Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Breck.

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Close your eyes and imagine standing outside early in the morning right now as spring is arriving.

The air feels fresh, and the sky is slowly turning pink and gold. Suddenly you hear a sound

overhead, honking calls echoing across the sky. You look up and see a long, V-shaped line of birds

flying together, moving steadily north. They are not lost. They know exactly where they are going. All around the world at this time

of year, animals are on the move. This great movement is called migration, and it is one of the most

amazing stories in nature. Migration happens when animals travel long distances during certain seasons of the year.

Many animals migrate in spring and fall, usually searching for food,

warmer weather, or safe places to raise their young.

Spring is a busy migration season because animals are returning to places where conditions are perfect for new life.

Longer days, warmer temperatures, and growing plants create the right environment for babies to survive.

One of the most famous migrating animals is the bird.

Millions of birds travel every year between winter and summer homes.

Some birds fly only a few hundred miles,

while others travel thousands. The Arctic turn holds one of the longest migration records.

This small bird flies from the Arctic all the way to Antarctica, and back again each year,

traveling more than 40,000 miles. That is like flying around the Earth nearly twice.

You might wonder how birds know where to go.

Scientists have discovered that birds use several amazing navigation tools.

Many birds follow the position of the sun during the day and the stars at night.

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