Migration of Birds
In the late summer, various birds leave their home and fly south for the winter. Some of them fly to other continents, several thousands of kilometers away. The following spring, these birds return not only to their country, but often to the very same nest in the same habitat. How do they find their way back home?
Scientists think that birds monitor the Earth's magnetic field. Birds can do this since their heads contain a magnetite - a compound of iron and oxygen. This compound allows birds to be aware of the north and south magnetic orientation of the world.
Other studies suggest that birds may also navigate with the use of the sun or the moon or the stars.
Adapted from Focus Magazine: Issue 226 March 2011
The following video shows some birds that migrate to Malta
