Avian Migration – This talk is free! No registration required.

This talk will introduce us to the mysteries, yet perilous journeys undertaken by several thousand bird species each year. The migration of birds has fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Long ago people did not know that birds would travel very long distances each year. Popularly held belief was that birds hid in the ground and spent their winters in hibernation much like bears. Aristotle in 350 BC postulated that birds migrated yet believed that one bird species transmuted into another. Bird Biology, also known as Ornithology, has given us considerable insights towards unlocking the secrets behind migration. We will start this talk with some facts akin to migration, followed by an in-depth discussion on several topics such as, defining bird migration, types of migration, the need for birds to migrate, how birds are able to navigate at night, and specific flyways used by birds, around the globe. We will also talk about the perilous nature of these long-haul journeys, and the consequences of climate change and large-scale conflicts in parts of the world. Before we conclude our discussion, we will demonstrate the use of radar science to track and predict migration and talk about the steps that each one of could take to help with bird’s safe passage.

Bio for Amurthur Ramamurthy
Ramamurthy, who goes my Ram was trained as a Scientist and served the first thirty years of his
career in the Chemical, as well as Automotive Industries. For little over a decade Ram spent time with
Amazon Corporation teaching, and training managers and shop floor associates in continuous
improvement methods.
Ram is now retired but serves as a Research Volunteer at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory at Oak
Harbor, OH. My current focus is to provide statistical analysis for Bird Banding Data.
In 1978 while completing his Graduate studies at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, a
visiting professor from Georgetown University, USA encouraged Ram to start a hobby in addition to
focus on research in the laboratory. After collaborating with an ornithologist at a Tiger Reserve in
India, Ram chose to start birdwatching as a hobby.
After moving to the US in 1980, he spent the next few years learning bird identification mostly using
field guides. Over the past forty years, Ram’s journey in his spare time has focused on several areas
related to birds. Ram has taken several courses offered by Cornell Ornithology laboratory, on-line
courses on Ornithology from India. Currently Ram is enrolled in a Basic Ornithology Course
conducted by NPTEL (India Government’s online educational platform) India.
Ram has visited various birding festivals in the US, travelled to, UK, Poland, Costa Rica, Southern
Africa, Ecuador, Peru and extensively in India to observe birds in these diverse habitats. Ram
routinely visits National Parks which further offer opportunities to bird while hiking trails. He has
currently seen over 2300 birds.
Ram has co-directed a Young Bird Camp (December 2023) in Indian Institute of Science Education
and Research (IISER), Tirupati, India. A similar camp is being planned for December 2025 in IISER
Tirupati, India.