Black tailed godwit.
Success of Icelandic black-tailed godwits all down to timing
12 January 2009
At the end of summer, young Icelandic black-tailed godwits leave the Arctic to migrate to western Europe in search of food and a milder climate. The sooner they manage the trip, the more likely they are to be successful as adults.
Listen
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Science writer and broadcaster Sue Nelson meets Dr Jennifer Gill from the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences, who explains why migrating early is important for the juveniles.
It's not just migrating that's important though. As Sue finds out, it really does matter what kind of parents you have.
Keywords:
Arctic,
Europe,
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