Altitudinal migration

Altitudinal migration is just like when ducks fly south for the winter, except it’s not just about the weather being too cold.

When it gets too cold in the mountains, some animals like birds and butterflies fly down to lower altitudes where it’s warmer. And then, when it gets too hot in the lowlands, they fly back up to cooler temperatures in the mountains.

Think of it like going up and down a big hill. You might get too tired walking all the way up, so you take a break and go back down to catch your breath. But then, you get too bored and want to climb higher again, so you go back up.

Animals do the same thing, just with much longer distances and much more dangerous terrain. It takes a lot of energy and effort, but it’s worth it to stay in the right temperature range and find enough food and shelter to survive.