In one of the biggest malls around the world; the National Mall, a group of scientists set up nets to capture some of the mall’s birds.
Usually, millions of tourists visit the mall to see the U.S. capitol and Washington monument, or the Smithsonian museums, but now, the visit is for the cute little creatures.
On the 16th of August, a conclave, which is the North American Ornithological Conference, will be opened. Bird lovers will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a 1916 agreement between the United States and Canada that is considered a historic turning point in international efforts to protect birds.
Scientists have been trying to better map bird migrations and understand habitat use patterns. One of the topics that will be discussed at next week’s ornithology conference, is the rapid improvement of microelectronics.
Ultimately, the catbird and the other birds banded on the mall may add new details to the emerging portrait of bird migrations. It’s a field that keeps delivering surprises, Marra (one of the scientists) says, as tags reveal migrating birds making unexpected stops, remarkably fast flights, and taking astonishing detours.
“We’re really just beginning to understand many migrations,” he said as his team rolled up their nets and put away their banding gear. The big challenge, he suggested, will be figuring out how to quickly transform new scientific findings into effective action to save migratory species—just as the foresighted negotiators of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act did a century ago.’
Large scale climatic changes, as have been experienced in the past, are expected to have an effect on the timing of migration. Studies have shown a variety of effects including timing changes in migration, breeding as well as population variations.
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