The Northern black swift is thought to have a link to the moon, according to researchers. Scientists determined that when this small bird makes its way from the Rocky Mountains to the Amazon jungle, it relies on moonlight to recharge its batteries.
Northern swifts often rise to high altitudes, often up to 5,000 meters over sea level, during periods surrounding the full moon, according to small detectors and sensors connected to them.
Scientists claim the rising birds are dining on flying insects, which are simpler to hunt under the moonlight, depending on their enhanced flapping. During the eight-month voyage, a complete lunar eclipse caused the birds to quickly decrease altitude, demonstrating that moonlight had an instantaneous effect on their flight.
The lunar effect
While prior research has linked the moon cycle to the ups and downs of flying insects, so far the moon cycle has not been linked to a bird’s altitudes. Swifts raise their height in response to the moonlight, but scientists aren’t sure whether this is due to the moonlight or another source. They do realize, though, that as the evenings get darker, black swifts descend lower in the air and grow less active.
There’s still the possibility that the birds are flying higher at night to escape predators rather than to feed, but the authors point out that flying to elevations of 2,000 meters over sea levels does seem like an overly large safety tolerance, particularly on such a lengthy journey. Swifts soared 700 meters over sea level usually on darker evenings, such as those surrounding the new moon.
The ‘lunar effect’ is the influence of the Moon cycle on animal behavior, and it affects a broad range of animals, even sharks or oysters. Many of their actions are influenced by the Moon’s light, while others are influenced by the tides. Others, on the other hand, remain a total enigma.
