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Syndicate
Feb
25
| YOU ARE HERE |
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| Monday, 25 February 2008 | |
Lisa Sussman, NNN's Natural Mom, wonders if humans share the migratory instincts of other animals.
But I wish I were there.
Living in the smallest state with barely 1 million people in the winter and up to what seems like 10 million daytrippers on any given summer day, it's easy to notice when people begin to move.
Soon after the tourists leave, so do the snowbirds. All summer long, they block my way at the self-check-out lane at the supermarket, elbow me for space at the farmer’s market and slow me down in the fast lane on I-95. Then the first frost hits and poof! they are gone. Having feasted on clam chowdah and stuffies, they've finally saved enough energy to start the long relocation back south.
I guess that humans are like migratory animals. We all have the urge for a change of scenery once in a while. Biologically, animals migrate in search of food sources and/or so they don't become re-infested with their own parasites. So they trek to somewhere that is warmer, has longer daylight and guaranteed early-bird specials.
But an animal’s migratory departure is as predictable as an airline schedule. In other words, a completely capricious thing based on the weather that day, how full their bellies are, whether they have a roof over their heads and predators in the neighborhood. I get this – throw in a latte caramel and you pretty much have what makes or breaks a day for me.
It seems birds fly faster during migration than during ordinary flying. Small songbirds can zoom along at 20 miles per hour; starlings at 47 mph while ducks, swifts and hawks really put the pedal to the medal and can crank it up to 59. In fact, almost all birds fly fast enough to get them to their destination in a relatively short time. But most prefer leisurely journeys, taking in the sights along the way.
I like the thought of a group of starlings stopping to check out the world’s largest peanut in Ashburn, Georgia, or the weird hay-bale sculptures of Eutaw, Alabama. When I was growing up and road trips were more the norm than airline travel, I remember my sister and I languishing in the backseat as we took yet another “scenic route” (translation: my father refused to ask directions and would claim that he was merely taking a slightly longer route around “the city” and why don’t you take a nap or something?). But it did mean that we got to see every oversized and weird roadside attraction in America.
Apparently, bird males are more geographically-inclined than my dad. I recently read that males sometimes fly ahead to do a recce on the area, checking out local feeding sites and getting the nest ready. That is definitely my kind of man. Other times, the migration is one big speed-dating spree with males and females traveling together and choosing their mates along the way. And then there are the geese, who mate for life and travel as couples in large flocks, like some winged tour bus.
This last group most resembles my mode of travel these days. Except my large flock is my family and it’s only two children and one husband. But the numbers add up when you also need to pack Sister Cat and Black Cat (two oversized stuffed animals – it probably would be easier to bring along our three real cats… except that Choo Choo and Babyoh would end up fighting over the window seat and who is getting more catnip while Meow would want to stop every five miles for snacks, so scratch that).
Birds and AARP members are not the only creatures heading south. So do some bats, fish and yes, even insects. Imagine – while you brave out the next nor’easter, there are dragonflies, beetles, moths and Monarch butterflies basking in the subtropical climes of Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and even South America. What’s wrong with this picture?
Of course, not all birds are just fair-weather friends. I used to wait out winter with those hardy perennials at my bird feeder - chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, juncos, jays, woodpeckers and finches. While I would don multiple layers of down and fleece just to go out and refill the endless cup of thistle and sunflower seeds, I found that these little birds survive the cold weather by actively shaking to create heat calories in cold muscles.
But this year, I have decided enough with these false cold winters. If the snow is going to be a no-show, then I will stop dreaming of white blanketed fields and start actively pursuing white sandy beaches. I plan to join the winter migration – for a couple of weeks anyway. I am searching for someplace that has 0% chance of freezing. And I plan to ask for directions.
So, whether you are in the midst of pursuing your own personal migration this season or staying put with the chickadees, have a look around you and take notice of what else has moved on. Whether it's tourists, senior citizens, insects, birds, or bats, wish them buen viaje and happy returns.
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