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Predators Well aware of the comings and goings of the animals they feed on, predators often gather along migration routes to feast on prey. Some rely on a greatly increased intake of food at such times to prepare for their own breeding cycles.

Feeding frenzy Between May and July each year, thousands of dolphins gather to feed on giant schools of sardines migrating north along the coast of South Africa.

Short and long trips

Mad dash On Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, millions of red crabs migrate a short distance to the seashore to lay eggs. They swarm through forests and across roads to get there.

The distances covered by different animals during migration vary hugely. However, even the shortest trips can involve surmounting major obstacles, while, on the other hand, some epic journeys may be plain sailing. Sea way Humpback whales swim more than 8,000 miles (13,000 km) from their high-latitude summer waters to tropical breeding zones.

Go with the flow

N O R T H

Animals use natural forces to help them travel faster and farther. Many winged creatures catch a lift on prevailing winds, while fish and sea mammals hitch a ride on tides and powerful ocean currents.

A M E R I C A

Los Angeles

New York

Wind power Monarch butterflies rely on fall winds to carry them south to Mexico and spring winds to return them to the southern United States.

Riding the breeze Using their long wings to harness air currents, albatross can soar for vast distances using little energy. Massive mover Weighing up to 7 tons (6.4 t) and standing up to 13 feet (4 m) tall, the African elephant is the largest land migrant.

Record makers

Species

Statistics

Longest round-trip

Arctic tern

49,700 mi. (80,000 km)

Longest land trip

Caribou

Longest insect trip

Monarch butterfly

3,000 mi. (4,800 km) in fall

Largest migrant

Blue whale

Up to 110 ft. (33.5 m) long

Smallest migrant

Zooplankton

0.04–0.08 in. (1–2 mm)

Fastest traveler

Common eider duck Average speed 47 mph (75 km/h)

Highest traveler

Bar-headed goose

3,700 mi. (6,000 km) a year

Up to 33,000 ft. (10,000 m)

Conveyor belt Turtles use Atlantic Ocean currents to carry them smoothly between far-flung feeding and nesting sites.

On the wing Resident on Mediterranean islands, Eleonora's falcons delay nesting to hunt migrating songbirds, catching them in midair.

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Finding the way a nimals can navigate over immense distances, often in

Screen scene Radar allows scientists to follow flocks of birds as they migrate. The radar screen above shows a snow geese flock near Winnipeg in Canada.

complete darkness or the absence of landmarks, and, in some cases, even when they have never made the journey before. By tracking migrants using radar and other technologies, modern researchers have shown that animals adopt a variety of methods to find their way. These range from observing the sun, stars, and wind patterns to sensing , and following Earth s magnetic fields.

Sound map Whales send out sounds and use the echoes that bounce back to map out what lies ahead. This process is called echolocation.

Sumatra

Java

Surabaya

Animals have special senses that help them migrate successfully. Most have a built-in chronometer or timepiece that tells them when to depart, and some have specialized navigation tools.

Indi

Super senses

Bali

Borneo

Ocean obstacles Just like land, the seabed is covered with hills, ridges, peaks, and valleys. Sea creatures must navigate through these landforms, often in pitch darkness.

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Shore guides Coastlines are long, recognizable landforms that can guide animals on their journey. Many birds migrate along coasts, and some whales stay close to them when traveling between their winter and summer ranges.

Signposts At night, animals may use magnetism or the stars to navigate. By day, some, such as ants and starlings, are guided by the position of the sun. But mostÂ take a simpler approach and use familiar landmarksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; mountains, rivers, lakes, and so onâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to tell them where to head, when to turn, and where to stop.

Compass points Tests have shown that snow buntings , sense Earth s magnetic field and use it as their main means of navigation.

River routes Rivers form pathways through landscapes. Migrating birds and bats follow them as do the creatures that live in their waters.

The human factor Human activities interfere with animal migration. Land clearance removes vital habitats. Roads, fences, and pipelines block routes. But now people worldwide are learning more about animal migration and are helping in many ways.

!SLOWLYPLEASE! WILDLIFE HAS RIGHT OFWAY

Watch out Road signs are used to alert drivers to wildlife along many migration paths. Animal magnetism A magnetic field surrounds our planet. This is the force that causes a compass to point to the North Pole. Scientists say some animals, including birds, bats, butterflies, and turtles, have a built-in magentic compass. They use it to detect Earth's magnetism and guide them on their way.

Landforms Birds often migrate along mountain chains. Valleys can provide clear corridors, and distinctive peaks indicate when to change direction.

In the way Collisions with power lines, towers, and tall office buildings are thought to kill tens of millions of migratory birds every year.

In touch Tracking devices like the radio transmitter on this elk allow researchers to map migration routes and work out how best to protect them.

Loss of trees Clearing forests for timber or farms robs animals of a safe place to live or a suitable place to rest during long migration journeys.

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Land

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Journeys by Land animals of savanna, tundra, and forest The epic journeys of land animals make a spectacular sight. Wave after wave of wildebeest herds roll across a sea of grass in Africa. Caribou surge over Alaskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tundra in one continuous stream. Monkeys swing from tree to tree. Through deserts and forests, over mountains and across poles, migrating animals are always on the march.

Copyrighted Material ome land animals trek as far as 3,700 miles (6,000 km) a year.

On the move Animals migrate over land in search of food, water, mates, and a safe place to rear their young. The change from dry to rainy season forces herd animals like the zebra in Africa and the pronghorn in North America to be on the move constantly as they search for grass. Each year the elephants in Mali, Africa must trudge 300 miles (482 km) from water hole to water hole. Varied journeys Migrations are as varied as the species that make them. Some are as short as the week it takes a red crab to scuttle 5 miles (8 km) across Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean to hatch its eggs. Wildebeests travel clockwise on a roughly circular journey 1,800 miles (2,900 km) long on the Serengeti Plain in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa. Great risks Unlike migrations through air and water, land animals cannot rely on help from currents. They must make the journey step by step. Though land animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; journeys are often shorter than those made by birds and fish, the risks can be higher. Rough terrain, extreme temperatures, and dangerous predators abound. Cheetahs and lions lay in wait for passing herd animals, targeting the young and weak.

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African elephants Families on the move

Among the oldest and largest animal species still to walk the planet, African elephants are on a constant search for food and water. They eat on average 500 pounds (226 kg) of plants and drink 50 gallons (190 l) of water a day. To find it all, elephants must make long journeys across the continent as the dry and rainy seasons change.

African elephant fact file Type

Mammal

Family

Elephantidae

Scientific name

Loxodonta africana

Diet

Herbivore, prefers grasses and leaves

Average lifespan

70 years

Size

Up to 24 ft. (7.3 m) in length

Weight

13,000â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20,000 lb. (6,000â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9,000 kg)

african elephant

polar bear

caribo

empe

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Equipped for survival

Trunk

Feet

While its rubbery skin is as much as 1 inch (2.55 cm) thick in some places, an elephant can feel a fly land on it.

Both an upper lip and nose, the trunk has 40,000 muscles and can push down a tree or pluck a blade of grass.

With tough but spongy soles that act like shock absorbers, elephants walk over all types of ground.

Thick and sensitive

Migration

Mating season

Calving season

Anytime

22 months later

tnahpele nacirfauobirac

african elephant

rnaieubgnraelp oprorepme

caribou

tnahpele nacirfa

polar bear

niugnep rorepme

Large and silent

Females and calves

Elephant herds are close-knit families led by one of the oldest and strongest females. Like a historian, she holds a mental map in her head about where the water holes, food supplies, and dangers lie in their home range, which can measure up to 750 square miles (2,000 km2). Some herds travel as far as 300 miles (480 km) a year.

uobirac

Strong and nimble

raeb ralop

emperor penguin

Herds are made up of females and their young. Sometimes several herds join together and can number 100 individuals.

Elephant distribution Large herds migrate seasonally

A F Equator

A t l a n t i c

Across Africa

Cairo Ni

eror penguin

Skin

The elephant has special features that help it survive as it migrates. Its massive size protects it from all but a couple of predatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; lions and crocodiles. Both males and females have tusks, which are actually large, modified teeth used for fighting, feeding, and digging. Elephants have a strong sense of hearing and can communicate with each other at distances of up to 6 miles (10 km) away. A baby elephant can walk two hours after birth.

Elephants are found in a wide area of Africa. Three large migrating herds move through parts of Tanzania and Kenya, Mali, and Zambia and Botswana.

O c e a n

Cape Town

R I C A o

Indian Ocean

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African elephants have large brains that serve like a GPS on the dashboard of a car. They store enormous amounts of information about routes from water hole to water hole and the feeding grounds between. Life is an endless loop of survival for elephants.

To the water hole

Copyrighted Material Reduced range Once elephants roamed across most of Africa. Today, their range and numbers are much smaller. Human population growth, poaching, habitat destruction, and changing climate are among the reasons why. The total population is estimated to be between 400,000 and 660,000. This includes two different species of African elephants. The most numerous and better-known kind dwells in grassland areas called savannas in the eastern and southern regions. The other type lives in the forests of western and central Africa. Both species migrate. Timing Migration usually begins at the start of the dry season. For savanna elephants that means June.

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Family units made up of mature females and the young will break away from the larger herds and begin the trek. By traveling in smaller groups, they have a better chance of finding enough food and water along the route. A group is always led by the strongest and most experienced female. They walk in single file. Another dominant female brings up the rear. Her job is to supervise the young and guard against predators. Bull males also migrate, but alone and at their own pace. Calves born along the way are on their feet and joining the march within a few hours of birth. When the rains return, usually from October to December and March to June, the herds return to their native regions to feed on newly grown vegetation.

lephants can find distant water holes with pinpoint accuracy; it is key to their survival.

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Wildebeests Across the plains

Wildebeest fact file Type

Mammal

Family

Bovidae

Scientific name

Connochaetes taurinus

Diet

Herbivore, preferring short grass

Average lifespan 20 years Wildebeests, also called gnu, belong to a family of Size Up to 4.5 ft. (1.4 m) hoofed mammals called antelopes. They resemble Weight 265–550 lb. (120–250 kg) bulls, but have the shaggy manes and elegant legs of horses. Powerful and with incredible stamina, they are superb sprinters and can cover great distances. They live in the African savanna spanninguTanzania obirac and Kenya, traveling north in the tndry ahpele nacirfa season and back south when rain returns to the savanna.

30 seconds

3 minutes

6 minutes

Moments after the birth, the mother licks her calf clean. In doing so, she learns its appearance and smell, which helps her develop a strong bond with her baby. The calf must get to its feet quickly, because it is vulnerable to lions and hyenas.

The calf has to be walking within 10 minutes to have a good chance of survival. It pushes itself up on its back legs, then follows with its front legs. The mother stands guard and gently nudges her calf to encourage it.

At only six minutes old, the calf is trotting beside its mother. It gains strength rapidly from its mother’s milk, which is much richer than cow’s milk. Within a day, the youngster will be running with the herd.

A new wildebeest is born . . .

niugnep rorepme

It struggles to get up . . .

And takes its first steps

raeb ralop

Migration

During the wet season, the wildebeest herds feed in the southeast of the savanna region. Most calves are born here. As the dry season approaches, they travel north and west to find fresh grass and water. During October and November the cycle starts again and the wildebeests begin the long trek south. Mating season

Oct.–Nov.

Calving season

May–June

Built for survival

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Like all grazing animals, wildebeests must be constantly on the alert for predators. The wildebeest is one of the larger antelopes. It has a very powerful body but can still fall prey to lions, crocodiles, and other hunters. Its eyes are at the sides of the head, giving the animal a wide field of vision. Its senses of hearing and smell are also very acute, helping it detect danger at night when many predators are active.

Heavy horns The horns are

used to fight off predators and in battles between males during the mating season.

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Skull The skull is heavy enough to withstand head-to-head battles.

Body shape A short

backbone and long legs allow the wildebeest to run fast to escape predators.

Tail The shaggy tail keeps flies away.

Heavily built The front end of the wildebeestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body combines with small and thin hindquarters. Muscles Unlike domestic Legs Long legs give a

wide stride for trekking and deliver sudden rushes of speed to escape danger.

cattle, wildebeests have slim bodies packed with powerful muscles.

Glands The front hooves contain glands that produce a smelly oil. Other wildebeests follow the trail it leaves.

Mouth and nose

The mouth can harvest big mouthfuls of grass. Flaps of skin stop dirt kicked up by the herd from entering the nostrils.

The hooves Each hoof is split into two toes. They have a tough, hard covering.

Herding Female wildebeests and their young gather in herds of as many as 1,000 animals. Males leave their home herd when they mature and join a group of other males. But when it is time to migrate, wildebeests gather in vast herds of many thousands of animals to thunder across the plains of East Africa in search of food and water.

Young calf A young calf runs at the center of the herd where it is safe from predators such as big cats.

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These are just a few of the challenges wildebeests must overcome on their incredible journey. Their trek of some 1,800 miles (2,900 km) through East Africa holds peril at every turn. Of the 1.5 million wildebeests that begin, one out of four will die. Cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas are always on the prowl, waiting for the weak and young to fall behind. Crossing rivers like the Mara means dodging bull sharks as well as crocodiles.

