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The paradox of extreme high-altitude migration in bar-headed geese Anser indicus

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 17:59 authored by Hawkes, LA, Balachandran, S, Batbayar, N, Butler, PJ, Chua, B, Douglas, DC, Peter FrappellPeter Frappell, Hou, Y, Milsom, WK, Newman, SH, Prosser, DJ, Sathiyaselvam, P, Scott, GR, Takekawa, JY, Natsagdorj, T, Wikelski, M, Witt, MJ, Yan, B, Bishop, CM
Bar-headed geese are renowned for migratory flights at extremely high altitudes over the world’s tallest mountains, the Himalayas, where partial pressure of oxygen is dramatically reduced while flight costs, in terms of rate of oxygen consumption, are greatly increased. Such a mismatch is paradoxical, and it is not clear why geese might fly higher than is absolutely necessary. In addition, direct empirical measurements of high-altitude flight are lacking. We test whether migrating bar-headed geese actually minimize flight altitude and make use of favourable winds to reduce flight costs. By tracking 91 geese, we show that these birds typically travel through the valleys of the Himalayas and not over the summits. We report maximum flight altitudes of 7290 m and 6540 m for southbound and northbound geese, respectively, but with 95 per cent of locations received from less than 5489 m. Geese travelled along a route that was 112 km longer than the great circle (shortest distance) route, with transit ground speeds suggesting that they rarely profited from tailwinds. Bar-headed geese from these eastern populations generally travel only as high as the terrain beneath them dictates and rarely in profitable winds. Nevertheless, their migration represents an enormous challenge in conditions where humans and other mammals are only able to operate at levels well below their sea-level maxima.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the Royal Society: B

Volume

280

Issue

1750

Article number

20122114

Number

20122114

Pagination

1-8

ISSN

0962-8452

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Royal Society London

Place of publication

London, UK

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 The Author(s)

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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