Scientists fitted a European honey buzzard with a GPS tracker. The bird flew for 42 days, covering more than 10,000 km from South Africa to Finland and helping researchers uncover the secrets of one of nature's greatest migrations
How scientists tracked a European honey buzzard's 10,000 km epic journey The bird's 10,000 km journey was guided by nature's invisible highways One of nature's
How scientists tracked a European honey buzzard's 10,000 km epic journey The bird's 10,000 km journey was guided by nature's invisible highways One of nature's most efficient long-distance travellers What researchers learned from the GPS data GPS tracking is transforming bird research A tiny GPS tracker attached to a European honey buzzard revealed an extraordinary feat of endurance that few humans could match. Over 42 days, the bird travelled more than 10,000 km from its wintering grounds in South Africa to its breeding habitat in Finland, crossing deserts, mountain ranges and numerous countries along the way. The journey, documented by researchers led by Finnish ornithologist Dr. Patrik Byholm as part of Project Honey Buzzard, offered an unprecedented glimpse into one of the world's most remarkable migrations. The data showed not only where the bird travelled but also how it timed its flights, selected energy-efficient routes and adapted to changing landscapes and weather conditions.Researchers fitted the European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) with a lightweight GPS satellite transmitter before it began its spring migration from southern Africa. Unlike traditional bird ringing, which relies on occasional recoveries of tagged birds, the transmitter continuously relayed precise location data, allowing scientists to monitor the bird's movements in near real time.The tracking revealed that the buzzard travelled more than 10,000 km in just 42 days, averaging about 230 km each day.
The GPS data recorded its altitude, flight speed, stopover locations and travel patterns, enabling researchers to study how the bird responded to changing weather conditions throughout its migration.Every new transmission added another piece to the puzzle of one of Europe's least understood migratory birds.The European honey buzzard did not simply take the shortest path between South Africa and Finland. Instead, it followed an energy-efficient route through eastern Africa, the Nile Valley, the Middle East and Europe, carefully avoiding long stretches of open water whenever possible. While this added distance to the journey, it dramatically reduced the amount of energy needed to stay airborne.The reason lies in the bird's flying technique. Honey buzzards are soaring raptors that depend on thermals, rising columns of warm air created when the Sun heats the ground. These invisible air currents allow the bird to spiral upwards before gliding for long distances without constantly flapping its wings. Thermals are abundant over land but scarce over large bodies of water, making sea crossings far more demanding. By linking together these natural "highways" in the sky and taking advantage of favourable winds, the buzzard completed its epic migration with remarkable efficiency.The European honey buzzard undertakes this remarkable migration every year, breeding across much of Europe before spending the northern winter in tropical Africa.
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