Departure Direction Research Articles

Migratory departures of Robins during spring migration at Skagen, Denmark

SUMMARY We tracked departures of European Robins Erithacus rubecula stopping over during spring migration at Skagen, Denmark, and facing a sea crossing of more than 50 km. The Robins stopped over on average for 3.8 days (range 1–14 days, n = 15) with departure days being slightly warmer than stopover days (1.5°C warmer, P = 0.003). Departures were concentrated in the evening, on average during astronomical twilight, and toward the northeast (µ = 33.3°, r = 0.499, P = 0.021). The mean northeasterly departure direction is close to the standard migration direction. Most birds probably crossed the sea to Sweden and we observed no obvious reversed departure directions.

Transfer from Lunar Gateway to Sun-Earth Halo Orbits Using Solar Sails

To extend the usability of solar sails in the sun–Earth–moon system, we analyze the transfer trajectories from the 9:2 Earth–moon near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) to halo orbits around the sun–Earth L1 and L2 points under the assumption of a future mission for a solar sail spacecraft equipped with a solar electric propulsion (SEP) system deployed from the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway. The dynamics are modeled using the bicircular restricted four-body problem, where the gravitational forces from the sun, Earth, and moon as well as solar radiation pressure (SRP) are considered. We propose a trajectory design method that utilizes both SRP and SEP. The method consists of initial guess generation and optimization steps. The initial guess generation comprises the forward propagation of the escape trajectory from the NRHO, the backward propagation of the stable manifold of the target halo orbits, and their apoapsis patching process. Optimization is conducted to minimize propellant consumption by effectively controlling SRP. We perform optimizations with various parameters, namely, the sail area-to-mass ratio (), specifications of SEP, target sun–Earth halo orbit, and departure direction. The results validate the proposed trajectory design method and verify that solar sail acceleration can reduce the necessary amount of propellant, which indicates that such missions can be realized by small CubeSats.

A magnetic pulse does not affect free-flight navigation behaviour of a medium-distance songbird migrant in spring.

Current evidence suggests that migratory animals extract map information from the geomagnetic field for true navigation. The sensory basis underlying this feat is elusive, but presumably involves magnetic particles. A common experimental manipulation procedure consists of pre-treating animals with a magnetic pulse, with the aim of re-magnetising particles to alter the internal representation of the external field prior to a navigation task. Although pulsing provoked deflected bearings in caged songbirds, analogous studies with free-flying songbirds yielded inconsistent results. Here, we pulsed European robins (Erithacus rubecula) at an offshore stopover site during spring migration and monitored their free-flight behaviour with a regional-scale network of radio-receiving stations. We found no pulse effect on departure probability, nocturnal departure timing departure direction or consistency of flight direction. This suggests either no use of the geomagnetic map by our birds, or that magnetic pulses do not affect the sensory system underlying geomagnetic map detection.

A Distributed Emergency Vehicle Transit System Using Artificial Intelligence of Things (DEVeTS-AIoT)

The advent of the 4th industrial revolution has realized smart environments composed of cloud and fog. These have been improved to enable intelligence at the fog, where numerous, inexpensive devices communicate with each other and provide computation capabilities to solve domain-specific problems in a distributed fashion. One of these domains is smart traffic flow with a focus on emergency vehicle (EV) transit. The increase in traffic congestion in third-world countries is a hindrance in EV transit to save human lives. This paper proposes an Artificial Intelligence of Things– (AIoT–) based, distributed, EV transit system developed on Raspberry PI as a rule-based system with minimal sensors. The sensors include an infrared sensor to detect emergency light and directional microphones to detect siren. The departure direction of the EV is shared with adjacent intersections to further reduce the transit time.

The effect of externally attached archival data loggers on the short-term dispersal behaviour and migration speed of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)

BackgroundExternally attached archival data logging tags are increasingly used to unravel migration routes of fish species at sea. Due to the relatively large size of the tags, their application on seaward migrating anguillid eels often forms a challenge in terms of feasibility and impact on the eel’s swimming performance. In this study, we investigated the impact of externally attached pop-up data storage tags (PDSTs) on the departure direction, time spent at the release location and ground speed of European eels (Anguilla anguilla).ResultsWe tagged 66 eels with internal acoustic transmitters of which half of the eels were additionally tagged with externally attached PDSTs. A network of acoustic receivers allowed us to analyse if the dispersal behaviour (i.e. residence time and departure direction) from the release site differed between eels tagged with and without the PDSTs. In addition, we tracked the eels for ca. 83 km in the marine environment and determined their migration speed. The results showed no differences between eels tagged with or without external PDSTs in respect of the external tagging effect on residence time (n = 60), departure direction at the release site (n = 60) or on the migration speed (n = 20).ConclusionsWe conclude that the impact of the PDSTs is minimal on these metrics for at least the first part of the marine migration. While these field-based findings suggest that anguillid eels may be largely unaffected by the applied PDSTs, we recognize that more research is needed in both the field and the laboratory to study the impact of PDSTs and externally attached tags in general on fish swimming performance and energy expenditure. This can help interpret the results from the field, but also aid developing more hydrodynamic tag shapes or improved attachment methods.

