Decoding the migration of the peregrine falcon
Nature A Satellite-tagged peregrine at its nest site in the Lena Delta, Russia. Peregrines were tracked from six separate breeding areas across Arctic Eurasia. Genome re-sequencing identified differences among these populations. Variations in their numbers were linked to changes in glacial conditions over time. Credit: Andrew Dixon. The migratory routes used by the peregrine falcon have been shaped by environmental changes since the last Ice Age, reports a study published in Nature. The paper also presents evidence that the distance travelled during migration is influenced by a genetic factor. Satellite-tagged peregrine in Taimyr, Russia. Satellite tracking revealed a high degree of fidelity to nesting sites, wintering ranges and to the migratory routes connecting them. Credit: Andrew Dixon . Millions of migratory birds have seasonally favourable breeding grounds in the Arctic, but spend their winters in different locations across Eurasia. However, little is known about