Debunking Misleading Claims of A Falcon's Incredible Migration Map

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While there is widespread interest in migratory birds and their remarkable journeys across the globe, it's crucial to acknowledge the prevalence of misleading information circulating on social media platforms. Despite the fascination with these avian travellers and their incredible feats of navigation, the dissemination of inaccurate or exaggerated details about migratory birds is not uncommon in social spheres. Let’s look at one such instance which goes viral every once in a while.

Social Media Posts

Social media is abuzz with claims that a female falcon equipped with a satellite tracking system migrated from South Africa to Finland in just 42 days (in a nearly straight line), covering over 10,000 kilometres. A viral image of a map supposedly showing the tracker data of the falcon's journey accompanies the claim.

Facebook | Archived

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

The image shared as proof of the falcon's journey is actually a map of a fault line in South Africa, not tracker data from a bird's migration. This fact has been confirmed by the original article from which the image was sourced.

The original article, published by SAPeople in February 2016, discusses the Somali Plate, a tectonic plate slowly breaking away from Africa. The accompanying map illustrates the fault line running through South Africa, exiting through Durban. The original article can be read here. Archived

Some social media users misinterpreted the image and mentioned that the path that birds(swallows) supposedly take during migration is similar to this. This misinterpretation led to the false claim that a female falcon flew the same route and that the provided tracker data proved this feat.

Falcons are indeed known for their impressive speed and endurance, but the claimed journey from South Africa to Finland in just 42 days would be extraordinary even for these birds of prey.

Additionally, it is unlikely that a female falcon would undertake such a lengthy migration alone, as falcons typically migrate in groups.

Also, Read Fact Check: This map shows the tracking of 20 eagles over ten months, not a single eagle’s travel path over 20 years!

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Conclusion

The viral claim that a female falcon migrated over 10,000 kilometres in a straight line from South Africa to Finland in just 42 days lacks credible evidence. The image being circulated as proof of this migration is actually a map of a fault line in South Africa. Therefore, we rate this claim as false.