The Scientist-Emperor Who Cracked the Mystery of Bird Migration

Thanks to Wienin from my Discord server who voiced the quotes.

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II had accurately observed bird migration in the 1200s, but his findings were not widely accepted in Europe for centuries. An avid falconer and early ornithologist, Frederick compiled his extensive knowledge in "De Arte Venandi cum Avibus" (On The Art of Hunting with Birds), which included detailed observations on bird migration.
Frederick's work highlighted that birds migrate twice a year, moving from cold to warm climates and back. He explained that not all birds migrate, with some making shorter, local movements instead. Reasons for migration included escaping the cold, seeking food, avoiding frozen habitats, and predatory birds following their prey. Frederick drew on Arabic sources and Aristotle's work, correcting and expanding upon Aristotle's theories with his practical observations. For example, he noted that leadership in migrating bird formations is cyclical, unlike Aristotle's claim of a single leader. Despite the accuracy of his work, it took over 400 years for migration theory to be revisited by scientists.

Music by Vinsvept (Lake of Light)

Sources:

Frederick C. Lincoln, 1935, The Fish and Wildlife Service's circular on bird migration p3-5

[KobeanHistory]

If you want to learn more about the theories Frederick was up against you can find them in this playlist:

[jodofe]

"How do you know so much about swallows?"
"Well, you have to know these things when you're a kaiser, you know."

[BlaBla-pfmf]

Frederick II spent a lot of his life in Italy where there is a major bird migration corridor. Hunting migratory birds was historically a big tradition in Italy so they probably had a better understanding of migration than NW europeans.

[delphidelion]

The understanding that the lead bird gets exhausted is such a giant leap towards fluid dynamics/flight mechanics. Imagine if he had been taken seriously. Gliding could have shown up much sooner.

[CommonSwindler]

Frederick II was probably the most brilliant person to ever wear a crown. A polymath, polyglot, statesman of genius, scientist, naturalist, musician, and a ruthless despot.

[Lvestfold]

Fredrick II: most birds are powerful flyers, maybe they fly somewhere warm in the winter?

The public: no it’s magic

[viniciusvyller]

The Hohenstaufen dynasty was simultaneously one the most brilliant and whackiest medieval great houses

[michaelmoorrees]

Frederick's assessment of Aristotle is spot on ! Aristotle was basically an "encyclopedia-ist". Aristotle only collected and compiled prior knowledge, as do most encyclopedias. As such, summation errors occur, as many complain about in Wikipedia. All encyclopedias contain errors, when trying to compress data, where subtleties of a topic get lost. This is not restricted to Wikipedia. I've found many errors in old "paper" encyclopedias before the Internet even existed.

[Professicchio]

In many towns around Southern Italy, Frederick the 2nd has still got a strong cult status and almost venerated like a saint.
He was responsible for building many of the best looking churches and castles in the area during his lifetime, his intellect and political acumen has made him a Renaissance man ahead of the time.

[lorenzodepaoli]

It's funny that you gave Frederick a german accent, when he basically spent all his life in Southern Italy and barely set foot in Germany.

[st-ex]

Frederick II definitely counts among the most brilliant minds of all times! And definitely not only because of his "De arte venandi cum avibus".

[joshcoughx]

What do you mean? African or European swallow?

[corrompido]

this makes the first gag of MP and thr holy grail even more funnier

[esti-odmz]

As a sicilian, I am proud of Frederick II. Truly an excellent monarch.

[peterkratoska]

what's interesting is that gamekeepers in Europe were puzzled by the occasional stork flying with embedded arrows (from attempted shots while flying in Africa). They had to come up with an explanation for that.

[TexRenner]

I like the way y'all put this together; a primer in creating videos. Easy to watch.

[MyBinaryLife]

Im gonna need more information on this transmutation into barnacle geese theory, asap

[rursus]

Scientific finds were not generally spread before the occurrence of the printing press. Also: many "learned" men didn't subscribe to the empirical method, and instead relied on earlier "authoritative" sources, when explaining things, making their expertise less usable for common people than experts are required to be, from 1800 and on.

[williamchamberlain]

To be fair, people would have been familiar with animals that _did_ hibernate, so that one's not too unscientific: hedgehogs, bears, doormice, ladybirds, some frogs and toads

[LuisAldamiz]

Among all emperors ever, Frederick II "Stupor Mundi" is my heroest hero. It would have been a honor to meet him, really.