The Incredible Migratory Route of the Wood Thrush

This project is part of many at Dawson College, in Montreal, Canada, that strive to define the college core value of well-being for all, sustainably.

Finding an appropriate nesting site just North of Montreal.

ILLUSTRATED BY MARILOU CHOQUETTE

Male singing with breeding plumage.

ILLUSTRATED BY STELLA AVOLIO QUATTROCCHI

Female sitting on the eggs in the rain – protecting the nest.

ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN-PIERRE DUSSAN ECHEVERRY

Young birds learn to fly but need to be careful – many predators and dangers in air and on ground.

ILLUSTRATED BY PAULE RACICOT

Young birds learn to “freeze” when a hawk is near.

ILLUSTRATED BY EMILY DUFF

Young bird avoids hitting a window.

ILLUSTRATED BY LAUREN SPENCER

Young bird needs to eat all day to have the energy to fly hundreds of kms per day during migration.

ILLUSTRATED BY MATHIAS LESSARD

Adult sized bird now strong and ready to migrate – somehow knows second winter home is far away.

ILLUSTRATED BY ANGELO-ANTONIO CAROCCI-JAIMES

Joins other birds in large flock of migrating birds.

ILLUSTRATED BY XIN TONG GU

Starts to migrate using internal compass and stars at night to orient.

ILLUSTRATED BY SAMIRA ASHIAN

Bird must be careful when flying over highway.

ILLUSTRATED BY SARA MARIE WEGSCHEIDER

Stops on Dawson rooftop to rest and eat – is thankful…

ILLUSTRATED BY LAURENCE DEZIEL

The lights that buildings create at night can be dangerous to birds.

Many birds hit windows at night because of the lights. Some cities turn off lights at night so birds see stars and fly higher, avoiding buildings.

ILLUSTRATED BY ULIANA GILBO

Storms – need to find places to hide and be protected.

ILLUSTRATED BY LAYLOO LAPIERRE

Bird follows forests along migration path – it doesn’t like open agricultural areas.

ILLUSTRATED BY ÉLISABETH SHARP

At Gulf of Mexico, sees water until the horizon but knows its winter home is on the other side.

ILLUSTRATED BY LIN YE

Flies across Gulf of Mexico at night – non-stop – rests, exhausted on other side.

ILLUSTRATED BY YU JI LI

Flies over that portion of Mexico into the new forest type and sees the Taking Root tree plantation with houses in Nicaragua.

ILLUSTRATED BY LILY-ROSE JUNEAU

Lands in the planted forest.

ILLUSTRATED BY ARGYRO STROUBAKIS

Village farmer with tree plantation in Nicaragua community see bird and point it out to their children.

ILLUSTRATED BY DANIAL PARVIZI

Getting ready to fly north from the forests of Nicaragua to the forests of Canada.

ILLUSTRATED BY CELINE TANG

Bird gets ready to migrate back to Canada. Finds other birds like it and starts to fly North as a big group.

ILLUSTRATED BY CAMILLE SHURBAJI

Arrives in same place North of Montreal and has found home – a 7000 km journey!

ILLUSTRATED BY VIVIANE TRAN-LE