I enjoyed reading your article on the secrets of bird migration. In it you say, “Cornell scientists determined that buntings can orient from Polaris or other constellations within 35 degrees of Polaris, especially the constellation Orion. “ As an astronomer I have to point out that no part of that constellation is any closer to Polaris than about 67 degrees. The northernmost bright star in Orion, Betelgeuse, is about 82 degrees away from Polaris! You might want to check with the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË’s resident astronomer, Bob Berman, about all of this. Regardless, birds …and stars …are a wonder.
I enjoyed reading your article on the secrets of bird migration. In it you say, “Cornell scientists determined that buntings can orient from Polaris or other constellations within 35 degrees of Polaris, especially the constellation Orion. “ As an astronomer I have to point out that no part of that constellation is any closer to Polaris than about 67 degrees. The northernmost bright star in Orion, Betelgeuse, is about 82 degrees away from Polaris! You might want to check with the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË’s resident astronomer, Bob Berman, about all of this. Regardless, birds …and stars …are a wonder.