Rapid microevolution of migratory behaviour in a wild bird species

Article Abstract:

The migratory routes of the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla have changed between the 1960s and the 1990s with many German and Austrian birds wintering in Britain rather than in their traditional western Mediterranean grounds. Birds of continental origin were determined to have migrated to Britain rather than overstaying summer by returning them mid-winter and observing their migratory restlessness. Observation of the migratory restlessness of the offspring of British birds shows these patterns to have genetic determinants. Changes in British weather and human bird-feeding may have selected for these genes.

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Genes map the migratory route

Article Abstract:

The migratory routes of the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla have changed between the 1960s and 1990s with many German and Austrian birds wintering in Britain rather than in their traditional western Mediterranean grounds. Birds of continental origin were determined to have migrated to Britain rather than overstaying summer by returning them mid-winter and observing their migratory restlessness. Observation of the migratory restlessness of the offspring of British birds shows the patterns to have genetic determinants. Changes in British weather and human bird-feeding may have selected for these genes.

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The buffer effect and large-scale population regulation in migratory birds

Article Abstract:

Research into whether the Icelandic-breeding population of black-tailed godwits shows signs of a buffer effect is presented. It was found that the growing godwit population has a clear extensive buffer effect, with numbers in poor sites having experienced disproportionately large rates of increase. Site quality is connected with both survival and timing of arrival on the breeding grounds.

Environmental aspects, Bird populations

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