Long and dangerous trek

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Unseen hazards Bull sharks swim far upstream in the Mara River to prey on migrating wildebeests.

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On the move Life for wildebeests is a neverending journey. They are constantly on the move, and constantly watching out for danger, as they follow the rains in a clockwise circle across the savanna. For a creature that looks far from streamlined, the wildebeest can run remarkably fast. It can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Moving swiftly and blending in with the herd gives an individual its best chance to survive. The dung dropped by the wildebeests serves as fertilizer that helps the next season of grass to grow.

ildebeest migration is a grueling race to survive.

Lion attack

Once a wildebeest grows tired it is no match for the king of the savanna.

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Caribou

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Caribou fact file

Tireless travelers

Caribou are the world champions when it comes to distance traveled by a land mammal. They live in the far north of North America, Europe, and Russia. Each year they migrate between summer calving grounds and their winter homes. Some travel as far as 3,700 miles (6,000 km). Caribou can cover up to 35 miles (55 km) a day and can run at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). If a river or lake is in the way, they just swim across.

Type

Mammal

Family

Cervidae

Scientific name

Rangifer tarandus

Diet

Lichen, sedges, willow leaves

Average lifespan

Up to 10 years

Size

Male: up to 7.5 ft. ( 2.25 m); Female: up to 6.75 ft. (2 m)

Weight

200–460 lb. (92–210 kg)

Stalk

Surround

Attack

Wolves hunt in packs. They rely on surprise and numbers to catch the larger caribou.

The pack singles out a mother and calf from the herd, then circles and separates the pair.

Some keep the mother busy; unprotected calves are no match against the hungry pack.

Patience and cunning . . .

B Prudhoe Bay

Arc

Circle and separate . . .

u f o r t

Migration

S e a

When spring comes to the Arctic and subarctic regions, groups of caribou join together to form huge herds numbering 50,000 to 500,000 animals. Like a river unleashed by a dam, they surge north to the calving grounds. In the fall, the herds break into smaller groups again for the return trip south to the sheltered forests.

tic Circ le

Peel

( A l a s ka)

Yuk on

S T A T E S

ack M

U N I T E D

C A N A D A

Anchorage

Long trek The largest

herds roam Alaska and northern Canada, migrating to the coast in the summer.

Feint and jab

Mating season

Calving season

Sep.–Nov.

May–June

Whitehorse african elephant

caribou

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Fur Two coats keep

them warm in the winter; the outer layer has hollow hairs.

nacirfa

Antlers Males and females grow new antlers every year.

ralop

Body A compact

Nose Large nostrils allow caribou to warm freezing air before it enters the lungs.

body helps the animal stay warm, no matter how cold it gets.

Toes Each foot has

Built for snow and ice From their noses to their spreadable toes, caribou are uniquely adapted to their harsh environment. Ears and tails are small to guard against freezing. Legs are short and powerful to run across snow and tundra. Hooves help them walk on ice without slipping and dig through snow for their favorite food, â&#x20AC;&#x153;reindeer moss.â&#x20AC;?

Hooves In the winter, footpads harden; in the summer, they soften to aid walking over tundra.

Right of way Even in the frozen north, caribou must deal with man-made obstacles, such as oil and gas pipelines, that can block their traditional migratory routes. To prevent disruption, pipeline systems provide passageways for caribou. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System has more than 500 elevated sections and 20 buried locations, so animals can freely cross under or over.

four toes that can be spread to act like snowshoes.

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Copyrighted Material Northern grazing grounds The annual

trek of caribou from Canada to Alaska rivals the great migrations across Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Serengeti Plain. Three herds of 500,000 animals apiece, and countless smaller herds, make the trip. Seemingly endless lines of caribou arrive at the tundra to enjoy the summer. Thin after a long winter, they graze on a carpet of thick grass.

Summer in the Arctic

Copyrighted Material Arrivals The pregnant cows arrive at the grazing grounds first and almost all give birth in the first 10 days of June. This is a defense strategy for the species. With so many babies born at once, predators like wolves and brown bears can barely make a dent in the population. But even so, calves are not just easy pickings. Within hours of birth, a baby caribou can run faster than a human. Summer is not all fun and sun. When the air warms, the wet tundra gives rise to thick clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes and black flies. Caribou rush to coastal areas where cool sea breezes blow away the pests.

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Meadows Lush meadows of cotton grass await the hungry herds, but late snow can still cover patches of the far north when calving begins.

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Polar bears Sea-ice specialists

Polar bears roam hundreds of miles each year in search of prey, moving onto frozen seas then back to land when sea ice melts. Theirs is a truly mobile home. Sea ice drifts with ocean currents and shifts between freezing and melting. While the Arctic’s environment is harsh, it is far from lifeless. Areas of open water support plenty of life, including seals, narwhals, beluga whales, and walrus. All are food for the polar bear, the world’s largest meat eater that lives on land.

Shared food Arctic foxes follow polar bears in the winter, hoping for leftovers.

Arct ic

NORTH

C irc

AMERICA

A r c t i c O c e a n North Pole

Icy north

Polar bears migrate closer to the pole when the ocean freezes but retreat to the mainland in the summer.

EUROPE

A S I A

Polar bears fact file Type

Mammal

Family

Ursidae

polar bear

Scientific name

Ursus maritimus

Diet

Ringed and bearded seals

Average lifespan

25 years

Size

Males: 7.9–9.8 ft. (2.4–3 m); females: approx. half that

Weight

Males 770–1,500 lb. (350–680 kg); females: approx. half that

caribou

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Adapted for the Arctic emperor penguin

Polar bears reflect the unusual world they live in. Their white fur is the perfect camouflage for sneaking up on seals, their favorite food. It also helps keep them warm in freezing temperatures. The top coat is made up of hollow guard hairs that repel water. Beneath a dense coat of underfur is a layer of blubber 4 inches (10 cm) thick.

Claw Curved claws aid in digging in the ice and gripping seals. Foot Large padded feet help with walking on ice and swimming.

Born on ice Polar bears mate in April and May. During the next four months, the mother eats a lot, doubling her weight. Next, she digs a den and hibernates. She bears her cubs between November and February.

The den The mother

digs a den in snowdrifts or in permafrost.

Entrance The den is entered by a very narrow tunnel.

Long stay The family

stays inside until spring; the mother does not eat the whole time.

The litter There are usually two cubs in the litter. At birth they weigh less than 2 pounds (0.9 kg).

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ice floes and open water Polar bears spend most of

their time wandering across large chunks of ice floating in the Arctic Ocean. But that ice is now melting under their feet faster than ever. Global warming is to blame. Over the past 30 years, the Arctic ice cap has shrunk by a size equal to nearly one-third of the continental United States or one-fourth of all of Europe. This has a huge impact on Arctic wildlife, especially polar bears. Scientists predict that two-thirds of polar bears could disappear by 2050 if the melting trend continues.

Loss of the ice cap W

armer temperatures caused by greenhouse gases are melting sea ice faster, shrinking the polar bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frozen world.

Copyrighted Material Disappearing ice The melting ice cap is already causing problems for polar bears. Food sources are growing scarcer and the bears are becoming thinner. The population, which now numbers between 20,000 and 25,000, is declining. In Hudson Bay, Canada, warmer temperatures and shrinking ice has cut the seal-hunting season by nearly three weeks. The average polar bear living there now weighs 15 percent less than before. The Hudson Bay population has dropped by 20 percent. The shrinking ice cap is also expected to lead to problems for the bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main prey, seals. Seals

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eat fish and changing temperatures alter fish populations, too. Swimming Polar bears typically swim from ice floe to ice floe and between land and pack ice. They are especially strong swimmers. The hollow hairs in the outer layer of fur help keep them afloat. But as the ice melts, they have to swim greater distances through open water, sometimes for days on end and for more than 60 miles (100 km) before reaching ice or land. More and more polar bears are drowning as a result.

Desperate swim As the ice cap melts, bears have to swim farther to find food. Many cubs drown.

Catching seals The Arctic is home to millions of ringed and bearded seals. Polar bears depend on the two species for survival. They spend much of their waking hours hunting and eating the blubbery creatures in order to build up their own fat reserves. The bears hunt mostly in places where the ice meets the open water.

Waiting Polar bears rely on

their strong senses of smell and hearing to locate seals.

Ready to strike The bear smells the sealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breath, jabs its paw into the hole, and hauls the seal out.

Successful catch Dragging it

onto the ice, the bear kills the seal, biting its head and crushing its skull.

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Emperor penguins

african elephant

A cold march

Emperor penguins are birds that don’t fly and spend most of their time swimming. But it is their march across ice every year to breed and bear their young that makes them even more amazing. Penguins must shuffle and toboggan on their bellies to complete their long journeys, for many up to 125 miles (200 km) one way. Once the chick is born, parents must make the trip over and over again to bring it food.

Penguins fact file Type

Bird

Family

Spheniscidae polar bear

Scientific name

Aptenodytes forsteri

Diet

Fish, krill, and squid

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

Up to 48 in. (122 cm) tall

Weight

49–99 lb. (22–45 kg)

a nt

rct

Circle

A N TA RC T I CA South Pole

Freezing winter

Emperor penguins and their chicks remain on the Antarctic continent throughout the winter.

caribou

tar

ctic

Circle

emperor penguin

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A cold wait

Parents return

Feeding time

Penguins are born in one of the coldest places on Earth. The mother lays the egg, but the father incubates it. He balances it on top of his feet for nine weeks, careful never to let it touch the ice. Older chicks are left alone while their parents hunt.

With their torpedo-shaped bodies, penguins are designed more for swimming than walking. Getting onto the pack ice to return to their chicks requires shooting out of the water and making a belly-flop landing.

The parents catch a variety of species on their fishing trips, often swallowing the prey whole. Back at the nesting grounds the parent regurgitates the food, giving the chick a warm, liquid meal.

The chicks are hungry

The successful hunters

A welcome meal

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Forest primates Treetop dwellers

Not all migrations are long journeys or on set routes. In rainforests, such as those on Borneo in Southeast Asia, primates keep moving from tree to tree. For them, it is a never-ending race to reach ripening fruit before it is found by others. The forest vegetation is dense, and the fruit is often far above the ground. Finding food is never easy. For an animal that cannot fly, reaching it requires special abilities.

Gibbon

Orangutan

Red leafs

With long hands and feet, and wrists with ball-and-socket joints, gibbons can swing from tree to tree faster than any other primate. They can reach speeds up to 35 mph (56 km/h).

The orangutan is the largest primate living in trees. It has the longest arms, but it is not a graceful swinger. Instead, it uses its weight to sway one branch closer to the next.

Red leaf monkeys donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t swing but walk along tree limbs and branches on all fours. They travel in noisy groups of up to 12 individuals led by a dominant male.

Forest fruit

Rambutan are a favorite food for many species of primates. Family groups migrate through the forest, searching for the fruit in season.

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Hands and feet Like humans, primates have refined hands and feet for grasping that sets them apart from other animals. Their fingers and toes move easily and have sensitive pads at the tips and nails instead of claws.

Primate hand An opposable thumb can push against the other fingers to aid in gripping. Primate foot The big toe

is set apart from the other four, allowing for a strong grasp on branches.

Other species The tropical rainforests of the world support dozens of species of fruit-eating primates. With few exceptions, they are foragers, traveling high and low through the jungle in search of food.

Gibbon White-handed gibbons have hooked hands for speedy movement by swinging.

Monkey The proboscis monkey often walks on the ground as well as traveling through trees.

Macaque Long-tailed macaques leap between trees, using their long tails for balance.

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Mountain dwellers Vertical migration

Some migratory routes are up and down rather than north to south or east to west. This is the case for animals that live in steep mountains, like Dall sheep and mountain goats in North America and takin in Central Asia. But, as with other migrants, one of their main reasons for migrating is the search for food. In the winter, animals typically move to lower elevations; in the summer they seek the high ground. Grazers Takin live in the Himalayas and graze in bamboo forests and alpine meadows. Dall sheep These agile sheep can leap small streams as well as climb steep rocky walls.

Special hooves The

takinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two toes spread apart like fingers, making climbing easier. Special pads provide traction.

On the prowl

Steep slopes provide some protection, but mountain dwellers must always be on the lookout for predators like the snow leopard that stalks wild goats and sheep in Central Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mountain ranges. In North America, the danger comes from wolves, coyotes, bears, and golden eagles.

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A dash of salt

Mountain sheep and goats eat a wide variety of plants during the summer, but in the winter their diet is limited to mostly dry, frozen grass and lichen and moss. In the spring, animals look for natural salt licks, such as the one on this rocky cliff, to supplement their diet.

Butting heads

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Male Dall sheep sport thick, curling horns that grow continually and are never shed. Rams hold head-butting contests to establish leadership in a herd. The duels can go on for hours. Females have horns, too, but theirs are shorter, more slender, and less curved.

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Life on a slippery slope

ountainside migrants must keep a tight grip to survive.

