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Migrating ospreys use thermal uplift over the open sea
Olivier Duriez1, Guillaume Peron2, David Gremillet1,3
11 Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier , France.
Biology Letters
|April 9, 2019
Summary
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) can cross large bodies of water by utilizing thermal uplifts, a behavior previously thought impossible for large migrating raptors. This adaptability explains their global distribution and challenges assumptions about water barriers.
Area of Science:
- Ornithology
- Animal Behavior
- Aerodynamics
Background:
- Large raptors typically avoid sea crossings due to limited atmospheric convection.
- The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a notable exception, capable of long-distance flights over open water.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how ospreys utilize atmospheric convection for sea crossings.
- To understand the energetic and behavioral adaptations enabling ospreys to fly over water.
Main Methods:
- Five juvenile ospreys were fitted with GPS-Accelerometer-Magnetometer loggers.
- Flight paths and thermal usage over the Mediterranean Sea were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Ospreys successfully located and used thermal uplifts over the sea (7.5 times per 100 km).
- Birds reached altitudes of 900m, but with slower climb rates and increased flapping compared to land flights.
- Thermal soaring frequency correlated with sea surface and air temperature differences, indicating convection requires warmer seas.
Conclusions:
- Ospreys exploit atmospheric convection over the sea, challenging the notion of water bodies as strict barriers for large raptors.
- This capability contributes to the osprey's widespread, transoceanic distribution.
- Findings provide insights into avian migratory strategies and adaptations to diverse environments.
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