Fat Stores and Antioxidant Capacity Affect Stopover Decisions in Three of Four Species of Migratory Passerines With Different Migration Strategies: An Experimental Approach

During migratory stopovers, birds must make decisions about when and where to travel and these decisions are likely contingent on their fuel stores, food availability, and antioxidant capacity as well as seasonal changes in key environmental factors. We conducted a field experiment on an offshore stopover site (Block Island, Rhode Island, United States: 41°130N, 71°330W) during autumn migration to test the hypothesis that birds with greater fuel stores and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity have shorter stopovers than lean birds with low antioxidant capacity, and to determine the extent to which this depends on migration strategy. We used a 2 × 2 factorial field experiment (two levels each of available food and dietary polyphenols) with four species of songbirds kept in captivity for 3–5 days to produce experimental groups with different fuel stores and antioxidant capacity. We attached digital VHF transmitters to assess stopover duration and departure direction using automated telemetry. Non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity increased during refueling for Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) and Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata) fedad libdiets, and forad libfed Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) supplemented with polyphenols, but not for Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata coronata). Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) decreased during captivity and was influenced by dietary treatment only in Red-eyed Vireos. Oxidative damage decreased during captivity for all species except Yellow-rumped Warblers. Stopover duration was shorter for Vireos and Blackpolls fedad libas compared to those fed maintenance.Ad libfed Hermit Thrushes supplemented with polyphenols had shorter stopovers than those fedad lib, as did thrushes fed at maintenance and supplemented with polyphenols compared with those fed at maintenance alone. There was no influence of condition on stopover duration for Yellow-rumped Warblers. Departure direction was not strongly related to condition, and birds primarily reoriented north when departing Block Island. Thus, fat stores and oxidative status interacted to influence the time passerines spent on stopover, and condition-dependent departure decisions were related to a bird’s migration strategy. Therefore, seasonal variation in macro- and micro-nutrient resources available for refueling at stopover sites can affect body condition and antioxidant capacity and in turn influence the timing and success of migration.

No apparent effect of a magnetic pulse on free-flight behaviour in northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) at a stopover site.

Naïve migrants reach their wintering grounds following a clock-and-compass strategy. During these inaugural migrations, birds internalise, among others, cues from the Earth's magnetic field to create a geomagnetic map, with which they navigate to destinations familiar to them on subsequent migrations. Geomagnetic map cues are thought to be sensed by a magnetic-particle-based receptor, which can be specifically affected by a magnetic pulse. Indeed, the orientation of experienced but not naïve birds was compromised after magnetic pulsing, indicating geomagnetic map use. Little is known about the importance of this putative magnetoreceptor for navigation and decision-making in free-flying migrants. Therefore, we studied in unprecedented detail how a magnetic pulse would affect departure probability, nocturnal departure timing, departure direction and consistency in flight direction over 50–100 km in experienced and naïve long-distant migrant songbirds using a large-scale radio-tracking system. Contrary to our expectations and despite a high sample size (ntotal = 137) for a free-flight study, we found no significant after-effect of the magnetic pulse on the migratory traits, suggesting the geomagnetic map is not essential for the intermediate autumn migration phase. These findings warrant re-thinking about perception and use of geomagnetic maps for migratory decisions within a sensory and ecological context.

High foraging site fidelity and spatial segregation among individual great black‐backed gulls

Individual foraging site fidelity, whereby individuals repeatedly visit the same foraging areas, is widespread in nature, and likely benefits individuals through higher foraging efficiency and potentially, higher breeding success. It may arise as a consequence of habitat or resource specialisation, or alternatively, where resources are abundant or predictable, the partitioning of space might guarantee individuals exclusive foraging opportunities. We tracked seven adult great black‐backed gulls Larus marinus at a North Sea colony from early incubation to the end of the breeding season in 2016, providing a total of 1170 foraging trips over a mean ± SD tracking period of 67 ± 16 days. There was clear spatial segregation between individuals, with almost no overlap of their core areas (50% utilisation distribution) during incubation and chick‐rearing. Core areas were relatively small and there was high repeatability (R ± SE) in foraging parameters, including initial departure direction (0.73 ± 0.11), foraging range (0.41 ± 0.14) and cumulative distance travelled (0.19 ± 0.1) throughout the breeding season. Despite the low spatial overlap, there was little evidence of differential habitat use by individuals. The near‐exclusive individual foraging areas of this species, usually considered to be a generalist, indicate that where there is high resource availability throughout the breeding season and a small local population, individuals appear to adopt a territorial strategy which likely reduces intraspecific competition.

Using weather radar to monitor the number, timing and directions of flying-foxes emerging from their roosts

Knowledge of species’ population trends is crucial when planning for conservation and management; however, this information can be difficult to obtain for extremely mobile species such as flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.; Chiroptera, Pteropodidae). In mainland Australia, flying-foxes are of particular management concern due their involvement in human-wildlife conflict, and their role as vectors of zoonotic diseases; and two species, the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and the spectacled flying-fox (P. conspicillatus), are currently threatened with extinction. Here we demonstrate that archival weather radar data over a period of ten years can be used to monitor a large colony of grey-headed flying-foxes near Melbourne. We show that radar estimates of colony size closely match those derived from traditional counting methods. Moreover, we show that radar data can be used to determine the timing and departure direction of flying-foxes emerging from the roost. Finally, we show that radar observations of flying-foxes can be used to identify signals of important ecological events, such as mass flowering and extreme heat events, and can inform human activities, e.g. the safe operation of airports and windfarms. As such, radar represents an extremely promising tool for the conservation and management of vulnerable flying-fox populations and for managing human interactions with these ecologically-important mammals.

Immune function and blood parasite infections impact stopover ecology in passerine birds

Stopovers play a crucial role for the success of migrating animals and are key to optimal migration theory. Variation in refuelling rates, stopover duration and departure decisions among individuals has been related to several external factors. The physiological mechanisms shaping stopover ecology are, however, less well understood. Here, we explore how immune function and blood parasite infections relate to several aspects of stopover behaviour in autumn migrating short- and long-distance migrating songbirds. We blood sampled individuals of six species and used an automated radio-telemetry system in the stopover area to subsequently quantify stopover duration, ‘bush-level’ activity patterns (~ 0.1–30 m), landscape movements (~ 30–6000 m), departure direction and departure time. We show that complement activity, the acute phase protein haptoglobin and blood parasite infections were related to prolonged stopover duration. Complement activity (i.e., lysis) and total immunoglobulins were negatively correlated with bush-level activity patterns. The differences partly depended on whether birds were long-distance or short-distance migrants. Birds infected with avian malaria-like parasites showed longer landscape movements during the stopover than uninfected individuals, and birds with double blood parasite infections departed more than 2.5 h later after sunset/sunrise suggesting shorter flight bouts. We conclude that variation in baseline immune function and blood parasite infection status affects stopover ecology and helps explain individual variation in stopover behaviour. These differences affect overall migration speed, and thus can have significant impact on migration success and induce carry-over effects on other annual-cycle stages. Immune function and blood parasites should, therefore, be considered as important factors when applying optimal migration theory.

Potential age differences in the migratory behaviour of a nocturnal songbird migrant during autumn and spring

In migratory songbirds, older individuals are thought to be more efficient migrants than younger individuals. Age‐specific differences in migratory efficiency have been reported mainly in respect of arrival timing, energy stores, rate of energy accumulation, departure behaviour, and departure direction. Yet, these traits were rarely assessed simultaneously in a single species. We further lack information whether age‐specific differences in behavioural traits present in autumn still manifest to the same degree in spring. Here we used the northern wheatearOenanthe oenanthe, a long‐distance nocturnal songbird migrant, and investigated age‐specific differences in energy stores at capture (autumn: 1059 birds/spring: 803 birds), rate of energy accumulation (168/147), nocturnal departure timing (126/105), and departure direction (94/77) for both seasons. We found that in autumn, young northern wheatears departed significantly later in the night than older birds. This difference was not observed in spring. The resulting advance in nocturnal departure timing by young birds from autumn to spring may be due to learning based on experience gained during autumn, and/or to selective disappearance of those young individuals showing late departure times during autumn. We found no age‐specific difference in any of the other migratory traits investigated. To get a better understanding of age effects in songbird migrants, we need to study the potential adjustments of migratory behaviour within the individual over its life time. By individually tracking songbirds throughout their lifetime, we could start estimating whether a certain migratory decision (fuelling, departure, orientation) translates into higher (or lower) fitness, and whether individuals adjust their migratory behaviour based on learning from ‘wrong decisions’.

