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Credit & Copyright: Leonardo Caldas
Explanation:
What do birds do during a total solar eclipse?
Darkness descends more quickly in a total eclipse than during sunset, but returns
just as quickly -- and
perhaps
unexpectedly
to the avians -- just a few minutes later.
Stories about the unusual behavior of birds during eclipses have been
told for centuries, but bird reactions were recorded and studied systematically
by citizen scientists participating in an
eBird
project during the
total solar eclipse that crossed the USA in
2017 August.
Although some
unusual behaviors were observed, many
observers noted birds acting like it was dusk and
either landing or flying low to the ground.
Radar confirmed a significant decrease in
high-flying birds and insects during and just after totality.
Conversely, several sightings of normally
nocturnal birds were reported.
Pictured, a
flock of birds in
La Serena,
Chile
flew through the air together during the total solar eclipse that crossed
South America last week.
The photographer captured the scene in frames from an
eclipse video.
The next total solar eclipse in
2020 December will also cross South America, while in
2024 April a total solar eclipse will cross
North America from
Mexico through
New England,
USA.
Gallery 2019:
Notable
total eclipse images submitted to APOD
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day