Associations of Synoptic Weather Conditions With Nocturnal Bird Migration Over the North Sea

Manola, Iris; Bradarić, Maja; Groenland, Rob; Fijn, Ruben C.; Bouten, W.; Shamoun‐Baranes, Judy

doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.542438

Cited by 8 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(68 reference statements)

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“…Our study shows that red knots relocating from the Dutch Wadden sea to the UK select for departure times after sunset with tailwind assistance and low cloud cover. These requirements are similar to departures for longer migratory flights (Åkesson & Hedenström, 2000;Alerstam, 2009;Bradarić et al, 2020;Butler et al, 1997;Lank, 1989;Leyrer et al, 2009;Manola et al, 2020;Packmor et al, 2020;Sjöberg et al, 2017;Woodworth et al, 2015), despite these relocation flights being much shorter (~250 km) than an average migratory flight of red knots (>3000 km). Birds chose favorable wind conditions (Figures 3 and 4d), which can minimize both time and energy expenditure on a flight (Alerstam & Lindström, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

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Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period

Gobbens,

Beardsworth,

Dekinga

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Deciding when to depart on long‐distance, sometimes global, movements can be especially important for flying species. Adverse weather conditions can affect energetic flight costs and navigational ability. While departure timings and conditions have been well‐studied for migratory flights to and from the breeding range, few studies have focussed on flights within the non‐breeding season. Yet in some cases, overwintering ranges can be large enough that ecological barriers, and a lack of resting sites en route, may resist movement, especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. Understanding the conditions that will enable or prohibit flights within an overwintering range is particularly relevant in light of climate change, whereby increases in extreme weather events may reduce the connectivity of sites. We tracked 495 (n = 251 in 2019; n = 244 in 2020) overwintering red knots (Calidris canutus islandica) in the Dutch Wadden Sea and investigated how many departed towards the UK (on westward relocation flights), which requires flying over the North Sea. For those that departed, we used a resource selection model to determine the effect of environmental conditions on the timing of relocation flights. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind, rain, atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and migratory timing relative to sunset and tidal cycle, which have all been shown to be crucial to migratory departure conditions. Approximately 37% (2019) and 36% (2020) of tagged red knots departed on westward relocation flights, indicating differences between individuals' space use within the overwintering range. Red knots selected for departures between 1 and 2.5 h after sunset, approximately 4 h before high tide, with tailwinds and little cloud cover. However, rainfall and changes in atmospheric pressure appear unimportant. Our study reveals environmental conditions that are important for relocation flights across an ecological barrier, indicating potential consequences of climate change on connectivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Studies on migrating birds revealed that weather, solar, and food conditions are important in determining departure timing, due to their effects on flight costs (Alerstam, 2009), the ability to navigate (Manola et al, 2020;Packmor et al, 2020), and the optimization of fuel stores (Hedenström & Alerstam, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period

Gobbens,

Beardsworth,

Dekinga

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Precipitation has been found to correlate negatively with migration intensity and departure decisions (Erni et al., 2002; Richardson, 1990). Other variables can relate to weather systems or a set of combined weather conditions (air pressure and change in air pressure) and temperature (Manola et al., 2020). To summarize, a range of weather variables have been related to migratory intensity and used for predictions of migration (Alerstam, 1978; Van Belle et al., 2007; Van Doren & Horton, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ensemble predictions are essential for accurate bird migration forecasts for conservation and flight safety

Kranstauber

Bouten

Gasteren

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Accurate predictions of the abundance of migrating birds are important to avoid aerial conflicts of birds, for example, with aviation or wind power installations. Here we develop a predictive model, using bird migration intensity extracted from operational weather data. We compare baseline phenological models to models incorporating both local and remote weather conditions using an ensemble approach. Single models are compared to ensemble models (average prediction of top 10 models). The models were evaluated by omitting single years from our 10‐year dataset. In general, we find that wind conditions, in addition to seasonal and diurnal dynamics, are key for accurate predictions. The spring and fall migratory seasons differ, both with respect to the selected environmental variables and the contribution of the environmental model compared to the phenological model. In fall, the accumulation of migrants due to strong headwinds is an important predictor of migration. Because of the lower daily variation in migration intensity in spring, the phenological model performs better compared to fall. In fall, weather conditions contribute more to accurate predictions of migration intensity than in spring. Overall, the ensemble approach produces more accurate predictions outperforming specific environmental models. We therefore recommend that ensemble models be used in operational settings such as flight planning to reduce bird aircraft collisions during intense bird migration.

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“…However, waterbirds can stop at sea regularly, enabling them to rest and potentially wait for better weather conditions (Butler et al 1998, Pennycuick et al 1999, Griffin 2008, Hübner et al 2010, Vissing et al 2020). Thus, whereas land birds need to cross seas at once and are highly selective for favourable wind and weather at departure (Dierschke and Delingat 2001, Schmaljohann and Naef‐Daenzer 2011, Brust et al 2019, Bradarić et al 2020, Manola et al 2020), it is expected that waterbirds can afford lower selectivity at departure, and initiate stops at sea when conditions worsen for flight or orientation, or when birds get exhausted from flight.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sea crossings of migratory pink‐footed geese: seasonal effects of winds on flying and stopping behaviour

Geisler

Madsen

Nolet

et al. 2022

Journal of Avian Biology

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Migratory birds may need to cross barriers such as seas, without opportunities to rest or refuel. Waterbirds, unlike land birds, can stop at sea to rest or wait for better winds and thus may be less selective for supportive winds at departure and tolerate larger drift. However, pay‐offs of waiting are likely to depend on circumstances (e.g. pressure for well‐timed arrival, wind availability and travelling with/without juvenile brood), thus migratory behaviour during barrier crossings is expected to differ between seasons. We studied pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus crossing the Barents Sea (ca 650 km), in spring and autumn during 2018–2020, using 94 GPS‐tracks of 38 individuals, with annotated ERA5 weather data. We found that 1) especially in autumn, geese selected supportive winds for departure; 2) in spring, geese experienced lower wind support and more crosswinds than in autumn, leading to 23% longer routes, 60% longer durations, 93% longer air distances and 45% higher ratios of air‐to‐ground distances; 3) in both seasons, geese had more tailwinds in the first part of crossings, and in spring when deviating more from the shortest route; 4) geese stopped at sea more often in spring (mean 11×) than autumn (3×), in spring during earlier stages of crossings, but in both seasons, spent half of the crossing time at sea, during which they still continued to approach their destination slowly; 5) stops at sea happened mostly in adverse winds, warmer air, higher air humidity and on calmer water and, in autumn, took longer without juvenile brood. We conclude that for migrating pink‐footed geese, Arctic capital breeders, the importance of time and energy can shift en route and that seasonal differences in wind support, flying and stopping behaviour and the pressure for a well‐timed arrival cause the Barents Sea to be a larger barrier in spring than in autumn.

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Associations of Synoptic Weather Conditions With Nocturnal Bird Migration Over the North Sea

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period

Environmental factors influencing red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) departure times of relocation flights within the non‐breeding period

Ensemble predictions are essential for accurate bird migration forecasts for conservation and flight safety

Sea crossings of migratory pink‐footed geese: seasonal effects of winds on flying and stopping behaviour

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