Skip to content
Go Green Birdwatching

Go Green Birdwatching

Menu
  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • DMCA
  • Privacy Policy
Menu

Why Birds Watch the Sun Set: Scientists May Know the Reason Birds Face West in the Evening

Posted on by Rita Shaw

At first, it seems one of those unanswerable questions children have a gift for asking. “Mommy (or Daddy), why do all the birds sit on the telephone wires and watch the sun set every night?”

“I don’t know, sport. They just do,” you might say in your most authoritative voice.

Or perhaps instead you make up what sounds like a convincing answer. “Well, champ, it’s going to be dark soon so they’re storing up the sun’s warmth to get them through the night.”

If it bothers you not knowing what the real answer is, don’t feel bad. Up until recently, scientists haven’t had any decent theories either. But what’s emerging from the latest studies may finally provide a real answer.

For years, evidence has suggested that migratory birds use a combination of cues from the earth’s magnetic field, patterns of stars, and polarized sunlight to guide them on their twice-annual north-south journeys. What researchers haven’t been unable to figure out is exactly how all these cues work together to keep the birds on-course over weeks of travel and thousands of miles.

In recent experiments, researchers from the U.S. and Germany captured songbirds during their migration north and kept them enclosed where they were unable to see the sun while exposing them to altered magnetic fields. When they were released after sunset to continue their evening migration, the birds took wing in the wrong direction. The direction they headed corresponded to the direction they should have gone if the erroneous magnetic field had been correct.

Tracking the birds across Illinois and Iowa for several nights, the researchers discovered that the next evening, after resting and being able to observe the sunset, the birds flew off in the correct direction, and continued their migration uneventfully.

Further scientific studies seem to confirm that birds regularly use their sunset observations to recalibrate their internal GPS systems. Yet, how the literal “bird brain” is able to process such complex calculations so accurately is still unknown.

Several new studies are leaning toward the existence of chemical compounds that are reactive to light and magnetic fields. Peter Hore of the University of Oxford believes cryptochromes – rare proteins involved in animals’ biological clocks – may be the secret.

Hore’s theory is that in the presence of the blue light predominant at dusk, cryptochromes generate a specific chemical output in a quantity regulated by the magnetic field. Based on the concentration of these chemical markers, other molecules interacting with them inform birds of their latitude. To make the whole process work, however, the birds have to expose their retinas to the sky at sunset.

So now, when this particular question about the mystery of nature comes up again, you can say with great faith, “The birdies use the evening sun to reset their internal compasses so they know how to get home.”

Not only is it true, it even sounds cuter.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Become a Birdwatcher
  • Bird Migration
  • Bird Watching
  • Birdwatching Tips
  • Birdwatching Tools
No comments to show.
  • White-tailed Sea Eagle: Natural and Social History of a Persecuted Raptor
  • Why Birds Watch the Sun Set: Scientists May Know the Reason Birds Face West in the Evening
  • Bird Watching; Why You Should Consider Being Involved with Bird Watching
  • Bird Watching – 5 Ways to Bring Them In
  • Hawk Mountain, PA Offers Much More Than Bird Watching
© 2023 Go Green Birdwatching | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT