Wild Wings

Wild Wings describes the annual migration of a female osprey from Scotland to Africa. The novel’s characters rely heavily on technology to track the bird through the various stages of her journey and the risks she faces along the way. Without the global reach provided by the internet, Iris’s story might have turned out quite differently. The novel captures the degree to which ornithologists rely on technology to give them insights into the behavior of migratory bird species.

During the 20th century, scientists banded birds (added bands with numbers to identify them) and tracked them along their migration paths by capturing and releasing them to record data. Using this information, ornithologists created rough maps of the migratory routes that birds followed. They later enhanced their data by using radar at airports to understand how weather might affect the timing of migrations and the altitude at which birds were required to fly. Their observations were still local or regional, and sharing information with other scientists in the field was laborious.

The internet revolutionized the amount of data that could be collected and shared across continents. The Motus Network is a global data source that currently shares 1500 receivers in 31 countries with new data points being added all the time. The most common methods of tracking migration now take full advantage of technological advances. While banding is still used, satellite transmitters offer a more sophisticated way of tracking bird movements during migration. In the novel, Iris is fitted with a satellite harness that is able to tell her human friends all sorts of information, including her GPS location, her migration path, and the speed and altitude at which she is flying.

These advances in data collection are critical as bird species face increasing threats from the encroachment of humans. Satellite telemetry has allowed ornithologists to identify critical stop-and-rest locations where birds are more vulnerable to attack. In the novel, Iris stops at Gibraltar, which is mentioned as a common resting point for migratory flocks heading to Africa. In North America, the most critical stop-and-rest sites are the Texas Gulf Coast, the Florida Panhandle, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Scientists are attempting to ensure that these habitats are preserved from human encroachment so that migrating birds can find food to replenish themselves before continuing their journey. Preserving habitat becomes more critical with each passing year. Between 2007 and 2017, North American migratory species fell by 14%. The birds are endangered by many human-made risks, include high-rise buildings. Since many bird species migrate by night, the light from offices can disorient flocks and cause many of them to crash into windows.

While scientists are doing their best to protect migratory species, smaller birds present a special challenge. Satellite transmitters must be no heavier than 5% of a bird’s body weight. Although an osprey like Iris would have no trouble carrying a satellite harness, most songbird species are too small. The tiniest species of all presents an even greater challenge. Hummingbirds are too minute to carry either a leg band or a transmitter. In this instance, the old-school method of field observation and a central database to capture reports is still a viable alternative when high-tech fails.