Wild goats and sheep

High altitude Mountain goats live in North The four-footed inhabitants of the high country America as far south as the Rocky Mountains. They rarely come down below the treeline. The are uniquely adapted to its dizzying heights. tips of their feet have a special claw that is sharp They need the ability to climb, leap, and not and helps them to avoid slipping. Double-layer slip. They must also be able to stay warm and wool coats keep them warm, even when winter out of reach of predators. Dall sheep’s cloven temperatures drop to −50°F (−46°C) and winds hooves make them sure-footed while scaling blow as hard as 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). rocky slopes, steep cliffs, and outcrops. Their Kids are born in the spring and start running eyesight is like a human using binoculars. and climbing within hours of birth.

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Scuttlers and sliders

Christmas Island crab and red-sided garter snake Not all incredible land journeys are made by warmblooded animals. Certain types of insects, reptiles, and crustaceans migrate, too. Their trips are sometimes among the shortest, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make them any less difficult or dangerous. Big or small, creatures migrate in search of food, mates, and a safe place to bear their young.

Island fever

On Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, millions of red crabs migrate from the forest to the sea in November. The trip is only 2.5 miles (4 km), but it takes a week to complete. At the shore, males dig burrows, find mates, and breed. Females stay for two weeks, then lay their eggs in the sea and scuttle back to the woods.

Snakes alive

In central Canada during the winter, thousands of red-sided garter snakes hibernate together in underground dens. They awake when the summer comes, and the males slither away as far as 12.5 miles (20 km) to hunt frogs. Females go, too, to give birth to as many as 50 live young each. They all return when the weather turns cold again.

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Air

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BIRDS, INSECTS, AND FLYING MAMMALS Look up in the sky. Chances are you will not have to wait long. A wedge of geese, a charm of finches, or a murder of crows will soon fly by. Birds are always on the move, especially in the fall and spring. That is when millions take to the air on annual migrations. Birds are not the only ones, though. Bats, bugs, and butterflies migrate, too.

Journeys by Air S

trong headwinds and sudden storms can challenge aerial migrants on epic journeys.

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On the wing Birds will fly incredible distances to reach their destination. The arctic tern travels from pole to pole to enjoy not one, but two summers each year, a flight of about 25,000 miles (40,000 km). Even the tiniest birds will undertake extreme trips. The ruby-throated hummingbird is not much bigger than your thumb, but it flies 20 hours nonstop over 450 miles (724 km) of open ocean to reach its favorite breeding grounds. Following flyways Birds travel the equivalent of a highway in the sky when they migrate. These great aerial routes are called flyways. The Pacific flyway in North America and the Central Asia flyway are just a couple. Most flyways are over land, providing travelers with plenty of stops along the way to rest and refuel. A few are strictly ocean routes, like those used by albatross and shearwaters. Danger waits Migration poses perils for all birds, no matter if they are as big as a crane or as small as a warbler. Predators like hawks and falcons can ambush the unwary. Storms can strike at any time. Hunters wait in fields for ducks and geese to land. Birds must avoid obstacles, from power transmission lines to mountaintops.

Ravenous horde

Locusts swarm fields by the millions in search of food. Bats migrate in huge numbers, too.

I N C R E DI B L E JO U R N E YS

Flyways

Copyrighted Material Ten major global flyways

Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Eurasian teal White stork

CROWDED SKIES The migration of billions of birds

aross thousands of miles every year is one of the natural world’s greatest marvels. While some birds may flit from area to area in search of more food, only the regular seasonal journeys of certain species are called migrations. There are more than 10,000 bird species in the world and nearly half migrate. They follow invisible routes called flyways and stay on course by using various navigation systems, including following physical markers and charting the stars.

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Rufous hummingbird Far eastern curlew & Latham This tiny hummingbird Common cuckoo and Barn sw must find nectar Atlantic along flyway the

way from Alaska to Mexico.

ARCTIC Locust

Monarch butterfly

NORTH AMERICA

Least bittern

AT L A N T I C

American kestrel

OCEAN Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Common cuckoo and Barn swallow Atlantic flyway

The Atlantic flyway

Around 200 species of birds breed in North America in the summer and migrate to South America in the winter. The Atlantic flyway is a key migratory route, used by the least bittern, Cape May warbler, American kestrel, and rusty blackbird, among others. No mountains block the route, and it offers good sources of food and water for a journey that can range from 400 to 10,000 miles (640–16,000 km).

PACI FIC OCEAN Ten major global flyways

Arctic tern

Short-tailed shearwater Arctic tern Wandering albatross

This long-distance Eurasian teal flier travels between White stork the poles, 12,400 miles (20,000 km) each way.

Rusty blackbird

Laughing gull Cape May warbler American redstart

SOUTH AMERICA

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s sn Common cuckoo and Barn swall Atlantic flyway

Ten major global flyways

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Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Eurasian teal White stork

Ten major global flyways

European white stork

m’s snipe wallow

This pretty duck breeds in Eurasia and migrates south for the winter.

Big wings help the stork catch a lift on thermals of hot air along the Black Sea/ Mediterranean flyway.

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Common cuckoo and Barn swallow Atlantic flyway

Eastern curlew

Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Eurasian teal White stork

OCEAN

nipe low

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Arctic tern Rufous hummingbird Short-tailed shearwater Bobolink albatross Far eastern curlew & Latham’sWandering snipe Eurasian teal Common cuckoo and Barn swallow White stork teal Atlantic flyway Eurasian

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Eastern Common curlewcuckoo and Barn swallow Atlantic flyway

and Latham’s snipe These two intrepid travelers wing their way from northeast Asia to eastern Australia.

Ten major global flyways

Latham’s snipe Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Short-tailed Eurasian teal shearwater White stork

This hearty bird breeds in southeast Australia and makes an annual migration around the Pacific Ocean.

EU ROPE A

PACI FIC

OCEAN

ITen major C global A flyways

Common cuckoo Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Common cuckoo and Barn swallow flyway CommonAtlantic cuckoo

Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Eurasian teal White stork

and barn swallow

Both birds migrate along ageold and heavily used routes between Eurasia and Africa. Ten major global flyways

Barn swallow

Arctic tern Short-tailed shearwater Black Sea/Mediterranean Wandering albatross flyway This is one Eurasian tealof three main flyways that connect White stork Europe to

Africa. Crossing 101 countries, it is used by more than 6 billion birds representing 300 different species.

Bat

O C E A N I A

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Common cuckoo and Barn swallow Atlantic flyway

I N DIAN OCEAN

Ten major global flyways

S O U T H E R N O C E A NArctic tern

A N T A R C T I C A

Short-tailed shearwater Wandering albatross Eurasian teal Wandering albatross White stork

Albatross dominate the skies of the southern oceans. With their extra-long wings, they spend most of their time aloft, rarely touching down.

Rufous hummingbird Bobolink Far eastern curlew & Latham’s snipe Common cuckoo and Barn swallow Atlantic flyway

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Seabirds

Short-tailed shearwater and wandering albatross Some seabirds hardly ever stop flying. They make quick work of long distances, able to cross entire oceans in weeks. Aerodynamic bodies and the ability to land and take off on water helps them not only survive but master their watery world. The short-tailed shearwater is a member of a group of 60 medium to large seabirds. There are 21 different types of albatross. The wandering albatross is the largest.

Short-tailed shearwater fact file Type

Seabird

Family

Procellariidae

Scientific name

Puffinus tenuirostris

Diet

Krill, squid, fish

Average lifespan

15–19 years

Size

23 in. (60 cm)bar-tailed godwit

Weight

18–21 oz. (510–600 g)

short-tailed shearwater

european white stork

arctic tern

wandering

barn s

red-crowned crane

Shearwater Named for their ability to slice through the air, shearwaters are graceful fliers. Around 23 million breed in southeast Australia, most on the island of Tasmania. The female lays a single egg in a deep burrow. Both mates take turns incubating it. Parents leave on a long migratory flight when the chicks are still covered in down. Two to three weeks later, the young birds follow, finding the way on their own.

A S I A

NORTH AMERICA

P a c i f i c

monarch butterfly

Migration

Streamlined Long,

narrow wings are good for high-speed gliding.

These migrants circle the Pacific, flying north around the western edge to spend the summer in the Arctic region, then returning southward to Australia, flying straight across the middle of the ocean. They travel about 9,325 miles (15,000 km) each way every year. Shearwaters can complete a one-way trip in just six weeks.

Equator

O c e a n AU ST R A L I A

Breeding season

Hatching season

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Sep.—April

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January

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tiwdog deliat-rab

mexican free-tailed bat

g albatross

swallow

bald eagle

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Albatross

Migration

These ocean wanderers have the largest wingspan of any living bird, measuring up to 11.5 feet (3.5 m) across. Long wings come in handy as they patrol the cold southern waters in search of food. Early sailors considered these birds good omens. Today, populations are declining and the albatross is vulnerable to extinction.

The wandering albatross circumnavigates the southern oceans. The birds migrate between subantarctic and subtropical waters. Breeding and rearing young takes place mainly on islands off Australia, South Africa, and South America. After fledging, the young take to a life soaring over the ocean, returning to breed. Breeding season

flamingo

Wandering albatross fact file Type Scientific name

short-tailed shearwater Diomedea exulans

Diet

Fish, cephalopods

Average lifespan

Up to 50 years

Size

Up to 4.5 ft. (135 cm)

Weight

Nov.—Jan. ssortabla gnirednaw

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barn swallow

desert locust

Glands Salt glands help birds get rid of saline from ingested seawater.

retawraehs deliat-trohs

March

retawraehs deliat-trohs

tsucol tresed

Up to 26 lb. (12 arctic kg)tern

bar-tailed godwit

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wandering albatross breeds every other year.

Diomedeidae

canada goose

Single egg The

Seabird

Family

Hatching season

tab deliat-eerf nacixem

yfl rettub hcranom

Tendon sheets Tendons european white stork

at the shoulder lock the wing bald eagle red-crowned crane be kept canada goose so it can outstretched when soaring.

monarch butterfly

mexican free-tailed bat

desert locust

Designed to soar Everything about the wandering albatross’s body is designed to aid in its life soaring close to the water’s surface. It is so adapted for this lifestyle, it can fly for hours at a time without flapping its wings.

Heart rate The bird’s heart rate stays the same at all times.

Bones Light

bones can bear the stress of takeoff and landing.

Big feet The feet

are completely webbed, and there is no hind toe.

Copyrighted Material SUPERB DESIGN The fastest sailboats use sails

modeled after albatross wings for good reason. They are long, stiff, and streamlined, perfect for catching and holding the wind. Albatross spend 80 percent of their life at sea. They only visit land to breed and bear their young. The birds can reach speeds of up to 85 miles per hour (135 km/h) and can glide hundreds of miles without flapping their wings. They do this by using a neat trick that grabs energy from the wind and allows them to soar great distances.

Sailing seabirds

Albatross are master gliders. They skim over the ocean catching uplifts of air.

Winged sailors AFRICA SOUTH AMERICA

A N TA R C T I C A South Pole

AU ST R A L I A

Copyrighted Material Raising young Graceful and powerful in the air, albatross move awkwardly on land. Their nesting colonies are built on barren and windswept islands. The big birds perform elaborate dances to attract mates, pointing their bills skyward and raising their long wings. It takes a lot of effort to raise a chick. Parents will fly thousands of miles to find enough food for just one feeding. Taking off from land requires a lot of energy, too. Birds must run while flapping their wings. Once airborne, though, they let the wind do all the work and sail away.

lbatross ride the wind over the sea for months at a time.

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I N C R E DI B L E JO U R N E YS

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Shorebirds Winged waders

Shorebirds are one of the biggest families of birds on the planet. There are more than 400 different species. Most migrate. Many are known for their extraordinary feats of flying, winging their way back and forth from the northern reaches of the Arctic to below the equator and back. Some complete annual journeys of up to 15,000 miles (24,135 km). While many follow the coastline, a few, like the bar-tailed godwit, fly straight across oceans.

Arctic breeders

Godwit chicks are ready to fly across the Pacific Ocean at two months old.

short-tailed shearwater

wandering

Bar-tailed godwit fact file Type

Shorebird

Family

Scolopacidae

Scientific name

Limosa lapponica

Diet

Insects, crustaceans

Average lifespan

5 years

Size

Up to 16 in. (40 cm)

Weight

14â&#x20AC;&#x201C;22 oz. (400â&#x20AC;&#x201C;630 g)

bar-tailed godwit

european white stork

arctic tern

barn

red-crowned crane

Bar-tailed godwit This slender, long-beaked shorebird holds the endurance record for nonstop flight. It flies 7,258 miles (11,680 km) from Alaska to New Zealand. The crossing takes a week of nonstop flying. Riding a tailwind at high altitude speeds the journey and shortens the flight time by half.

monarch butterfly

Flock safety Flying

in large flocks protects individual birds from attack by predators.

mexican free-tailed bat

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g albatross

n swallow

bald eagle

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flamingo

canada goose

Beaks speak True shorebirds are generally distinguished by long legs, no webbing between their toes, and unusual beaks. Some beaks are long; others are short. Some curl up; some curl down. It depends on the birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeding strategy. Probers, such as godwits, use long beaks to probe for buried clams and crustaceans.

desert locust

Northern lapwing A member of the plover family, this common shorebird migrates throughout Europe and Asia, wintering as far away as Africa and China. It travels mainly during the day in huge flocks and feeds at night on insects and worms plucked from farmland and mudflats. The birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wings make a lapping sound when in flight.

