This 9-minute video, filmed on merchant ships by Odysseas-Froilan Papageorgiou, provides a unique perspective on migratory birds.
Terrestrial birds that migrate over the ocean will land on ships to rest and refuel, especially during bad weather. Some birds are exhausted by the time they land. The ships attract insects that are eaten by songbirds. The songbirds attract birds of prey and shrikes.
The video showcases 70 species seen during Europe voyages. Each half of the video is in taxonomic order. My favorites were the birds of prey and a colorful bird that was new to me — the black-headed bunting. Don’t miss the hobby, the peregrine and the long-eared owl.
Best Bird is saved for the end!
(video by Odysseas Froilan on YouTube)
Doing my best “Mr. Spock” imitation: “Fascinating!”.
This account of passage birds landing on a ship is really interesting. Did you, by chance, ever do a follow-up?