A new study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows that the Corn Belt in the U.S. Midwest affects migratory songbirds similar to natural barriers. Researchers gathered five years of weather radar data from 47 stations in the eastern United States to analyze the birds' migration behavior. They discovered that when flying over the Corn Belt, birds travel faster and rely more on favorable tailwinds, suggesting they work to avoid the challenges posed by the largely modified landscape, where more than 76% of the original forests and grasslands have been transformed into cornfields since the 1850s.

Lead author Fengyi Guo, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, explained that the birds adjust their flight speed, timing, and altitude when crossing the agricultural expanse. These adjustments are similar to the changes birds make when they encounter a natural barrier, such as the Gulf of Mexico.

This research highlights how human-altered landscapes can create obstacles for migrating birds, prompting them to alter their behavior to ensure safe and efficient crossings.

Source: Cornell University

Source Type: College

Source Location: Ithaca

Ithaca, NY

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