Nest defense Eggs

are laid in small scrapes in the ground or in low grass. Parents noisily attack all intruders. The chicks remain with their parents for up to 40 days, until their first flight.

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Arctic terns

short-tailed shearwater

Long-distance flier

Arctic tern fact file Type

Seabird

Arctic terns are the kings of the bird world when it comes to commuting. Every year they fly from the top of the globe to the bottom and back again. Depending on where they summer and winter, the round-trip can be as much as 49,700 miles (80,000 km). Given that some terns live into their thirties, that is the equivalent of making three roundtrips to the Moon over a lifetime, or 60 times around Earth.

Family

bar-tailed godwit Sternidae

Scientific name

Sterna paradisaea

Diet

Fish, invertebrates

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

13–15 in. (33–39 cm)

Weight

wandering albatross

arctic tern

3–4.5 oz. (86–127 g) european white stork

Ready to fly

red-crowned crane

mexican free-tailed bat

monarch butterfly

Terns breed in Arctic regions. Courtship starts with ritual displays. Females chase males high into the sky, and afterward, males offer females a fish. Parents mate for life. Nests are usually small scrapes on bare ground, sometimes lined with shells or grass. Eggs hatch in about three weeks, and three to four weeks later, the young are ready to fly. Within three months, they are winging their way south.

EUROPE

NORTH

Migration

AMERICA

A S I A AFRICA Equator

SOUTH AM ERICA AU ST R A L I A

In August, terns leave their summer grounds from Iceland to Alaska to escape the cold, dark polar winter. A marathon flight takes them to the bottom of the world, where it is summer. Terns journey north again in April and May, taking advantage of prevailing winds to make the journey in about 40 days. ssortabla gnirednaw

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bald eagle

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flamingo

canada goose

The sea Terns never venture far from the sea. They breed in solitary pairs or colonies of up to several hundred pairs.

desert locust

Fast and strong

Forked tails and wings that are longer than they are wide help terns hold in place as well as fly fast and far. The birds keep an eye out for small fish and shrimp swimming close to the surface. When they spot food, they hover, wheel, then dive, catching their prey with their bills. Sometimes terns chase down insects in the air or steal food from other birds by divebombing to force them to drop their catch.

Foraging In Antarctica, terns forage near icebergs and pack ice and in channels between ice floes.

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Swallows

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Barn swallows and relatives

Barn swallow fact file Type

Passerine

Swallows migrate by the millions. This family of birds is among the most populous, with 83 species. Swallows breed on every continent except Antarctica. They are known for their aerial acrobatics when feeding on insects. In Europe and North America, swallows leave their breeding grounds when winter approaches and insect populations drop. They head for warmer climates, where flying bugs are plentiful.

Family

ognimafl Hirundinidae

Scientific name Diet

Hirundo rustica Insects

Average lifespan

4–6 years

Size

6.7–7.5 in. (17–19 cm )

Weight

0.56–0.78 oz. (16–22 g) esoog adanac

Silhouettes

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Barn swallow

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Cliff swallow

Food on the fly

EUROPE

Swallows typically catch insects in the air but can pluck them off the water.

NORTH AMERICA

A S I A

Barn swallow

Equator

AFRICA AUSTRALIA

A N TA RC T I CA

SOUTH AM ERICA

Barn swallows are the most common swallow. They number up to 190 million and live throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Barn swallows prefer fields, pastures, and meadows near water. This gives them plenty of opportunities to find flying insects. When hunting, barn swallows usually zoom about 25 feet (8 m) off the ground.

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Swallows have streamlined bodies and long, pointed wings that allow them to make quick turns and steep banks when chasing insects. The birds can reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour (65 km/h). Depending on the species, tails are forked, indented, or squared, but all have 12 feathers. Longer tails serve to attract mates and help with maneuverability.

Violet-green swallow

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Tree swallow These blue and white beauties breed in North America and winter in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They are very social birds, sometimes tiwdoggathering deliat-rab in groups of several thousand near roost sites. Flocks of one million have been recorded. Roosting in large numbers protects against predators like kestrels.

Energetic Swallows rarely sit der

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still. They spend most of their waking time hunting insects.

Nesting

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Swallows build a wide variety of nests. Tree swallows move into tree holes that may have once housed a woodpecker. Barn swallows build mud nests near the ceiling in old buildings. The most famous are those made by cliff swallows. They build the bird equivalent of apartment buildings out of mud. Their nests stick to the sides of cliffs and beneath overhangs, including bridges.

Barn swallow

Tree swallow

Cliff swallow

Violet-green swallow

Cliff swallow

Shiny purple and green feathers make this swallow stand out. It breeds only in the western part of North America and travels in huge flocks to Central and South America when the weather turns cold. Its favorite meals are mosquitoes, butterflies, and moths. Violet-green swallows live in open woodlands and nest in tree cavities.

These tiny migrants travel some of the longest distances among all swallows. They wing between North America and Argentina. Cliff swallows became famous for returning like clockwork every year to San Juan Capistrano, California. There, they built mud nests beneath the eaves of an old Spanish mission.

Commonplace

Violet-green swallows are common throughout western America.

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Copyrighted Material BIG FLOCKS Common in both town and countryside,

swallows gather on wires and tree branches when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not busy chasing insects. The songbirds are often the first to migrate in the fall. When temperatures dip and insect populations drop, swallows begin heading to warmer climates. Migrants typically cover about 200 miles (322 km) a day. The journey is filled with danger. Swallows in Europe have to cross the Sahara to reach their wintering grounds. North American swallows face hundreds of miles of open ocean before they can land.

Hardy globe-trotters

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Swallows are widespread The breeding range for some of the 83 different species expanded when humans began building structures and clearing forests. This led to more colony sites around the world. Swallow nests made with pellets of mud are common on the underside of bridges and beneath the eaves of barns. New reports, however, show climate change can impact swallow populations. The birds need the right amount of rain for wet mud to build nests. Too much cold means fewer insects, which means less food. Hot and dry weather causes heat stress and dehydration.

wallows gather in huge flocks that swirl like clouds just before roosting for the night.

Mud homes Cliff

swallows collect mud from puddles to build nests out of the reach of predators.

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Flamingos Night fliers

Flamingos do not reside only in zoos. Six species live in the wilds of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. The largest is the greater flamingo. The smallest is the lesser flamingo. The long-necked, long-legged birds spend most of the day feeding. When an area no longer provides enough food, flamingos will take wing at night and migrate to another location under cover of darkness.

Taking off

wandering albatross

short-tailed shearwater

Greater flamingo fact file Type

Flamingo

Family

Phoenicopteridae

Scientific name

barn swallow Phoenicopterus roseus

Diet

Invertebrates

bar-tailed godwit

arctic tern

flamingo

Average lifespan

20–30 years

Size

55–60 in. (140–150 cm)

Weight

Up to 22 lb. (10 kg)

european white stork

bald eagle

red-crowned crane

canada goose

desert locust

mexican free-tailed bat

monarch butterfly

Flamingos are strong fliers–once they get airborne, that is. Takeoff is not easy for such tall creatures. They start by running straight into the wind with their wings outstretched to gather speed. Once off the ground, they flap rapidly, rarely stopping to glide. In flight, pink flamingos are quite a sight with their long necks outstretched and their equally long legs trailing behind. They fly in large flocks.

Migration Some colonies are resident year round, but most are nomadic and migrate short distances to breeding grounds or when water and food become scarce. European flamingos travel to warmer locations in the winter. Asian populations relocate from inland lakes to coastal wetlands. In Africa, flamingos follow the rains. Breeding season

Hatching season

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March—July ognimafl

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Specialized filter Flamingos use their large beaks to filter small food items from the water. The bill is shaped like the keel of a boat, and tiny hairs cover plates, like baleen on a whale. The flamingo stirs up the silty bottom with its feet, then lowers its head into the water, upside down. Moving from side to side it collects small shrimp and mollusks.

Why pink? The birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coloring reflects its diet. The food it eats contains carotene, a pigment that makes carrots orange. These pigments break down in the liver and are deposited into the skin and feathers. Colors range from pale pink to crimson. Caribbean flamingos have the reddest feathers. Chilean flamingos are among the palest.

Tall bird Long legs

allow the flamingo to wade into deeper water than most other birds, an advantage when looking for food.

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European white storks To Africa for the winter

The myth that storks deliver babies comes from this bird’s habit of building nests atop houses in Europe. After laying their eggs and hatching their young, storks head for Africa to spend the winter. Huge flocks make the journey together. Depending on their route and final destination, it can take as little as three weeks. The big birds spread out from Uganda to South Africa before returning north in the spring.

ssortabla gnirednaw

ognimafl

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wollaws nrab

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tiwdog deliat-rab

European white stork fact file Type

Stork

Family

Ciconiidae

Scientific name elgae dlab

Ciconia ciconia

Diet

Fish, amphibians, reptiles

Average lifespan

25 years

Size

39–45 in. (100–115 cm)

Weight

Up to 9.5 lb. (4.4 kg)

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EU ROPE

A S I A

Equator

AFRICA

Migration White storks take one of two routes from Europe to Africa. One leads across the Strait of Gibraltar. The other crosses the Bosphorus to Turkey. Most birds choose the eastern route, even though it is longer, to avoid crossing the Sahara. Other bird migrants join them. These flocks can stretch for 125 miles (200 km). short-tailed shearwater

wandering albatross

short-tailed shearwater

Breeding season bar-tailed godwit

arctic tern

flamingo bar-tailed godwit

arctic tern

european white stork

red-crowned crane

barn swallow

red-crowned crane

bald eagle

33 days later bald eagle

european white stork canada goose

monarch butterfly

wandering albatross

Hatching season barn swallow

bar-tailed godwit

Feb.—April

mexican free-tailed bat

wandering albatross

short-tailed shearwater

mexican free-tailed bat

desert locust monarch butterfly

arctic tern

barn swallow

flamingo

canada goose

red-crowned crane

bald eagle

canada goose

desert locust

mexican free-tailed bat

desert locust

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Stopover Travel hazard Bad weather is not the only danger migrating birds face. They must also avoid colliding with man-made structures, such as power lines and wind turbines. Scientists estimate millions of birds die every year by flying into such obstacles.

Storks must stop often to refuel. Unlike some migrants, these travelers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t build up fat reserves before migrating. This helps them glide more efficiently. The trouble is, more and more places where storks used to stop to grab a meal are being turned into farms and cities. Wildlife groups and governments are working to solve the problem. The result is a project that aims to create a chain of special places along the migration routes so storks and other birds can eat and rest.

Good fishing The long-legged waders are skilled at catching fish, but there are few animals a white stork will not dine on. Favorites include frogs, lizards, amphibians, moles, shrews, and even young birds. Beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets are on the menu, too. White storks hunt mostly during the day. If the catch is small enough, they will swallow it whole. Bigger prey is cut up with their scissorlike bills.

Nesting sites White storks are famous for their nesting habits. Males arrive first to choose an existing nest or build a new one. Some have been used every year for a century. The nests are made from sticks. They can be huge. A typical nest measures up to 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter and can weigh as much as 550 pounds (250 kg).

Welcome Storks are considered a good omen. People erect poles and platforms to help them nest.

Social creatures

Storks form large colonies. In Africa, they can number as many as 1,000 birds.

Common sight

Nests are seen on church steeples and chimneys in many towns in Europe.

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Cranes Migrants in danger

Cranes rank among the world’s tallest flying birds. They are also among the most endangered. Nearly all of the 15 species are threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat in both breeding and wintering grounds. Cranes live on every continent except Antarctica and South America. The most species are found in Asia, where they are considered sacred. The red-crowned crane is the national symbol of Japan. short-tailed shearwater

bar-tailed godwit

wandering albatross

arctic tern

barn swallow

flamingo

Red-crowned crane fact file Type

Crane

Family

Gruidae

Scientific name

Grus japonensis european white stork

Diet

red-crowned crane

bald eagle

Amphibians, aquatic invertbrates, insects, and plants

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

55–60 in. (140–150 cm )

Weight

Up to 22 lb. (10 kg) monarch butterfly

mexican free-tailed bat

canada goose

desert locust

Dance moves

All cranes engage in dancing, usually as part of courtship. Red-crowned cranes dance more than most.

Migration Only the mainland population of redcrowned cranes migrates. Following the breeding season, they fly to their wintering ground along rivers and in marshes in Korea and central China. The population in Japan stays within a radius of 100 miles (160 km) season after season.

Red-crowned crane The population of the red-crowned crane, the heaviest of all cranes, is estimated to be only 2,750, making it the second rarest in the world. There are two main breeding populations. One lives on the Asia mainland in northeast China and southeastern Russia; the other lives on an island in northern Japan.

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Breeding season

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Hatching season ssortabla gnirednaw

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Spring & Summer 29–34 days later esoog adanac

esoog adanac

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krots etihw naeporue

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Home building Cranes

build their nests on wet ground or in shallow water.

Plane help To form

a new migratory flock, an ultralight is used to guide the birds.

Whooping crane

Life partners Cranes

usually mate for life. Both parents incubate the eggs.