Migratory hummingbirds make their own rules: the decision to resume migration along a barrier

Knowing how naive migrants respond to intrinsic and extrinsic factors experienced en route will allow a more thorough understanding of the endogenous migratory programme. To understand how inexperienced individuals respond to ecological features, we tracked the migratory departures of juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds, Archilochus colubris, one of the smallest (∼ 3 g) and least-studied migrants, along the Gulf of Mexico during southbound migration using an international automated radiotelemetry system. The recent miniaturization of radiotags provides a novel method to track one of the smallest migratory birds, rendering the first information on departure decisions of known hummingbirds in relation to an ecological barrier. Using weather conditions and individual attributes, we also determined which factors influenced the time and direction of departure from a coastal stopover site. Most migrants (83%) departed in the morning, and daily departure time was only influenced by stopover duration, the amount of time spent at a stopover site. The majority (77%) of departure orientations paralleled the coastline, and we found little influence of any factor on departure direction. Our results reveal that (1) juvenile hummingbirds departing coastal Alabama move in a direction indicative of a circum-Gulf path during southbound migration and (2) departure decisions support a fly-and-forage strategy in which hummingbirds likely take advantage of resources along the coast while moving towards their destination.

Occurrence of quiescence in free-ranging migratory songbirds

Quiescence is a period of inactivity that occurs before the onset of migratory activity in nocturnally migrating birds. This behavior has been observed in captive birds in migratory disposition, but its occurrence in free-ranging migratory birds has been documented only anecdotally, and causal factors and function(s), if any, are unknown. In this study, we documented and characterized quiescence in three migratory songbird species (red-eyed vireo [Vireo olivaceus], Swainson’s thrush [Catharus ustulatus], and wood thrush [Hylocichla mustelina]) by measuring movement and proportion of time spent inactive prior to departure from a stopover site during fall migration. Individuals of each species displayed a period of inactivity prior to departure which varied from less than 30 min to over 90 min with red-eyed vireos engaged in the longest, most pronounced quiescence. We also examined how quiescence was related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors known to influence the departure of migrating birds, and found some evidence for an effect of age and departure time but no effect of a migrant’s energetic condition, departure direction, atmospheric conditions around departure, or day of year on quiescence. Our novel application of an automated radiotelemetry system yielded a large amount of data to characterize quiescence in free-ranging migratory birds, and we provide guidance for future studies to tease apart the various causal factors and function(s) of this migratory behavior. Quiescence is a poorly understood period of inactivity observed among captive and free-ranging migratory songbirds prior to the onset of nocturnal activity. Our novel use of automated radiotelemetry revealed quiescence among three intercontinental migratory songbirds. It also enabled us to ask how quiescence might be related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors known to influence the departure of migrating birds, and provided an opportunity to explore possible function(s), if any, of this intriguing behavior.

Fast multi-parameter estimation and localization for MIMO radar

This paper addresses the problem of four-dimensional angle and Doppler frequency estimation for bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar with arbitrary arrays in spatial colored noise. A novel method for joint estimation of Doppler frequency, two-dimensional (2D) direction of departure and 2D direction of arrival based on the propagator method (PM) for arbitrary arrays is discussed. A special matrix is constructed to eliminate the influence of spatial colored noise. The four-dimensional (4D) angle and Doppler frequency are extracted from the matrix and the three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the targets are then calculated on the basis of these angles. The proposed algorithm provides a lower computational complexity and has a parameter estimation very close to that of the ESPRIT algorithm and the DOA-matrix algorithm in the high signal to noise ratio and the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) is given. Furthermore, multi-dimensional parameters can be automatically paired by this algorithm to avoid performance degradation resulting from wrong pairing. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Joint Doppler frequency, 2D-DOD and 2D-DOA estimation for bistatic MIMO radar in spatial coloured noise

In this paper, we address the problem of four-dimensional angle and Doppler frequency estimation for L-shaped bistatic multiple input multiple output radar in spatial coloured noise. A novel method of joint estimation of Doppler frequency, two-dimensional direction of departure and two-dimensional direction of arrival based on the propagator method is discussed. Utilising the cross-correlation matrix which is formed by the adjacent outputs of matched filter in the time domain, the special matrix is constructed to eliminate the influence of spatial coloured noise. The proposed algorithm provides lower computational complexity and has very close parameter estimation to the estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques algorithm and DOA-matrix algorithm in high signal-to-noise ratio and Cramér–Rao bound is given. Furthermore, multidimensional parameters can be automatically paired by this algorithm to avoid the performance degradation resulting from wrong pairing. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Honeybees Use Celestial and/or Terrestrial Compass Cues for Inter‐Patch Navigation

