top of page

Weather Radar Reveals Australia's Bird Migrations

The migratory habits of birds in eastern Australia have been revealed for the first time, with the help of technology that is normally used to track storms and should "help us better protect birds in Australia and globally.”


A Silvereye perched on a branch

Birdwatchers have long known that some Australian birds migrate, but the questions of when and to where have been shrouded in mystery. Scientists from the University of Queensland used 16 years of weather radar data to cut through the fog and discovered structured migration patterns across Australia’s east coast - from Tasmania to northern Queensland.


They also learned that, in contrast to their cousins in Europe and North America, Australia’s birds prefer to do their long-distance travelling in daylight hours rather than at night. Furthermore, they discovered that the Silvereye (pictured) is a partial migrant: some migrate while others stay in place.


“Weather radars can tell us how many birds are flying, when and in which direction they’re moving,” explained study lead Xu Shi, a PhD candidate with the university’s School of the Environment. “The data showed lots of variation in migration direction, timing, and intensity from year to year when compared to northern hemisphere birds, which are very rigidly tied to seasons.”


Study co-author Professor Richard Fuller said the discoveries pave the way for conservation efforts to protect Australia’s birds. “By enabling researchers to further explore how climate change and environmental shifts affect bird migration, our findings can help us better protect birds in Australia and globally,” Fuller says.


“By enabling researchers to further explore how climate change and environmental shifts affect bird migration, our findings can help us better protect birds in Australia and globally.”


The research is published in Current Biology.

bottom of page