File:Bird migration (1915) (14749435032).jpg

Identifier: birdmigration185cook (find matches)
Title: Bird migration
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Cooke, Wells Woodbridge, 1858-1916
Subjects: Birds Migration
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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n by the birds to get around or over thisintervenmg mhospitable region are almost as numerous as the birdfamihes that traverse them, and only some of the more importantroutes will be mentioned here. (See fig. 2.) ISLAND ROUTES. Birds often seem eccentric in choice of route, and many do nottake the shortest line. The 50 species from New England thatwinter in South America, instead of making the direct trip over theAtlantic involving a flight of 2,000 miles, take a somewhat longerroute that foUows the coast to Florida and passes thence by island ormainland to South America, \\niat would at first sight seem to bea natural and convenient migratory highway extends from Floridathrough the Bahamas or Cuba to Haiti, Porto Rico, and the LesserAntilles and thence to South America (see fig. 2, route 2). Birds thattravel by this route need never be out of sight of land; resting placesare afforded at convenient intervals and the distance is but little BULLETIN 185^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE.
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Fig. 4. Distribution and migration of the golden plover (CJiaradrius dominicus). In fall itflies over the ocean from Nova Scotia to South America, 2,400 miles—the longest known flightof any bird. In spring it returns by way cf the Mississippi Valley. Thus the migrationroutes form an enormous ellipse, with a minor axis of 2,000 miles and a major axis stretching8,000 miles from Arctic America to Argentina. (See p. 17.) BIRD MKiHATTON. 13 lonojcr than the water route. Yet beyond Cuba tliis higliway is httleused. About 25 species continue as far as Porto Rico and remainthere through the wmter. Only adventurers of some six si)eciesgain the South American mainland by completing the island chain.The reason is not far to seek—scarcity of food. The total area ofiill the West Indies east of Porto Rico is a little less than that ofRhode Island. Should a smaU proportion only of the featheredinhabitants of the Eastern States select this route, not even theluxuriant fauna and flora of the Tropi

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