AbstractForaging honeybees (Apis mellifera) are well known to fly straight from the hive, their primary hub, to distal goals as well as between familiar feeding sites. More recently, it was shown that a distal feeding site may be used as a secondary hub. If not fully satiated, the foraging bee may decide to depart the first feeding site in a new compass direction straight to one of many other feeding sites (inter‐patch foraging). Using a recently developed recording method, we discovered that the chosen departure direction at a secondary hub can be guided exclusively by either celestial or terrestrial compass cues. Given our data, we draw two theoretical inferences. First, the bees must be capable of learning and remembering multiple, spatially distinct, navigation vectors between the hive and among multiple feeding sites. Second, this documented and useful representation of multiple navigation vectors between multiple, identified target locations logically implies composite place‐vector mapping, stored in long‐term memory.

Research on the Terminal Aircraft Separations Based on the History Surveillance Data

The contradictions between unreasonable terminal aircraft flight separation and rapidly increasing air traffic are prominent. Researches on the terminal control separation allowance are of vita importance to enhance aerodrome capacity and reduce fight delay. Based on the actual Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) data of certain airport whose capacity was the third one of China, the terminal aircraft separations algorithm was proposed in this paper. The impact of aerodrome capacity, departure landing sequence and direction change of runway on flight separation were discussed.

A low-complexity joint 2D-DOD and 2D-DOA estimation algorithm for MIMO radar with arbitrary arrays

In this article, we study the problem of four-dimensional angles estimation for bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar with arbitrary arrays, and propose a joint two-dimensional direction of departure (2D-DOD) and two-dimensional direction of arrival (2D-DOA) estimation algorithm. Our algorithm is to extend the propagator method (PM) for angle estimation in MIMO radar. The proposed algorithm does not require peak searching and eigenvalue decomposition of received signal covariance matrix, because of this, it has low computational complexity. And it can achieve automatic pairing of four-dimensional angles. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm has much better angle estimation performance than interpolated estimation method of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT), and has very close angle estimation performance to ESPRIT-like algorithm which has higher computational cost than the proposed algorithm. We also analyze the complexity and angle estimation error of the algorithm, and derive the Cramer‐Rao bound (CRB). The simulation results verify the effectiveness and improvement of the proposed algorithm.

A strong magnetic pulse affects the precision of departure direction of naturally migrating adult but not juvenile birds

The mechanisms by which migratory birds achieve their often spectacular navigational performance are still largely unclear, but perception of cues from the Earth's magnetic field is thought to play a role. Birds that possess migratory experience can use map-based navigation, which may involve a receptor that uses ferrimagnetic material for detecting gradients in the magnetic field. Such a mechanism can be experimentally disrupted by applying a strong magnetic pulse that re-magnetizes ferrimagnetic materials. In captivity, this treatment indeed affected bearings of adult but not of naive juvenile birds. However, field studies, which expose birds to various navigational cues, yielded mixed results. Supportive studies were difficult to interpret because they were conducted in spring when all age groups navigate back to breeding areas. The present study, therefore, applied a magnetic pulse treatment in autumn to naturally migrating, radio-tagged European robins. We found that, although overall bearings were seasonally correct, orientation of adult but not juvenile robins was compromised by a pulse. Pulsed adults that departed within 10 days of treatment failed to show significant orientation and deviated more from mean migration direction than adult controls and juveniles. Thus, our data give field-based support for a possible ferrimagnetic map-sense during bird migration.

Departure directions, migratory timing and non-breeding distribution of the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio: do ring re-encounters and light-based geolocator data tell the same story?

This study explores differences and consistencies between ring re-encounter and light-based geolocator data from Red-backed Shrike when used for studying three aspects of bird migration: departure direction and its relationship with longitude and latitude, non-breeding distribution, and timing of migration. Departure directions were consistent between the two methods. They indicate a funnel-shaped migration with individuals from southwest Europe taking a detour via the eastern Mediterranean rather than migrating via Gibraltar. This indicates that an original migration route has been retained after colonisation of the breeding range. Non-breeding distributions differed substantially between birds ringed and re-encountered and birds tracked by geolocators. This difference may be due to spatio-temporal heterogeneity in ring re-encounter probability and/or due to the two samples of birds belonging to different populations. The monthly average ring re-encounter location moved later southward during autumn and earlier northward during spring migration than the geolocator positions, because of an over-representation of re-encounters in the north. The results emphasise the importance of combining different sources of data when analysing migration patterns of animals that are difficult to track.