Have you ever gone on a trip, like visiting family by car or flying somewhere fun for vacation? Well, guess what? Animals take trips too! When animals move from one place to another, it’s called migration. But not every trip an animal makes is migration. For example, if Squeaks moves from the lab to the kitchen, that’s not migration—it’s snack time!
Migration usually means traveling a long distance. Animals might migrate to different parts of a country or even across the world. These journeys happen at specific times, like when birds fly south for the winter. Animals migrate for important reasons, such as finding warmer weather, searching for food, or having babies in safe places.
Let’s explore some amazing animal migrations!
Caribou live in northern places like Canada and Alaska. They move in big groups called herds. Every year, they travel in a big loop. In winter, they stay near the Canada-Alaska border. In spring, they move about 600 kilometers north to find food and have babies. But when summer brings pesky mosquitoes, they move away from the coast. As fall arrives and it gets cold, they head back south. By the end of the year, some caribou have walked almost 5,000 kilometers!
Whales are the champions of sea migration. Humpback whales travel the farthest. In summer, they stay in cool northern waters, eating shrimp and small fish. When it gets too cold, they swim south to warmer places like Hawai’i. There, they rest and have babies. Once the babies are strong enough, they swim back north. The longest recorded swim for a humpback whale is over 15,000 kilometers!
The Arctic tern is a small bird, about the size of a school ruler. It makes one of the longest migrations ever! In winter, it flies over 35,000 kilometers from the North Pole to the tip of South America. That’s one of the longest journeys by any animal!
Animals don’t have maps or phones like we do. They use different methods to navigate. Some look at the sky, using stars, the moon, and the sun. Others follow landmarks like mountains and rivers. Caribou, humpback whales, and Arctic terns are just a few examples of migrating animals. Fish, insects, and even jellyfish migrate too!
Next time you’re on a trip, think about these incredible animal journeys. Thanks for joining me on SciShow Kids! If you have questions, ask a grownup to help you leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]!
Map Your Own Migration: Create a simple map of your neighborhood or a place you know well. Choose an animal from the article, like the caribou or the humpback whale, and imagine they are visiting your area. Draw a path on the map showing where they might go to find food, rest, or have babies. Think about what they might see along the way. Share your map with a friend or family member and explain why you chose that path.
Migration Movement Game: Pretend to be one of the migrating animals, like the Arctic tern or the caribou. Set up different stations around your home or yard that represent different parts of their journey (e.g., starting point, resting place, food spot). Move from station to station, just like the animal would during migration. At each station, talk about what the animal might be doing or seeing. Invite friends or family to join and take turns being different animals.
Ask and Explore: Think about these questions: How do you think animals feel during their long journeys? What challenges might they face? Discuss your thoughts with a friend or family member. Then, look for examples of migration in your everyday life, like birds flying in a V shape or butterflies in your garden. Keep a journal of your observations and share your findings with your class or family.
