Animal Migration

Dale Kennedy, Professor emerita, Albion College Biology Department

Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m., May 7, 14, 21, 28. Ludington Center, 113. Class size unlimited.

It’s spring, and many animals are on the move in and around Albion and all over the world. Some animals near us, such as amphibians, move only a small distance; others, such as many birds, monarch butterflies, and dragonflies, may move thousands of miles. In this class, we will look at migration patterns of a variety of animals, including one or more members of each group of vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds) and some insects and crustaceans. We will address several questions: What is migration as opposed to other types of animal movements? Why do so many species of animals migrate when there are costs as well as benefits to doing so? How do they know when to go? How do they know where to go? What cues do they use? What are the current great threats to migration (includes climate change)? How have scientists learned about migratory patterns? We will include an optional field trip in Whitehouse Nature Center on Saturday, May 10, which is World Migratory Bird Day. Supplemental reading and videos will be sent out ahead of each class by email.