France, 2025

I Wonder Where Dem Boidies Iz: The Biology of Bird Migration

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m 

Da spring iz sprung.

Da grass iz riz.

I wonder where dem boidies iz?

Da little boids iz on the wing.

Ain’t dat absoid!

Da little wings iz on da boid!

Dr. Wasser participated in Vogelklang Soundcamp #8 in Mulhouse in Alsace, France, an event organized by the art and science non-profit, Global Forest e.V. The annual event, Vogelklang, brings together artists and scientists interested in birds and ecology for a weekend of exhibitions, performances, nature walks and lectures.

The comedic poem above, attributed to the American poet, Ogen Nash, is written in my native tongue, as it is the spoken English used by residents in the northernmost borough of New York City, known as the Bronx. Dr. Wasser can hear in this poem the accent of his neighbors as they might have expressed their curiosity about the phenomenon of bird migration. You might even hear a bit of this accent in Dr. Wasser’s speech, as he grew up in the Bronx as a passionate bird watcher in the heart of the urban landscape.

Since ancient times humans have observed that, in many parts of the world, specific species of birds are only seen during specific times of the year. Even Aristotle, commented on the migratory habits of birds. Birds leave their breeding grounds at the end of the season and spend the winter elsewhere. Birds then depart their wintering grounds as spring arrives and the days become longer and warmer. But, we wonder:

Where do the birds go?

How do they know when it is time to leave?

“How do they navigate to the breeding and wintering grounds, sometimes over tens of thousands of kilometers?

Most likely the very first humans, who lived in close connection to nature and were dependent for survival on their understanding of the behavior of animals, were the first to notice and wonder about this yearly cycle.

As a comparative physiologist with a background in ornithology, Dr. Wasser presented a brief history of scientific understanding of bird migration. His lecture introduced what scientists understand about the complex biological mechanisms that allow birds to know when to migrate, where to go and how to get to their destination.

Dr. Wasser explained what is currently known of the physiological sensory systems birds use to navigate. He pointed out the mysteries that remain unresolved in our understanding of bird migration. Audience members participated in an interactive bird migration quiz that gave everyone a chance to test their knowledge of bird migration. Participants expressed their opinions and feelings on this topic.

a Bird-Related Vocal Performance

Birds love to sing and so do some biologists! As part of this presentation, Dr. Wasser performed two opera arias that have something to do with birds, either literally or metaphorically. He sang “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” from Mozart‘s “The Magic Flute” in a semi-staged performance with Lakka as the “Vogelhund” (“bird dog”). The second aria, the famous “Habanera” from Bizet‘s “Carmen,” was participatory with the audience members singing the chorus parts under Dr. Wasser‘s direction.

The celebration of birdsong was streamed live in the 24-hour radio program shared all around the Earth, the Reveil #12 2025 festival.