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Pair bonds: arrival synchrony in migratory birds.
T G Gunnarsson1, J A Gill, T Sigurbjörnsson
1Centre for Ecology Evolution and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. t.gunnarsson@uea.ac.uk
Nature
|October 8, 2004
Summary
Migratory bird pairs can synchronize their arrival at breeding grounds, even when wintering separately. This complex migratory behavior helps maintain pair bonds in species like the black-tailed godwit.
Area of Science:
- Avian migration
- Behavioral ecology
- Ornithology
Background:
- Synchronous arrival is crucial for maintaining pair bonds in migratory birds.
- Typically, this synchrony is observed in pairs that stay together year-round.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate arrival synchrony in paired black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa islandica).
- To understand the mechanisms enabling synchrony in pairs that winter apart and do not migrate together.
Main Methods:
- Tracking migratory bird movements.
- Analyzing arrival times of paired individuals.
Main Results:
- Paired black-tailed godwits exhibit synchronized arrival at breeding grounds.
- This synchrony occurs despite individuals wintering hundreds of kilometers apart.
- Pairs maintain their bond without migrating together.
Conclusions:
- Migratory shorebirds can achieve arrival synchrony through complex mechanisms.
- This behavior is vital for preventing pair dissolution ('divorce') in migratory systems.
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