I seem to recall it being instinct,but I have a feeling that it might be learned.
2006-06-30 11:44:34 · 14 answers · asked by That one guy 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It is hard-wired into their brains but the younger birds start out by following their parents south and if birds are taken out of the wild at a young age and have never migrated a small glider type plane can be flown the the birds will follow so it can be learned too.
2006-06-30 15:18:25 · answer #1 · answered by Professor Armitage 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
It's learned. If birds are captured, held for a time then released in the wild, they do not instinctively migrate. In truth some of them die.
If they manage to be accepted back into the flock they learn to migrate by following their species.
2006-06-30 13:23:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's something like instict... they have this magnetic thingy in them that helps them navigate better, which you could argue is instict. But I also believe it is also learned and not necicarly out of habit...
I once saw a bird travelling the OTHER way when it was suppose to be migrating, they do have their CHOICE too LOL.
It's something like common sense, which is also learned (I believe there is no such thing as true common sense, it's all learned).
;-)
2006-06-30 12:42:49 · answer #3 · answered by Am 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Birds know where to migrate to due to nature rather than nurture. It's born into them and there are several elements that scientists believe aid them in their journey. The use of the position of the sun and the stars, the earth's magnetism and recognition of landmarks.
2006-06-30 12:37:48 · answer #4 · answered by skystorms 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is instictive. Migration is seemingly caused by a genetic compound, enbaling the bird to sense through weather components that it should migrate. (search bird migration on wikipedia.)
2006-06-30 11:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by Astrid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
instinct I believe. Even cooler than the birds are the salmon who can smell their way back to where they were born,
2006-06-30 12:12:57 · answer #6 · answered by greenfrogs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe that it is instinct but i also believe that the young learn from the old
2006-06-30 12:45:58 · answer #7 · answered by jameshuett@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most subscribe to Rand-McNally and Farmers Almanac
2006-06-30 11:48:07 · answer #8 · answered by Colorado 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably alittle bit of both. I read somewhere they can navigate following the earths magnetism.
2006-06-30 11:55:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure its instinct!
2006-06-30 21:37:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