The Secrets of Migration

This is a recording of a webinar for RSPB members which took place on Tuesday 14 May 2024.

1: 40 Myths and history of bird migration science with Guy Anderson
14:11 Tagging birds with Malcolm Burgess
24:40 Corncrake Calling with Tara Proud
29:58 Curlews with Sam Lee
43:50 Bird migration forecast with Luke Phillips
52:34 Q&A session

Bonus video: Katie Monk from the RSPB Youth Council talking about bird migration and our changing climate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV5QuhdcdEA

Watch the other webinar recordings from this series:
Spotlight on Swifts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ulQ974ea4
Special places for species: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCHURxTToNs
Along the flyway – international importance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-IQRAnku_0

Online action
Support the RSPB’s work and campaigns to help migratory birds at home, abroad, and around the world https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/support-the-rspb

Use your consumer power to support products that help migratory birds abroad -take a look at RSPB Gola Chocolate or Bird & Wild Coffee, available in the RSPB online shop https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/

Show your love for migratory birds – our Teemill store is filled with sustainably produced migratory bird-themed t-shirts, sweatshirts and much more besides https://rspbteemillstore.com/collection/migratory-birds-collection/

Learn more
If you’ve enjoyed learning about bird migration and are keen to learn more about birds and their incredible lives, then you might be interested in the Natural History Museum’s exhibition in affiliation with the RSPB ‘Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre’, which runs 24 May 2024 – 5 January 2025. RSPB Members will receive a 20% discount when booking online. Visit https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/natural-history-museum/visit-brand-new-natural-history-museum-exhibition to find out more.

Close to home
Act for migratory birds in your own home, garden or outside space – put up Swift nest boxes, House Martin nest cups, grow native wildflowers, shrubs and trees to produce insects, and fruit, and nesting opportunities for wild birds – including migratory species. Find out more with Nature on Your Doorstep.
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-houses-nest-boxes/garden-bird-nest-boxes/rspb-swift-nest-box.html
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-houses-nest-boxes/garden-bird-nest-boxes/house-martin-terracotta-nest-box.html
https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep

Conservation in your community
Act for migratory birds in your community – join or form local volunteer conservation groups (eg RSPB Local Groups) to drive conservation efforts in your local patch.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/support-the-rspb/find-a-local-group-near-you

Act for migratory birds on your nearest RSPB Nature Reserve – if you are within reach of an RSPB Reserve, go and volunteer your help there. Many different roles are available. You don’t need to drive a digger or be an expert. All our nature reserves host migratory birds at some point in the year, and many are crucially important for them.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/support-the-rspb/volunteering

Get recording
Take part in Swift Mapper – submit your records of nesting Swifts to the Swift Mapper website or app to help us understand where Swifts are nesting and where to put new nesting sites.
https://www.swiftmapper.org.uk/

Help us understand how our migratory bird populations are changing:

Use list-based bird recording systems regularly to report your bird sightings – eg Birdtrack.
https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack

If you have reasonably good bird ID skills, sign up for the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird survey.
https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/breeding-bird-survey/taking-part

Look for and report rings on birds – both metal rings and colour-rings you can see in the field with optics.
https://app.bto.org/euring/lang/pages/rings.jsp

Consider taking part in surveys of insects being run by other conservation and wildlife recording organisations – eg Buglife’s Bugs Matter project, or Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly count. Insects are vital food for migratory birds, as well as being important in their own right.

Bugs Matter

https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

Thumbnail image: Corncrake by Graham Goodall (rspb-images.com)