Researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) are into studying the Barnacle geese genus and how they predict weather conditions by adjusting their flights to cope with the ever increasing climatic changes occurring in the environment. To survive the rapid changes in weather conditions, the Barnacle geese have to time their migratory flights from their wintering grounds in the Netherlands to their breeding grounds above the Arctic circle, in Barentsz, Northern Russia.
Climatic changes speed up by the increasing threat of global warming. Spring thaw comes early altering the migration instincts of the feathered coop. It is difficult for a man to anticipate when winter ice melts so much more for the Barnacle geese and other migratory birds. The flock won't know that winter in their breeding grounds is starting to melt thousands of miles away.
Delays in the Barnacle geese's flights mean missing the best early vegetation in the area and by the time they get there, the best is gone. Fewer goslings will be bred and a threat of extinction looms on the species.
Ecologist Thomas Lameris and the Swiss Ornithological Institute studied the Barnacle geese flight patterns by tracking their flights and marking stopovers to feed. It could be the flock's decision to feed on stopovers to store more fat for long flights or go to a next stopover to expedite their journey. But the issue is the timing that the Barnacle Geese are after for maximum breeding of goslings with respect to the rapid climatic alterations, as reported by Science Daily.
The accelerated warming in the Arctic regions is benchmarked by the migratory behavior patterns of the Barnacle Geese, as recorded by the ecologists. According to professor Lameris, Barnacle geese are intelligent species and are learning the accelerated patterns of fast climatic shifts. They adapt by improving their migration flight strategy and pass it on to their offsprings. It remains a question if the birds can adapt to climate change as fast as the destruction of this planet, as reported by Eurekalert.
Scientists also learned from the Barnacle geese as they work closely with these birds. The birds educate researchers on how global warming affects them and how fast it destroys the ecological equilibrium. Something taught to us the hard way.
