How do migratory animals find the right path even after traveling thousands of kilometers? Migratory animals travel from one place to another for various reasons. Some animals regularly travel ten thousand kilometers or more to breed, escape the cold, or find food. They rely on various natural signals to reach their destination. One of them is the Earth's magnetic field.
Many animals sense it. Even in the water itself. They have a natural compass in their bodies. Pigeons have special electrical sensors in their inner ears. Some birds, like the European robin, have a special protein called cryptochrome in their retinas. With the help of these, birds can see the Earth's magnetic field lines.
However, this magnetic compass only works if there is enough light. The night sky helps migratory animals recognize their path in another way. Birds like the indigo bunting find their way by looking at the North Star. Seals, on the other hand, follow specific stars when they are not near the coast. At night, the light of the Milky Way helps African dung beetles to find their way.
Seeing this light, they roll a ball of dung in a perfectly straight path. But if clouds or something else blocks that light, they lose their way. Many animals also recognize their way by looking at familiar places around them. Such as mountain ranges, rivers, or beaches. Reindeer migratory birds and even monarch butterflies rely on these natural landmarks on long journeys.
Again, some animals find their way by smelling. For example, salmon have a very keen sense of smell. If they detect the faint smell of river water in the ocean, they follow it back to the river where they were born.