Habitat All cranes depend on healthy wetlands for food, nesting, overwintering, and stopovers when migrating.

The whooping crane is the most endangered crane species. It also has one of the longest migrations. Once found from central Canada to Mexico, and from Utah to the Atlantic coast, only one self-sustaining flock exists today. It breeds in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and migrates to Texas.

Balance To fly well,

birds must have most of their weight in their center of gravity.

Propulsion The wingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downbeat stroke moves the wingtip forward and downward.

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Riding the air currents CURRENTS Air currents sweep over the globe as

ocean currents do through the water. Birds take advantage of them when migrating. A tailwind can push them farther and faster, in some cases cutting in half the time it takes to reach their journeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end. When it comes to a headwind, however, birds must ride currents up and down, just as sailboats do when they zigzag back and forth into the wind. Soaring birds use air currents called thermals and updrafts to help hold them aloft and carry them along.

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oaring birds save energy when they migrate by catching free rides on air currents.

Hot air Birds know that hot air rises. Updrafts of warm air are called thermals. It does not have to be summer to cause one. Even on cold days, the sun will heat the dark surface of a street a few degrees more than a field of white snow next to it. The rising air can lift light objects like feathers. Birds stretch their wings and ride these invisible warm clouds up in spiraling circles. When they reach the top, they fold their wings and glide down to the base of the next thermal, repeating the process over again.

Warm air riders

Hawks, cranes, storks, and other soaring birds time their migrations and chart their routes to take advantage of thermals. Getting a lift from one warm current to the next makes their long-distance travels easier.

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Songbirds Tiny travelers

Yellow warbler fact file Type

Songbird

Four thousand of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10,000 bird species are songbirds. They include sparrows, finches, warblers, and swallows. Many are the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smallest migrants, like the tiny willow warblers that fly between Europe and Africa. Songbirds have a special vocal organ that allows them to sing. Each species has a different song. Most sing while perched. The songs signal identity and territory.

Family

Parulidae

Scientific name

Dendroica petechia

Diet

Insects

Average lifespan

10 years

Size

5 in. (13 cm)

Weight

0.4 oz. (11 g)

Blackpolls The summer is spent in Canada and Alaska, then, in the winter, these birds fly across the Gulf of Mexico to South America.

NORTH

EUROPE

AMERICA

Energy use

A S I A

Equator

AFRICA AU ST R A L I A

SOUTH AM ERICA

Yellow warblers A N TA RC T I CA

These warblers breed in the United States then fly as far south as Brazil for winter.

Songbirds can fit in the palm of your hand, but they are mighty fliers. Some log over 300 miles (500 km) per day and can make the journey from Brazil to North America in two weeks. Having pointed wings and avoiding high winds helps. Migrating takes a lot of energy, more than normal flying. A songbird traveling 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from Panama to Canada must beat its wings more than three million times.

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Dangerous wind

Migration is the most dangerous event of the year, but climate change could pose new problems. An increase in high winds would force songbirds to use more energy. They would need to stop more often to eat. This could delay their arrival and the start of the breeding season. Worse, they could run out of fuel over the Sahara Desert or the Atlantic Ocean and never arrive at all.

Exhaustion Birds are sometimes blown off course and lack the energy to continue.

Kirtlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warblers These

birds were nearly extinct, but the population is slowly recovering after conservation efforts.

Willow warblers Common throughout Europe, they migrate by the millions to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Togetherness Songbirds

flock together for survival. Many birds means many eyes looking out for predators.

Whitethroats These birds have a scolding song and nest across Europe and west Asia. In the fall, they are off to the tropics.

Global Tiny birds that wing

from Europe to Africa and back prove ecosystems are connected no matter how distant they are.

Amazon The rainforest in

Brazil provides plenty of food, water, and sunshine for birds escaping the northern winter.

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Waterfowl

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Web-footed fliers

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Ducks, geese, and swans are waterfowl. Worldwide, there are about 150 species. During migration, some fly just a few feet above the water, while others fly as high as 20,000 feet (6,100 m) above sea level. Every year, millions follow a chain of lakes and fields on their long journey. In the summer, they breed and nest up to the Arctic Circle. In the fall, they take wing to stay ahead of the winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freeze.

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Canada goose fact file Type

Goose

Family

Anatidae

Scientific name

Branta canadensis

Diet

Grasses, grains

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

Up to 43 in. (110 cm)

Weight

Up to 14 lb. (6.5 kg)

Canada goose

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Danger Waterfowl

look for a refuge from foxes, but a goose will charge if a predator threatens.

This species is known for its distinctive black head and white cheek patch, loud honk, and V-shaped flying formation. There are 11 races of Canada geese. Most head to the north of Canada and Alaska in the summer to breed and fatten up. More and more, however, stay at their wintering grounds all year. They are now used to humans and feed in city parks.

Widespread The

Canada goose is a large and widely distributed species of waterfowl.

Migration

short-tailed shearwater

bar-tailed godwit

european white stork

arctic tern

Canada geese gather in flocks of up to several thousand to migrate. They fly in a V to help save energy and cover longer distances. The leader breaks the force of the air, which spares the followers from having to flap so hard. The birds take turns in the front. Canada geese can travel 600 miles (1,000 km) a day.

wandering albatross

short-tailed shearwater

wandering albatross

Breeding season

barn swallow bar-tailed godwit

red-crowned crane

flamingo

arctic tern

Hatching season

barn swallow

Marchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;May

bald eagle european white stork canada goose red-crowned crane

flamingo

bar-tailed godwit

arctic tern

european white stork

red-crowned crane

bald eagle

mexican free-tailed bat

desert locust monarch butterfly

mexican free-tailed bat

barn swallow

bald eagle

flamingo

canada goose

28 days later

monarch butterfly

wandering albatross

short-tailed shearwater

canada goose

mexican free-tailed bat

desert locust

elgae dlab

tab

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Snow goose

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These noisy birds do not honk but bay like hounds. There are two forms: one has white plumage; the other bluish-gray. nret citcra tiwdog deliat-rab The birds breed north of the treeline in Canada, Alaska, northeastern Russia, and Greenland. In the winter, snow geese fly south to parts of the United States and Mexico. Their favorite stopovers are where they eat enarc denworc-der farms krotsin etihwthe naeporuMidwest, e wheat, corn, and other grain crops.

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Fly high There are

more than six million snow geese. In the spring, large flocks fly 3,000 miles (4,800 km) north.

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ucks form huge rafts of thousands of birds on the water, then take off all at once.

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Butterflies

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Monarch butterfly fact file ab

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Type

The monarch butterfly rules the air when it comes to longdistance travel by an insect. Starting in August, millions across North America make a mass migration to California and Mexico to avoid the first frost. These tiny fliers flutter as far as 3,000 miles (4,800 km). A northbound migration from overwintering locations occurs in the spring. Australian monarchs migrate too, but for much shorter distances.

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Butterfly

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Nymphalidae

Scientific name

Danaus plexippus

Diet

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2 months

Size tsuc

Up to 4-in. (10.2-cm) wingspan

Weight

e tres

Up to 0.026 oz. (0.75 g)

Pupa

Migration Only monarchs born in late summer or early fall make the migration south. They navigate with a chemical compass in their antennae that uses the Sun and Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magnetic fields for positioning. A butterfly does not live long enough to complete the entire return trip. Instead, it goes as far as it can, lays eggs, then dies. The next generation continues the trip where it left off. It can take four generations before the butterflies reach their final destination.

8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;14 days

2 hours

5 minutes

15 minutes

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A monarch has four stages of life. Eggs hatch as larvae, then become caterpillars, then pupae. Finally, they emerge as butterflies. This process is called metamorphosis. 15 seconds

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Monarch butterfly

Transformation The change from caterpillar to butterfly takes two weeks.

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Delicate dancers

Caterpillar

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Homecoming

Millions of migrating monarchs often return to the same tree from which their ancestors once originated.

Dragonflies

In the fall, thick clouds of green darner dragonflies swarm down the east coast of North America. They are among the 50 species of dragonflies known to migrate. Green darners are only 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and have four wings. They get a boost from favorable winds and follow shorelines, cliffs, and river valleys on their journey. It is a one-way trip. Migrating adults die after laying their eggs.

Compound eye Dragonfly eyes have 30,000 facets.

Midair meals

Dragonflies are winged predators. They zip Life cycle Green around catching moths, darners deposit eggs in mosquitoes, and other water plants. Eggs hatch flying insects. into nymphs, which crawl out of the water to turn into dragonflies.

I N C R E DI B L E JO U R N E YS

Bats

bar-tailed godwit

arctic tern

european white stork

red-crowned crane

barn swallow

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Winged mammals Bats are plentiful and not very scary. Only three of the 1,100 species living worldwide are vampire bats that feed on the blood of birds and animals. Most bats eat insects. The others feed on fruit. About 30 species migrate to and from summer roosts and winter hibernation caves. Most do not go very far. The Mexican free-tailed bat takes the longest journey which is about 1,100 miles (1,800 km) each way.

Mexican free-tailed bat fact file Type

Bat

Family

Molossidae

mexican free-tailed bat Scientific name monarchTadarida brasiliensis butterfly

Diet

Insects

Average lifespan

18 years

Size

3.5 in. (9 cm)

Weight

0.43 oz. (12.3 g)

Migration The Mexican free-tailed bat is widespread. One of the biggest concentrations is in Texas. The bats only live here during spring and summer months. Starting in October, they fly south to Mexico. Sometimes they fly at 10,000 feet (3,000 m) or so to catch prevailing winds to ease their journey. ssortabla gnirednaw

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True fliers Bats have

webbed forelimbs that have developed as wings. They are the only mammals that can fly.

Dwellings Bats roost

in caves, crevices, and even buildings. A cave in Texas houses 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats.

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Mating season

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bald eagle

flamingo

canada goose

desert locust

Locusts

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Plagues and swarms

Desert locusts live in hot, dry places from northern Africa to India. They are a type of grasshopper, but they behave very differently. Every now and then the population explodes. The resulting swarm will sweep across huge areas and destroy valuable croplands in their path. The largest swarms can cover an area of up to 400 square miles (1,000 km2) and contain 40 billion locusts.

arctic tern

european white stork

red-crowned crane

into a “gregarious phase” when rain produces an excess of plants. They gather and breed in large numbers.

bald eagle

flamingo

canada goose

Desert locust fact file Type Family

monarch butterfly

Insect Acrididae

mexican free-tailed bat

Scientific name

Schistocerca gregaria

Diet

Plants, grasses, seeds

Average lifespan

3–6 months

Size

Up to 3 in. (7.5 cm)

Weight

0.07 oz. (2 g)

Desert swarm Crowd Locusts change

JO U Rbarn Nswallow E YS B Y A I R

bar-tailed godwit

desert locust

A locust swarm is a type of migration. It, too, is in response to weather, breeding, and the search for food. Swarms typically move in a clockwise direction on either side of the Sahara and Arabian deserts. They travel at the speed of the wind and can cover 60 to 120 miles (100 to 200 km) in a day. Swarms eventually die out when the food disappears, the weather changes, or when birds and disease take their toll.

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Water

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Journeys by Water Inhabitants of the aquatic world By fin, flipper, and tail, sea creatures of all types and sizes migrate. Pods of gray whales travel 12,500 miles (20,120 km) each yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the longest voyage by any mammal. Schools of northern bluefin tuna range the entire Atlantic. Herds of walrus time their travels to the movements of the Arctic pack ice. Jellyfish, eels, and sea turtles undertake incredible journeys, too.

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Current events Ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream give travelers like sea turtles a lift on long migrations. Changes in ocean temperature and circulation also signal some animals to move from one location to the next. Blue whales spend the summers in cool water in northern latitudes, where krill, their favorite food, is more abundant. When conditions change, they swim south to breed and calve. Shark tales Many species of sharks migrate, too. Some time their journey to match that of their favorite prey. Great white sharks migrate up the California coast when seals bear their young. The whale shark is a big, hungry fish that needs to satisfy its enormous appetite, so it follows plankton blooms. Fish story Not all species limit their migration to salt water. Salmon are born in freshwater creeks and rivers. When they are still no bigger than a finger, they migrate downstream and enter the ocean. They spend years in salt water but return to their birthplace to spawn and die. European eels also migrate between rivers and ocean.

Long lives Sea turtles

live for up to 20 years and migrate across the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great oceans.

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Blue whales Giants of the deep

Blue whale fact file

Everything about a blue whale is big. They are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth—even bigger than the biggest dinosaur. Fully grown whales average 80 feet (25 m) in length and weigh upward of 120 tons (109 t). Their tongues weigh as much as an elephant. Their hearts are as big as a car. Blue whales are big swimmers, too. They travel from ocean to ocean around the world.

Type

Baleen whale

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Family

Balaenopteridae

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Scientific name

Balaenoptera musculus

Diet

Krill

Average lifespan

80 years

Size

80 ft. (25 m)

Weight

120 tons (109 t) elahw kcabpmuh

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Big babies Blue whales are born big. A calf

weighs 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) at birth and drinks up to 150 gallons (570 l) of milk a day.

