Orientation, migration routes and flight behaviour of knots, turnstones and brant geese departing from Iceland in spring

Abstract

Flight behaviour and orientation of 303 flocks (31 200 individuals) of migrating knots Calidris canutus and turnstone Arenaria interpres and 77 flocks (3200 individuals) of brant geese Branta bernicla departing from Iceland towards Nearctic breeding groups were recorded during 3 spring seasons 1986-88. The overwhelming majority of the birds are bound for breeding sites in N Canada and NW Greenland. -from Authors