In May 1822, something incredible happened at Count Christian Ludwig von Bothmer’s castle in North Germany. He shot down a stork, but this wasn’t just any stork. When he examined it, he found a yard-long wooden spear stuck in its body. A local professor identified the spear as being from Africa. This meant the stork had been speared in Africa and then flew over 2,500 kilometers to Germany! This amazing journey wasn’t just a testament to the stork’s toughness; it also provided a crucial clue to a mystery that had puzzled scientists for ages: where do birds go when they disappear each season?
Long ago, people had some pretty wild ideas about where birds went. Even the famous philosopher Aristotle had his theories. One idea was that birds changed into different creatures depending on the season. For instance, people thought summer garden warblers turned into blackcaps in winter. In reality, these are two separate species that just look similar.
Another theory was that birds turned into humans, plants, or even parts of ships. Some Christian clergy believed barnacle geese were made of wood, so they could be eaten during fasting periods when meat was not allowed.
Aristotle also suggested that birds hibernated, like some animals do. While a few birds, like the common poorwill, do hibernate, the idea was taken to extremes. People thought barn swallows took off their feathers and slept in holes or underwater during winter.
One of Aristotle’s ideas was closer to the truth: migration. But even this was exaggerated. In 1666, some believed birds flew to the moon each winter! Although these ideas sound strange now, the real story of migration is just as incredible. About 20% of bird species migrate each year, chasing warm weather and food. Some birds travel from 700 to over 17,000 kilometers, with journeys lasting up to four months. Birds crossing oceans can fly non-stop for over 100 hours, navigating by stars, wind, and Earth’s magnetic field.
Tracking these amazing journeys is tough. Birds usually take the shortest route, but storms and human activities can change their paths. Count von Bothmer’s stork provided solid evidence that European storks migrated south for the winter, and it hinted at their destination.
Johannes Thienemann, who owned the world’s first permanent bird observatory, was determined to solve this mystery. He organized a team in Germany to tag 2,000 storks with aluminum rings, each with a unique number and his office address. He spread the word about the project, hoping people in Africa would find the rings and send them back with information.
Between 1908 and 1913, Thienemann received 178 rings, 48 of which were from Africa. This data helped him map the first migration route ever discovered, proving that storks weren’t flying to the moon but were making incredible journeys across continents.
Using a world map, plot the migration route of the stork mentioned in the article. Mark the starting point in Africa and the endpoint in Germany. Use different colors to show possible routes and discuss why birds might choose certain paths. Consider factors like weather, food availability, and geographical obstacles.
Work in small groups to create a short skit that debunks one of the historical myths about bird migration mentioned in the article. Perform your skit for the class, highlighting the myth and the scientific truth. Use props or costumes to make your performance engaging and memorable.
Simulate the bird tagging process by creating your own “bird tags” using paper and string. Assign each student a unique number and have them “migrate” around the school. Track their movements and discuss how scientists use real tags to gather data on bird migration patterns.
Imagine you are a migrating bird. Write a diary entry describing your journey from Africa to Germany. Include details about the challenges you face, the sights you see, and the reasons for your migration. Share your diary with the class to explore different perspectives on bird migration.
Participate in a debate about the different theories of bird migration mentioned in the article. Divide into teams, with each team defending a historical theory. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Conclude with a discussion on how scientific understanding has evolved over time.
In May of 1822, Count Christian Ludwig von Bothmer shot down a stork over his castle grounds in North Germany. However, he wasn’t the first person to hunt that specific bird. Upon recovering the stork, von Bothmer found it impaled by a yard-long wooden spear. A local professor determined that the weapon was of African origin, suggesting that somehow, this stork was speared in Africa and then flew over 2,500 kilometers to the count’s castle. This astonishing flight wasn’t just evidence of the stork’s resilience; it was an essential clue in a mystery that plagued scientists for centuries: the seasonal disappearance of birds.