A r c t i c

O c e a n

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Atlantic

Ocean

Equator

Indian Ocean

P a c i f i c O c e a n

S o u t h e r n

Winter breeding ar

O c e a n

eas

Migration routes

Migration Blue whales usually live alone, but they will travel long distances to find mates, moving from polar waters to the tropics. Scientists believe they find each other by vocalizing. They have the loudest call of any whale and can hear each other from up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away. Mating season

Calving season gray whale

whale gray blue whale

Oct.—Nov. blue whale

gray whale bluefin tuna

May—June blue whale

great white shark

bluefin tuna

humpback whale

bluefin walrus

n tuna

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Feeding Blue whales have baleenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;fringed plates of material like fingernails that are attached to their upper jaws. Their favorite food is a shrimplike creature called krill. They eat by gulping huge mouthfuls of water then squeezing it out through their baleen using their giant tongue. All the krill left behind gets swallowed. A blue whale eats up to 40 million krill a day â&#x20AC;&#x201D;about 7,900 pounds (3,600 kg).

Dainty diet Despite being bigger than a railroad car, blue whales eat the tiniest food. Krill There

are 85 species of krill.

Tail fluke Blue whales are big divers. They need to be if they are going to find enough krill, which are always moving at various depths. During the day, blue whales feed about 330 feet (100 m) below the surface. They stay underwater for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. A powerful kick from their flukes helps them get down. Flukes are at the end of the tail and measure 25 feet (7.6 m) across. Blue whales can swim as fast as 30 miles per hour (50 km/h).

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Gray whales

Gray whale fact file

Winter in California

Gray whales are easily spotted from the shore. They hug the coastline while migrating between their summer feeding grounds in the north Pacific and their winter breeding and calving areas in Mexico. They feed in shallow water by diving to the bottom, rolling on their side, and sucking in sediment and water. When they close their mouth, baleen plates trap crustaceans and tube worms on the inside.

Type

Baleen whale

Family

Eschrichtiidae

Scientific name

Eschrichtius robustus

Diet

anut nfieulb Crustaceans

Average lifespan

50 years

Size

Up to 52 ft. (16 m)

Weight

40 tons (36 t)

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Feeding Calves drink up to 80 gallons (300 l) of their mother’s milk per day.

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Summer Gray whales go north for the summer. eltrut kcabrehtael

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Migration Gray whales start a 5,000- to 6,800-mile (8,000–11,000-km) journey south to Mexico when ice begins to form in the Bering and Chukchi seas. They begin arriving in the lagoons of Baja California in late December. For the next three months, they calve, nurse their young, and mate. In March, they steam north again. Mating season

Dec.—March gray whale

blue whale

Calving season

gray whale

Dec.—March gray whale

blue whale

bluefin tuna

blue whale

bluefin tuna white shark bluefingreat tuna

sockeye salmon

great white shark

humpback whale

european eel

walrus

elephant seal

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Fins Gray whales have no dorsal

fin. Instead, they have a dorsal hump followed by up to 12 raised bumps that run to their fluke, or tail.

Flukes A mature whaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tail fluke can measure up to 12 feet (3.7 m) across. It is notched at the center.

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Humpback whales

gray whale

blue whale

Song and dance

bluefin tun

Humpback whale fact file Type

Famous for their singing and acrobatics, humpbacks live in oceans and seas around the world and migrate between polar and tropical waters. Humpbacks get their name because of the way they arch their backs out of the water when getting ready to dive. They can reach depths of up to 700 feet (210 m) and hold their breath for 30 minutes. Humpbacks feed by gulping mouthfuls of plankton and small fish.

Baleen whale

Family

Balaenopteridae

great white shark

humpback whale

Scientific name

Megaptera novaeangliae

Diet

Krill, small fish

Average lifespan

45 to 50 years

Size

Up to 52 ft. (16 m)

Weight

79,000 lb. (36,000 kg)

sockeye salmon

european eel

walrus

elephant seal

krill leatherback turtle

Migration

Singing whales Male humpbacks sing. A typical song lasts from 10 to 20 minutes, though they can sing all day and night.

Humpbacks live in polar waters in the summer. When the winter approaches, they migrate to tropical waters to breed and give birth. Once they begin the long trip, there is no stopping. They can cover 1,000 miles (1,600 km) a month. There is no eating during the winter, either. Instead, they live off their fat reserves. elahw yarg

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Mating season anut nfieulb

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Calving season elahw eulb

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Dec.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;April

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Water acrobats Humpbacks arch and twirl when they breach, slapping the water as they splash down. Standing on their tails and poking their heads out of the water is called spyhopping. These moves may be for play, to shake off sea lice, or to communicate.

Long fins Unusually long

fins help the humpback maneuver, and they provide temperature control.

Tails Each whale has unique markings on its tail, which can be used to identify individuals for study.

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Great white sharks Sea wolf

Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth. They hunt fish, seals, dolphins, and even whales. Great whites live mainly in coastal waters, with the most found offshore of the United States, South Africa, and Australia. They get their common name from their white underbelly; their scientific name means “ragged tooth.” Great whites speed through the water like torpedoes.

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Great white shark fact file Type

Shark

Family

Lamnidae

Scientific name surlaw

krahs etihw taerg Carcharodon carcharias

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Diet

Seals, fish

Average lifespan

30 years

Size

Up to 20 ft. (6 m)

Weight

Up to 4,200 lb. (1,900 kg)

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Food-rich waters

Australia’s southern coasts support many great whites.

Migration

The migratory behavior of the great white shark is mostly a mystery. Recent studies show they do not migrate just up and down the coast. Some travel long distances, such as between Baja California and Hawaii. Another study tracked a shark from South Africa to Australia and back. gray whale

gray whale

blue whale

Mating season blue whale

Pupping season

bluefin tuna

gray whale

blue whale bluefin tuna

great white shark

Various 11 months later great white shark

humpback whale

great white shark

sockeye salmon

sockeye salmon sockeye salmon

european eel

humpback whale

walrus

leatherback turtle

elephant seal

european eel

elephant seal

krill

elephant seal

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Jaws! While great white sharks are portrayed as man eaters, that is mostly the stuff of movies. Shark attacks are usually a case of mistaken identityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shark confuses a diver or surfer for a seal. Still, great whites have sharp senses for detecting prey. They can smell one drop of blood in 25 gallons (95 l) of water and can sense even tiny amounts up to 3 miles (5 km) away. Great whites can detect electromagnetic fields generated by animals.

Whale shark A whale shark can grow to be more than twice the size of its cousin, the great white. While both are fish, they feed very differently. The whale shark has a huge mouth, up to 6 feet (1.8 m) wide. It is located at the front of its head, not on the underside like great whites. While it has teeth, the whale shark does not use them for eating. Instead, it feeds by holding its mouth open as it swims, vacuuming up plankton and filtering it through its gills.

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Function Upper teeth

cut and saw. Lower teeth are used for impaling.

Jaws The jaws hold 300 teeth arranged in rows. New teeth replace lost or broken ones.

Saw-edged The teeth

are razor sharp and can be 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.

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Copyrighted Material Gentle giants Whale sharks are as big as a school

bus, with a mouth so wide you could swim in it. Though they have 300 rows of tiny teeth, they do not bite. The big filter feeders are so gentle they sometimes even let divers hitch a ride. Their skin can be up to 4 inches (10 cm) thick, and each shark has a unique checkerboard pattern of pale yellow spots and stripes that does not change with age. Whale sharks can live as long as 100 to 150 years.

Whale sharks

Coral Reefs off Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s west coast attract migrating whale sharks in March and April, when coral spawn during a full moon.

Copyrighted Material Long journeys Following plankton blooms, whale sharks travel thousands of miles each year. Though they can dive as deep as 2,300 feet (700 m), they prefer to stay close to the surface. Whale sharks live in warm water on both sides of the equator. Favorite places are along coastal reefs and in the lagoons of coral atolls off western Australia, Central America, and islands in the Indian Ocean. Groups join up off the coast of Papua New Guinea in September, then migrate to Australia in November and December. Little is known about their breeding habits, but females give birth to live young; they do not lay eggs. Sensors The whale shark has poor eyesight, but sensors that run along its body detect pressure changes, giving it backup vision.

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Northern bluefin tuna Fatty but fast

Northern bluefin tuna are the speedsters of the Atlantic. They can reach bursts of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). Even their cruising speed is fast—30 miles per hour (48 km/h). Being quick gives them the advantage over their prey. The largest of eight tuna species, northern bluefins are built for endurance as well. Journeys from northern feeding grounds to southern spawning areas can be 6,500 miles (10,500 km) each way.

Northern bluefin tuna fact file Type

Fish

Family

Scombridae

Scientific name

Thunnus thynnus

Diet

Fish, squid

Average lifespan

15 to 20 years

Size

6.5 ft. (2 m)

Weight

550 lb. (250 kg)

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surlaw

Warm-blooded

Unlike most fish, bluefins are warmblooded. The ability to regulate their temperature comes in handy. They can swim in the cold waters where they feed and the warm waters where they spawn. Their colors provide camouflage from above and below.

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Streamlined The body is held rigid while swimming; this helps increase speed.

Swift growth The

Good blood flow Core muscles

tuna’s high metabolic rate helps it grow.

are kept warm, helping bluefins swim in cold water.

Migration Northern bluefin tuna range across the Atlantic when feeding. They swim as far north as Greenland and as far south as the waters between Brazil and southern Africa. Their spawning areas are limited to two locations. One is in the Mediterranean; the other is in the Gulf of Mexico. Female bluefins produce up to 30 million eggs. Spawning season gray whale

gray whale

blue whale

gray whale bluefin tuna

blue whale

April–June

great white shark

great white shark sockeye salmon

great white shark

humpback whale

bluefin tuna humpback whale

humpback whale european eel

bluefin tuna walrus

elephant seal

walrus krill

walrus

lee

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Big appetite Bluefins gorge on smaller fish and reach an enormous size.

Big danger Because

bluefins spawn in large schools, they are easily seen.

Big money Prized as sashimi, a single fish once sold for US$396,700 in Tokyo, Japan.

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umpback whale cows and calves stick close together on their long journey to the feeding grounds.

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Bottlenoses and relatives Acrobats of the sea

Jumping, flipping, twisting, and spinningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;dolphins have all these moves and more. Nearly 40 species of these aqua acrobats swim the oceans. The smallest is 4 feet (1.2 m) long. The largest, the killer whale, or orca, is 30 feet (9.5 m) long. Found mainly in shallower water near coasts, most dolphins stick close to home. Some migrate, but usually in response to changing water temperature or in search of food.

Bottlenose

Bottlenose dolphins range from Australia to North America, to Africa and Asia. They have an amazing ability to communicate and use pulsing sounds, whistles, and tail slaps to keep track of each other and warn of danger. Some populations make seasonal migrations.

Teamwork Dolphins work together when feeding and herd schools of fish like cattle.

Jump for joy

Dolphins leap to communicate, shake off sea lice, and just for the fun of it.

Bottlenose dolphin fact file Type

Dolphin

Family

Delphinidae

Scientific name

Tursiops truncatus

Diet

Fish

Average lifespan

20 to 40 years

Size

Up to 13 ft. (4 m)

Weight Weight

Ib(650 (150-250 Up to 330-55 1,400 lb. kg) kg)

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Striped

Striped dolphins are easy to recognize because of their unusual markings. Black bands circle their eyes, and two black stripes run behind their ears. They can leap as high as 23 feet (7 m) out of the water. They live in close-knit groups of up to 100 individuals or sometimes in schools of thousands. They migrate with warm-water currents in most parts of the world during the fall and winter months.

Distinctive The

striped dolphinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marks make it easy to identify.

Current range

North Sea

E U R O P E

Short-beaked

Relatively small compared to other species, short-beaked dolphins avoid cold water and typically live in more temperate areas. But lately large schools have been seen in the northern part of the North Sea. Scientists say this massive migration is the result of climate change. The short-beaked dolphins are moving farther north as ocean temperatures grow warmer.

Chasing tuna Spinner dolphins (left) and spotted dolphins (right) have a unique relationship with yellowfin tuna. The species swim together in the Pacific Ocean. No one knows why, but fishermen rely on it. When they see dolphins, they set their nets. This causes a problem, however, because dolphins sometimes get caught along with the tuna. New nets and new laws are helping improve dolphin safety.

Former range

Warming trend

The cold and misty North Sea is gradually getting warmer.

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Salmon

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Rivers of fish

Nine species of salmon swim the Pacific Ocean. Common names include kings, sockeyes, silvers, and pinks. Salmon begin life as an egg laid in freshwater. They grow into smolts and migrate downriver to the sea. Then they swim back, returning to the place of their birth, which also becomes the place of their death. Some make a round-trip journey as long as 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to complete the cycle of life.

