What's so important over there?

 

The more I see the birds outside, easily gliding across from here to there, the more I think about flight.  The hawks, especially, seldom have to flap.  They stretch out their wings and ride the air currents, keeping a watchful eye out for lunch.

I’m sure it must take some effort keeping their wings out like that for extended periods, but obviously not so much that they keep landing to take breaks.  And I know I’ve talked about pelicans before but just watching them glide inches above the surface of the ocean.  That is truly impressive.

Okay, here’s the thing.  It makes no difference if they are flying from Long Beach to Malibu or from this Oak Tree to that Elm, way over there, what is it that has motivated them to take the trip?

Being birds, no matter where they are there is a food source, so why travel?  Unless I’m wrong, there are fish anywhere along the coast.  There are field mice hanging around the Oak just as there are around the Elm.

Is it possible, that like the people who say, “Let’s head to New Orleans, they have the best food.” There are Hawks with a preference for mesquite flavored rodent, or Pelicans who avoid anything from the waters along Long Beach because of the pollutants.   “I’m heading to Malibu.  The fish are plentiful and its fun dodging the surfers.”

 I'd just like to better understand there motivation.