Ancient naturalists had various theories to explain the annual vanishing act we now know as migration. Aristotle himself proposed three particularly popular ideas. One theory was that birds transformed into different bodies that suited the season. For example, summer garden warblers were believed to transform into blackcaps every winter. In reality, these are two distinct species—similar in shape and size, but never appearing at the same time. Over the following centuries, birds were said to morph into humans, plants, and even the timbers of ships. This last idea was especially popular with many Christian clergy. If barnacle geese were truly made of wood, they could be deemed vegetarian and enjoyed during meatless fasts.
Aristotle’s second and even more enduring hypothesis was that birds hibernate. This isn’t so far-fetched; some species do enter short, deep sleeps that lower their heart rates and metabolisms. There’s at least one truly hibernating bird: the common poorwill, which sleeps through winters in the deserts of North America. However, researchers were proposing much more outlandish forms of hibernation well into the 19th century. Barn swallows were said to remove their feathers and hibernate in holes or sleep through the winter at the bottom of lakes and rivers.
Aristotle’s final theory resembled something more like realistic migration. However, this idea was also taken to extremes. In 1666, a leading migration advocate was convinced that each winter, birds flew to the moon. It might seem strange that prominent researchers considered such bizarre ideas, but to be fair, the true story of migration may be even harder to believe than their wildest theories. Roughly 20% of all bird species migrate each year, following warm weather and fresh food around the planet. For birds that spend their summers in the northern hemisphere, this journey can span from 700 to over 17,000 kilometers, with some flights lasting as long as four months. Birds that migrate across oceans may soar without stopping for over 100 hours. Sleeping and eating on the fly, they navigate the endless ocean by the stars, wind currents, and Earth’s magnetic field.
Tracking the specifics of these epic expeditions is notoriously difficult. While birds often take the most direct route possible, storms and human development can alter their paths, further complicating our attempts to chart migration. Fortunately, Count von Bothmer’s stork offered physical proof not only that European storks were migrating south for the winter but also where they were migrating to. Ornithologists across the continent were eager to map the trajectory of this flight, including Johannes Thienemann. Owner of the world’s first permanent bird observatory, Thienemann was a major public advocate for the study of birds. To solve the field’s biggest mystery, he organized a team of volunteers from across Germany. His team used aluminum rings to tag the legs of two thousand storks with unique numbers and the address of his offices. Then he advertised the initiative as widely as possible, hoping that word of the experiment would reach Africa, so people finding the tags would know to mail them back with more information.
Sure enough, from 1908 to 1913, Thienemann received 178 rings, 48 of which had been found in Africa. Using this data, he plotted the first migration route ever discovered and definitively established that storks were not, in fact, flying to the moon.
Stork – A large, long-legged bird known for its long neck and beak, often found in wetlands and known for migrating long distances. – The white stork is famous for its annual migration from Europe to Africa.
Migration – The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another, often for breeding or climate reasons. – Many bird species undertake migration to warmer regions during the winter months.
Africa – The second-largest continent, known for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife, including many migratory birds. – Africa provides a winter home for many storks that migrate from Europe.
Germany – A country in Europe that is a starting point for many migratory birds heading to Africa. – Storks in Germany begin their long journey to Africa as the weather turns colder.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The white stork is a species that is well-known for its impressive migratory patterns.
Theories – Scientific explanations that are based on evidence and reasoning, used to explain natural phenomena. – One of the theories about bird migration is that they use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate.
Journey – A long trip or passage from one place to another, often involving challenges or discoveries. – The journey of migratory birds from Europe to Africa is a remarkable feat of endurance and navigation.
Evidence – Information or data that supports a conclusion or theory, often gathered through observation or experimentation. – Scientists gather evidence from tracking devices to study the migration patterns of birds.
Birds – Warm-blooded, egg-laying animals with feathers, wings, and a beak, many of which are capable of flight. – Birds like the stork are known for their incredible migratory journeys across continents.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area, which can influence the behavior and distribution of living organisms. – Changes in climate can affect the migration routes of many bird species.