Migration How returning adult salmon find the exact location of their birth after years at sea is still a mystery. Scientists believe their sense of smell plays a role. King salmon returning to central Idaho have a 900-mile (1,400-km) journey that climbs from sea level to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in the mountains. gray whale

blue whale

gray whale

bluefin tuna

blue whale

gray whale

bluefin tuna

blue whale

bluefin tuna

gray whale

blue whale

great white shark

bluefin tuna

great white shark

humpback whale

walrus walrus

humpback whale gray whale

Spawning season great white shark

humpback whale

blue whale

walrus

great white shark

humpback whale

great white shark sockeye salmon

european eel

elephant seal

european eel

sockeye salmon

krill

bluefin tuna

walrus

great white shark

humpback whale

walrus

elephant seal

sockeye salmon

european eel european eel

elephant seal

leatherback turtle

Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sept. sockeye salmon

leatherback turtle

sockeye salmon

european eel krill

european eel

elephant seal krill

elephant seal

leatherback turtle

krill leatherback turtle

krahs etihw taerg

King salmon fact file Type

Fish

Family

Salmonidae

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Scientific name

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Diet

Insects, crustaceans, fish

Average lifespan

5 years

Size

33 to 36 in. (840 to 910 mm)

Weight

10 to 50 lb. (4.5 to 23 kg) eltrut kcabrehtael

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Changing looks Salmon undergo dramatic physical changes prior to spawning. Depending on the species, they may grow a hump or develop doglike teeth and a curved jaw. Like autumn leaves, all change color.

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Growth Salmon grow

rapidly in the summer and slower in the winter.

Spawning Female salmon use their tails to dig shallow depressions called redds in the gravel. They then lay their eggs in them. A redd may contain up to 5,000 eggs. One or more males will fertilize them, and then the female covers the eggs with gravel. After spawning, adults quickly deteriorate in the freshwater, dying within a few days or weeks. The eggs remain protected in the covered redds. Rising water temperatures in the spring trigger hatching.

Yolk Blood vessels surround the yolk of the salmon egg; the black spots are eyes.

Eggs The eggs hatch into sac fry that grow around the remains of the yolk.

Few survive Only ten

percent of all salmon eggs will survive to become smolts.

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Swimming upstream

Copyrighted Material Salmon run The annual return of salmon

is a marvel of nature. The ability of the fish to find their way back upstream after a lifetime at sea is one of migrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest mysteries. Returning salmon have been an important part of human culture and commerce for centuries. Native Americans living in the Pacific Northwest have long celebrated and honored them. A valuable commercial fishing industry was built on salmon migration. But even older is the connection between salmon and other animals. Many species depend on salmon as an important food source. The bear facts Brown bears and grizzly bears rely on a diet of salmon to make it through the winter, as the fish provide them with a rich source of oil and fat. Before going into hibernation, bears eat as much salmon as they can. They stand in rivers as the fish migrate upstream and catch them with their paws and mouth. A big brown bear will eat eight to ten salmon a day; that is the equivalent of a young person eating 40 hamburgers at a time. Coastal bears that eat salmon grow bigger than those living in the interior. They have more cubs each year, too.

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Farms and future The migration of wild salmon is being threatened. The populations of many of the nine species that swim the Pacific Ocean have declined dramatically as a result of overfishing, dams, logging, and water pollution. Some salmon species are now raised in commercial farms in countries from Norway to Chile. While fish farms grow salmon for humans to eat, they do little to help provide food for animals like bears and bald eagles. Steps are now being taken to increase the wild salmon population for these animals.

Movable feast

Bald eagles, river otters, and dolphins are just a few of the animals that depend on the arrival of wild salmon each year.

rich diet of salmon helps grizzly bears store fat for hibernation.

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European eels

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Slippery change artists

European eels are fish, not snakes. They are not electric, either, but their journey’s length and the changes they go through are shocking. Eels live in every European river that empties into saltwater. They hide during the day and come out at night to eat. When it is really cold, they hibernate. After maturing, eels leave freshwater and swim up to 5,000 miles (8,000 km) across the Atlantic Ocean to spawn.

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European eel fact file Type

Fish

Family

Anguillidae

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Scientific name

Anguilla anguilla

Diet

Mollusks, crustaceans, fish

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

Up to 40 in. (100 cm)

Weight

Up to 20 lb. (9 kg))

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llirk

eltrut kcabrehtael

Glass eel

Larva

Life cycle of the eel

Yellow eel

Eels begin life as larvae in the open ocean. For the next one to three years, they ride the Gulf Stream. When they reach Europe’s shoreline, they turn into tiny, transparent wigglers called glass eels. As they head upriver, their skin turns golden, earning them the nickname “yellow eels.” After 10 years or more, they migrate back, changing color again. They reach the spawning grounds as silver eels, spawn, and die. The cycle starts anew.

Silver eel

Migration

EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

Atlantic Sargasso Sea

blue whale

AFRICA

whale yet found exactly where No onegrayhas European eels spawn. Most scientists believe it is somewhere in the Sargasso bluefin tuna Sea, in the western Atlantic Ocean. One thing is for sure: the journey is long. Eels migrate in big groups. They swim 200 to 300 feet (60 to 90 m) below the surface humpback whale walrus and can travel 30 miles (50 km) a night. gray whale

Equator

blue whale

great white shark

SOUTH AMERICA

great white shark

Ocean

humpback whale

Spawning season

Range of European Eel Ocean currents

bluefin tuna

March–June european eel

sockeye salmon

european eel

walrus

elephant seal

krill leatherback turtle

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Danger of extinction The population of eels has declined around 90 percent since the 1970s.

Masters of disguise After coming ashore, such as on the coast of France (left), eels hide to avoid detection. They slide under tangled roots or beneath mud during the day.

Meal for others People are not the only ones who fish for eels. River otters, herons, and cormorants eat them, too.

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Walrus

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Tusked travelers

Walrus may look funny with their bristly mustaches and blubbery bodies, but they are well equipped for life in the Arctic. Except for a short winter stay just beyond the pack ice, they are almost always on the move. Walrus are strong swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of more than 20 miles per hour (32 km/h). They have big appetites, too. A walrus eats 160 pounds (73 kg) of clams and mussels a day.

gray whale

blue whale bluefin tuna

Walrus fact file Type

Marine mammal

Family

Odobenidae

Scientific name

Odobenus rosmarus

Diet

Clams, shrimp, crabs, mussels

Average lifespan

20 to 30 years

Size

Up to 11.5 ft. (3.5 m)

Weight

eel elephant seal Up european to 4,000 lb. (1,800 kg)

great white shark

humpback whale

sockeye salmon

walrus

Strength Walrus are strong swimmers. There are powerful muscles beneath the blubber. krill leatherback turtle

Big teeth Elephant-like tusks make the walrus a standout among its seal and sea lion cousins. Just like an elephant’s, the ivory tusks are actually teeth that never stop growing. Both males and females have them, though the males’ grow much bigger. They can reach more than 3 feet (1 m) long and weigh up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg). Males use them for fighting, display, and dominance. The strongest walrus with the biggest tusks usually rule the herd.

Migration Pacific walrus spend the winter on rocky beaches and outcrops along the Bering Sea. The herds start moving north in April. Males and females migrate separately, and females give birth along the way. Calves weigh between 100 and 165 pounds (45–75 kg) when born. The summer is spent feeding in Arctic waters. elahw yarg

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Mating season anut nfieulb

Calving season

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Jan.—March surlaw

15–16 months later elahw kcabpmuh

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Social and noisy

Walrus like being with other walrus. When they get together on land or rock ledges, they bellow and snort.

Big and blubbery

Walrus have only two natural predators: the killer whale and polar bear. Their size is their best defense.

Super senses Walrus have a good sense of smell and feel with their whiskers.

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Elephant seals

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To the brink and back

Elephant seals are the largest of their kind. Two separate populations exist: the northern elephant seal migrates between Alaska and Baja California, and the southern elephant seal lives in waters just north of Antarctica. Hunting brought these giants close to extinction, but their numbers have recovered. Elephant seals spend most of their lives in the ocean feeding on the bottom. No other seal dives deeper.

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Northern elephant seal fact file Type

Seal

Family

Phocidae

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Scientific name

Mirounga angustirostris

Diet

Fish, squid, octopus

Average lifespan

20 years

Size

Up to 20 ft. (6 m)

Weight

Up to 8,800 lb. (4,000 kg)

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Beach masters The biggest males

Proboscis

fight to establish harems. They weigh three times as much as females.

These big seals get their name from the male’s enormous snout that resembles an elephant’s trunk. Called a proboscis, it is used to produce loud roars when bulls fight each other over mates during the breeding season. The big nose also serves another purpose. The inside has cavities that reabsorb moisture every time the seal exhales. This allows the animals to stay out of the water for weeks at a time.

Migration gray whale

blue whale

Elephant gray whale seals spend months at a time feeding at sea. Their travels take them up to 5,000 miles (8,000 km) from the shore. They bluefin tuna bluefin tuna return to their rookeries on beaches in the winter to give birth and mate. Males arrive first to define and defend territories, and the winners collect a harem of 40 to 50 females. humpback whale walrus walrus Breeding season lasts about three months. gray whale

blue whale

bluefin tuna

great white shark

great white shark humpback whale

Mating season great white shark

Jan.–Feb. european elephant eel seal

sockeye salmon

sockeyeeuropean salmon eel

Calving season humpback whale

walrus

December elephant seal

european eel

elephant seal

Deep dive Elephant seals routinely krill

dive 2,000 feet (610 m) deep or more and can hold their breath for up to two hours. krill krill leatherback turtle

leatherback turtle

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Extreme cold

Southern elephant seals haul out on islands near Antarctica. Thick blubber keeps them warm in freezing temperatures.

Swim school

Weaned pups stay on the beach for a couple of months after their mothers leave. They spend this time perfecting their swimming skills.

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Sea turtles

sockeye salmon

Leatherback turtle fact file

Riding the current

Among the oldest of all creatures, sea turtles evolved over 110 million years ago. Seven species still exist, but all are at risk of extinction. Fishing and building on beaches are part of the reason why. Sea turtles spend nearly all of their time in the water, coming ashore only briefly to lay their eggs. Catching ocean currents helps them when migrating. Some species, like the leatherback, travel across entire oceans.

Type

Sea turtle

Family

Dermochelyidae

leatherback turtle

Scientific name

Dermochelys coriacea

Diet

Jellyfish

Average lifespan

45 years

Size

Up to 6.5 ft. (2 m)

Weight

Up to 1,500 lb. (700 kg)

Race winners Large flippers and a streamlined body make leatherbacks the fastest swimming sea turtle.

Leatherback Leatherbacks are the largest of all sea turtles and are unlike most others. Their shell is not bony but, instead, is made of skin and oily flesh. Their flippers are the biggest in proportion to their overall size. The front pair can grow as long as 9 feet (2.7 m). Leatherbacks have the widest global distribution, too. They range from Norway to the tip of New Zealand. They are also the deepest divers, able to go 4,200 feet (1,280 m) below the surface.

Cold waters An extra layer of fat helps leatherbacks keep from freezing in cold water like that of Alaska. elahw yarg

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Migration

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Leatherbacks travel from cold water, where they feed, to warm-climate beaches, where they hatch. Journeys average 3,700 miles (6,000 km). One sea turtle was tracked from its nesting site in Indonesia to Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a 12,400-mile (20,000-km) trip. krahs etihw taerg

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Mating season

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Hatching season

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Various

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Global Leatherbacks roam the oceans

widely, including to the waters off the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa (right).

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elephant seal

Nesting and laying

Most sea turtle species return to lay their eggs on the same beach where they hatched years before. The female crawls krill to a dry part of the beach after mating and uses her front flippers to dig a shallow pit the size of her body. Then she shovels out an egg cavity using her cupped rear flippers and lays 80â&#x20AC;&#x201C;120 eggs. She covers the eggs with sand when she has finished and heads back to the sea.

Sand tracks Gently sloping beaches make getting in and out of the water easier.

Darkness Turtles nest at night to help hide the eggs from predators like gulls.

Hatchlings It takes a little over a month for the eggs to hatch. The temperature beneath the sand determines which sex the hatchlings will be. Temperatures warmer than 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5Â°C) produce females. Cooler temperatures produce males. Once the baby sea turtles break out of their shells, they waste no time heading for the safety of the water.

Mad dash Hatchlings must cross the beach quickly to avoid predators.

A t l a n t i c

EUROPE

NO RT H A M E R I CA Sargasso Sea

AFRICA

O c e a n S O U T H A M E R I C A

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Krill

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The tiniest migrants The largest migration in terms of sheer numbers is made by one of the smallest animals. Krill are shrimplike creatures that float in the water. Their name is an old Norwegian word meaning “whale food.” Krill are the biggest part of a baleen whale’s diet. Other animals, including seals, penguins, and squid, depend on them, too. In the Antarctic, krill are the engine that powers the ecosystem.

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Antarctic krill fact file Type

Invertebrate

Family

Euphausiidae

Scientific name

Euphausia superba

Diet

Phytoplankton

Average lifespan

6 years

Size

2.4 in. (6 cm)

Weight

Up to 0.071 oz. (2 g)

Ups and downs Most krill species undertake large daily vertical migrations in the water column.

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Meals for many Dozens of species of krill float in the oceans far and wide. The Antarctic krill is one of the most plentiful. Scientists say it is probably the most abundant animal species on the planet. Its biomass is estimated to weigh 550 million tons (500 million t). During spawning season, swarms of Antarctic krill can cover up to 175 square miles (450 km2) of ocean to a depth of 650 feet (200 m). While krill occupy the bottom of the food chain, they support all the animal life above.

