Through the activities of the birders, who during our century have multiplied from mere thousands to hundreds of thousands, we know a great deal about the obvious or visible aspects of migration, particularly the dates of arrival and departure… Less well-known are… just how they are affected by winds and the other meteorological conditions they encounter; but we know far more of the facts than we did twenty years ago.
Roger Tory Peterson
Foreword to The Migrations of Birds (1962) by Jean Dorst
While penned over 60 years ago, this statement holds true – community science programs continue to make valuable contributions to our understanding of bird migration, including the many hazards birds encounter on their journey. The weather, including temperature changes, storms, and strong wind can all impact migration, causing birds to veer off course, slowing them down (or giving them a boost), or requiring emergency stopovers, sometimes resulting in bird fallout.
Much of today’s research is focused on newer and increasingly dangerous human-created (anthropogenic) hazards to bird migration such as window strikes, pollution, habitat loss, poisons and pesticides, artificial light, and predators like cats. Some researchers are looking at how threats like artificial light might be mitigated and others are looking at the possible long-term impacts on bird fitness for those who survive these threats.