After flying south what do birds do? Do they nest again and raise another family? Or, like human “snowbirds” do they just bask in the Florida sun?
Migration takes a lot of energy. Once birds reach a suitable wintering spot, they spend the first days and weeks exploring. They need to identify the best places for finding food, for hiding from predators and for nightly roosting. In their summer home, they knew all the places to find food. Down south they have to learn all over again.
They have to replenish the energy lost during migration. And build up energy for the return trip. Some species molt into a fresh set of new feathers for the journey north.
Like most good vacations, time passes too quickly and it is soon time to head north again.
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