Special teeth Crabeater

seals have developed teeth that let them strain krill from the water.

Bubble net Whales will work together to trap krill. They form a circle and blow a wall of bubbles.

Water colors During Antarctic krillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spawning season, their density makes the water appear to be pink. Big eaters Krill is the most important food for a baleen whale, which can eat up to 4 tons (3.6 t) a day.

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Index

skeleton 59

geese 10, 11, 12, 80–1

skin 19, 71, 100

hummingbirds 10, 55, 56

tail 23, 25, 65, 66, 93,

penguins 44–5, 120

air and sea currents 10, 11, 56–7,

seabirds 58–61

teeth 99, 100, 108, 121

shorebirds 62–3

albatross 11, 55, 58, 60–1

temperature regulation 102

songbirds 78–9

wandering

tusks 114

storks 57, 72–3, 77

(Diomedea exulans) 57, 58, 59

wing structure 57, 58, 59, 60,

swallows 57, 66–9, 78

warblers 56, 78, 79 waterfowl 80–4

60, 62, 76–7, 85, 86, 91, 118

95, 97, 109

Amazon 79

American kestrel 56

antelope 24

American redstart 56

ants 13

blackpoll 78

anatomy and physiology

blubber 40, 114, 117, 118

antlers 37

Arctic fox 40

body fat stores 10, 96, 111, 118

beaks 59, 63, 71, 73

Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)

breeding 19, 21, 22

body shape and size 19, 23, 25,

butterflies 84–5

65, 66, 75, 78, 86

army 9

11, 55, 56, 64–5.

37, 66, 92, 99, 106, 115, 116

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

changes 108, 112

coats and fur 23, 37, 41, 50

bald eagle 111

eyes 25, 85

baleen plates 93, 94

feet and hooves 19, 25, 37, 41,

bar-tailed godwit

camouflage 41, 102, 113

caribou (Rangifer tarandus) 9, 11,

47, 48, 50, 59

(Limosa lapponica) 62

11, 56, 85

fins 95, 97

bats 55, 57, 86

flippers 118, 119

carotene 71

glands 25, 59

hands 47

bears 48

cheetahs 17, 25

heart rate 59

brown 111

Christmas Island 11, 17, 51

jaw 99

grizzly 111

climate change 42–3, 69, 79, 107

legs 25, 63, 71

polar (Ursus maritimus)

coastlines 13, 94

muscles 19, 102

nose 37

birds 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 44–5, 54–83,

communication 19, 92, 96, 106,

proboscis 116

111, 113

senses 12–13, 19, 43, 50, 99,

cranes 74–5, 77

coral 100

ducks 8, 11, 80, 82–3

cormorant 113

101, 108, 115

Mexican free-tailed (Tadarida brasiliensis) 86

40–3, 115

16, 36–9

caterpillar 84

common cuckoo 57 114, 116

Index

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electromagnetic fields 99

gnu 24

crabs, Christmas Island 51

Eleonora's falcon 11

golden eagle 48

cranes 74–5, 77

elephants 9, 17

Gulf Stream 91

red-crowned

(Grus japonensis) 74

whooping 75

crocodile 26

African (Loxodonta africana)

11, 18–21

bush 21

hawk 77

savanna 21

herds 16, 19, 21, 22, 25, 36, 38

Eurasian teal 57

heron 113

European robin 8

hibernation 41, 51, 112

dens 41

exhaustion 79

Himalayas 48

dolphins 11, 106–7, 111

human interference 13, 21, 37, 55,

common bottlenose

finches 78

(Tursiops truncatus) 106

short-beaked 107

flamingo, greater

spinner 107

spotted 107

flight formation 80

striped 107

flyways 55, 56–7

(Phoenicopterus roseus) 70–1

dragonflies 85

Atlantic 56

Black Sea/Mediterranean 56

drowning 43

Central Asia 55

ducks 80, 82–3

Pacific 55

common elder 11

food and water 8, 9, 17, 18, 20–1,

mallard 8

38, 40, 43, 46, 48, 65, 66, 71, 73,

85, 86, 93, 96, 111, 114, 120–1

green darner 85

E G

echolocation 12

gazelle 23

eels 90

geese 80–1

bar-headed 11

Canada (Branta canadensis)

91, 112–13

69, 73, 107

hummingbirds 10

ruby-throated 55

rufous 56

hyena 23, 25

I impala 8

J jellyfish 90

K krill 91, 93, 120–1

eastern curlew 57

European (Anguilla anguilla)

123

glass 112

silver 112

yellow 112

gibbon 46, 47

snow 10, 12, 81

Antarctic (Euphausia

superba) 121

L landmarks 13 Latham's snipe 57 laughing gull 56

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least bittern 56

preparation 10–11

lemmings 9

records 11, 62

life cycle

routes 10

eel 112

signposts 13

protecting young 9, 39, 63

green darner dragonflies 85

solitary 9

primates 46–7

salmon 9, 108–9

speed 27, 36, 46, 60, 66, 93,

probers 63

avoidance techniques 10, 23, 62, 67, 79, 102, 119

hunting 11, 22, 36, 43

lions 17, 22, 23, 26

swarms 55, 87

locusts 10, 55, 56, 87

timing 10

radar 12

water, by 90–120

rambutan 46

hunting behavior 22 desert (Schistocerca

102, 114

monkeys 16, 46–7

red crab 11, 17, 51

proboscis 47

red-sided garter snake 51

red leaf 46

river otter 111, 113

macaque 47

mountains 13, 48–9

gregaria) 87

magnetic fields 13, 84

rivers 13 Rocky Mountains 50

Masai Mara 22

mating behavior 22, 61, 64, 74,

nests 61, 63, 64, 67, 69, 73, 75, 119

newborn animals 9, 19, 22, 24, 39,

migration

salmon 91, 108–11

air, by 54–87

North American pronghorns 9,

farming 111

breeding grounds, to 9

king (Oncorhynchus

dangers 17, 26, 55, 68, 73, 79,

northern lapwing 63

nymph 85

salt glands 59

116

103, 107

distances 11, 17, 19, 22, 23, 36,

rusty blackbird 56

41, 44–5, 51, 58, 62, 63, 64, 84, 17

tshawytscha) 108

Pacific 9

51, 55, 56, 58, 62, 64, 68, 78,

seabed navigation 12

80, 81, 84, 86, 87, 90, 94, 96,

orangutan 46

seals 43, 120

101, 108, 112, 116, 118, 121

crabeater 121 northern elephant

duration 51, 58, 72, 78

group 9

penguins 120

land, by 16–51

navigation 12–13, 19, 20, 56–7,

84, 108

one-way 9, 58, 85

emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri) 44–5

(Mirounga angustirostris)

southern elephant

predators 11, 17, 22, 48, 55,

80, 85, 115

116

(Mirounga leonina) 9, 116, 117

Index

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Serengeti Plain 17, 22, 23, 38

Kirtland's 79

sharks 91

tail fluke 93, 95

whitethroat 79

bull 26

takin 48

willow 78, 79

great white (Carcharodon

thermals 77

yellow (Dendroica petechia)

threatened and endangered

whales 120, 121

carcharias) 91, 98–9

whale 91, 99, 100–1

species 21, 42–3, 59, 74, 111, 113,

shearwaters 55

116, 118

baleen 120, 121

tracking devices 13

blue (Balaenoptera

Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

sheep and goats

Dall sheep 48, 49, 50

tuna

mountain 48–51

short-tailed (Puffinus

tenuirostris) 57, 58

37 northern bluefin (Thunnus

musculus) 9, 11, 91, 92–3

gray (Eschrichtius robustus) 8, 10, 90, 94–5

humpback (Megaptera

smolts 108, 109

snow buntings 13

snow leopard 48

turtles 11

spawning 9, 109, 112, 121

wildebeest, common

spyhopping 97

squid 120

sea 90, 91, 118–19

thynnus) 90, 102–3

yellowfin 107 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) 118

starlings 13

U–V

vocalizing 92, 96

novaeangliae) 11, 96–7,

104–5

orca 115 (Connochaetes taurinus) 8,

16, 17, 22–7

wolves 48

storks 77 European white (Ciconia

hunting behavior 36

ciconia) 57, 72–3

swallows 57, 66–9, 78

X–Y–Z

walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) 8,

zebras 17, 22, 23

Burchell's 22

barn (Hirundo rustica) 57, 66,

90, 114–15

cliff 66, 67, 69

warblers

plains (Equus quagga ) 22

tree 67

stripes 23

violet-green 66, 67

swan 80

Cape May 56

zooplankton 11, 99, 101

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Photographs

Illustrations

Key: c = centre, r = right, l = left, b = bottom, t = top, cr = centre

Front cover by Mick Posen/The Art Agency

right, cl = centre left, br = bottom right, bl = bottom left, bc = bottom centre, tc = top centre, bcr = bottom centre right, bcl = bottom centre left, tcr = top centre right, tcl = top centre left, bg = background

ALA = Alamy; ANT = antphoto.com; CBT = Corbis; FLPA = FLPAimages; FS = Fabrice Simon; GI = Getty Images; iS = iStockphoto. com; MP = Minden Pictures; NGS = National Geographic Stock; NHPA = NHPA/Photoshot; NPL = Nature Picture Library; SH = Shutterstock; SP = SeaPics; TPL = Photolibrary.com; UNEP = United Nations Environment Program; Wiki = Wikipedia

79r ALA; 58b ANT; back cover tl, b, 1br, 16t, 17r, 20-21, 22br, 23t, 28cr, 30tr, 110-111bg CBT; 49b FLPA; 48cr FS; 2-3bg, 13tl, t, 24b, 24cl, c, 25b, 26-27, 28bl, 29b, 30cl, br, 31r, 32t, 34-35, 78cl GI; back cover tr, 4cl, 8cr, bc, 9tr, tcr, 10bc, bcl, bc, br, 11tcr, bcr, br, 13c, cb, cr, 14-15, 15, 19tl, tc, 26l, 29c, 37bcr, 45tl, 54-55, 55bc, 56cl, 61tr, 63br, 64-65, 64c, cr, 66cl, 67tc, 67cr, bc, 71tr, 73tl, tr, cl, cr, bc, br, 79tl, c, bl, br, 80bl, 81tr, cl, cr, b, 84c, b, 85tr, c, 87bl, 94cr, bl, 95b, 96cr, cbr, 100tr, 103br, 107cr, 118bl, 119tc, 127b, 128br iS; 38-39, 50bg, 50cr MP; 2br, 8t, 9tcl, 12bg, 17bg, 20tl, 27r, 36-37b, 37br, 38tl, 39tr, 40l, 40-41, 42-43, 43cl, cr, 44-45, 46-47c, 47cr, cl, 48 c, cr, 49t, 51br, 58c, 75cr, br, 79tc, 82-83, 108b, 111c, 113t, 116c, 117t, 120bl, 121tr, c, br NGS; 4br, 8tc, cl, 9bc, bcr, 10cr, 11bcl, 12t, 13cl, 33bl, 39cr, 48b, 51tr, 56tcl, 59tc, 60-61bg, 62-63, 66c, bc, bcr, 67tr, 67c, br, 68-69bg, 68tl, 69tr, 70c, bl, cr, 71c, b, 72bl, 74-75bg, 80cr, 87tr, 91r, 92cr, 93tr, bl, 95t, 98bl, 99t, 100-101bg, 106cr, 107cl, 109tr, c, cr, 113bc, 114c, 116bl, cr, 118c NHPA; 8bl, 9tc, bl, 10t, 11tc, tr, 12br, 55br, 57cr, 60tl, 62cl, 63tl, tc, tr, cl, bc, 65br, 75tr, 75bcl, 79cr, 80c, 85tl, bl, 86tr, cl, bl, 94cl, 97t, bl, br, 99br, 101tr, 102bl, 103t, 104-105, 107tr, bl, br, 109tl, cl, c, b, 111cr, br, 116bc, 117bl, 119tr, c, cl, 121bl NPL; 1tl, 6-7, 13cr, 18, 19tr, 46cl, 46bl, bc, 47b, 65tr, 67cl, 72cl, 74bl, 75cl, 76-77, 80tr

The publisher thanks Puddingburn Publishing Services for the index.

Cartography by Will Pringle/Mapgraphx

Species silhouettes by Peter Bull Art Studio

25c Argosy Publishing; 87c Markus Baader/MBA-Studios; 94tr Anne Bowman; 47tc, 77br Peter Bull Art Studio; 36cl, c, cr, 92t, 93cl, cr, bcr Leonello Calvetti; 37t, cr Robin Carter/The Art Agency; 5tr, 56 (birds) Dan Cole/The Art Agency; 5cl, 57br Barry Croucher/The Art Agency; 59c Christer Eriksson; 27tl Gary Hanna/The Art Agency; 27bl, 41tc Ian Jackson/The Art Agency; 96c David Kirshner; 120t Rob Mancini; 41tr, br, 43bc Polygone/Contact Jupiter; 5r, 98tr, 99cr, 102c Mick Posen/The Art Agency; 85br Kevin Stead; 112c Guy Troughton