The desert is cooling off and with the coming of a mild winter, creatures are stirring and shifting once again. This is a time of mass movement in the animal world. All over the planet, animals are on the move, migrating to areas that are more suitable for survival or preparing for the next generation. Each species is designed in such a way that they have the necessary physical and mental "equipment" to embark on such journeys.
For instance, you have probably watched a flock of geese overhead as they line up in a perfect V formation. Aside from the beautiful symmetry we see from below, how does this design serve the geese? As a bird flaps, rotating air currents swirl off the end of its wing. That circular movement causes the air directly behind the bird to push down and the air behind and to the sides to lift up. The other birds in a flock are really good at finding the pockets of air that lift up. It makes flying long distances easier.
The Sonoran Desert is a thoroughfare for many species of animal travelers, particularly birds. Southeastern Arizona is a unique area because four diverse biomes intersect there. Birds from all four biomes can be seen in this one little corner of the state. Around Christmas time, the Audubon Society conducts its annual Christmas Bird Count. Bird Trackers can participate to help document the bird species moving through a given area.
This year, celebrate bird design by starting a December family tradition. Take a walk into a natural area and see how many birds you can count. If you are able, determine how many different kinds of birds and if they are alone or in a flock.
Resources and References
Adventure Birding
The Great Backyard Bird Count - February 16-19, 2018
National Geographic - Birds in a V
Image - Public Domain Pictures
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