Winter in India brings with it some exciting guests to our land. Yes, we are talking about birds. Did you know that birds use a sort of a highway to migrate, which is guided by monsoon winds and the flow of jet streams? Imagine a bird super-highway from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean! That’s the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), one of the nine migration flyways in the world. It is also one of the richest in terms of diversity, hosting over 180 species from breeding grounds in Siberia to warmer realms in West Asia, India, and the Maldives. So let’s take a look at some of our flamboyant high-flying winged visitors.
Amur Falcon
Amur Falcon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Embarking on an incredible journey of over 22,000 km across 14 countries, this small raptor (a little larger than a pigeon) uses the winds of the retreating southwest monsoon to fly from its breeding grounds in Russia and China. It crosses into India in the northeast, with flocks numbering tens of thousands. The arrival of the flock in October-November at the Doyang Reservoir, Wokha District, Nagaland, is a surreal experience. Apart from its awe-inspiring migration, the Falco amurensis feasts almost exclusively on insects during their stopovers and help control pest populations that can devastate crops. In Africa, Amur Falcons are natural pest controllers of termites and help farmers all across the agricultural belt.
Wood sandpiper
A wood sandpiper in Sholinganallur, Chennai. | Photo Credit: Prince Frederick
The Tringa glareola is a small bird that comes all the way from the sub-Arctic regions to India. It can be spotted in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, mudflats, and shallow freshwater bodies. It forages by wading in shallow water and probing the mud with its long bills to capture aquatic invertebrates. Popular wintering sites include Chilika Lake in Odisha, Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, and the Punchakari wetland near Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala.
Bar-headed Goose
Bar Headed Goose at Hadinaru lake near Mysore. | Photo Credit: M.S. Dashan
Taking a holiday in India from its freezing breeding grounds of Mongolia and the Tibetan plateau is the Ansur indicus. Amazingly, these birds fly over the Himalayas at a height of 6,000-8,000m. Think about it: Mt. Everest is 8849m high. The oxygen levels at those heights are half of what we breathe at sea level. Scientists have found that their lung capacity and metabolism is primed for this migration, as their breeding grounds are high-altitude ones. They hug the valleys and fly when there is least wind resistance. They are best spotted at Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu.
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew sandpipers at Achankulam near Coimbatore. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
These elegant and small waders breed in the Arctic Tundra and transform coastal areas and wetlands in various countries including India from October to March. The Calidris ferruginea is best spotted at Chilika Lake in Odisha, where expansive mudflats provide an ideal environment. Pulicat Lake, straddling the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu border, is another haven with its brackish waters and mudflats. Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu is another vital habitat.
Bluethroat
Bluethroat | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
One of the smallest and prettiest birds that migrate to India is the Luscinia svecica. This tiny sparrow-sized bird dressed in resplendent colours comes all the way from the northern parts of Europe and maybe even Alaska. Starting from their breeding grounds, Bluethroats traverse countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Pakistan. They can be spotted in various parts of India, particularly in wetlands, marshes, and grasslands. Key locations include Keoladeo National Park and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan and various wetland areas in northern and central India.
Gone Forever?
The Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus ), which was last seen in India in 2002.
Siberian Crane | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The small spoonbill sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) was last seen by the renowned ornithologist Salim Ali almost three decades ago. Currently, its population is said to be just 350-500 individuals. And it is no longer seen in India.
The sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. Even though it still winters in India, the species has seen a rapid population decline due to loss of wetlands.
What you can do
It is imperative to protect them from the many threats — from hunting and war to destruction of habitats and improper management of their wetlands — that could hamper their safe passage and stay in India. Here are some ways in which you can help our guests feel welcome.
Look for a wetland near you and start researching and noting down the bird life you see around it.
Understand which species visit your area from September to March. Once you know which winter migrants visit your area, delve into its food habits and see if your wetland still provides it.
Talk to local birders and, if you feel that there is a problem, talk to the people in the area and educate them about the birds.
Write a letter to your local politician and explain the importance of the birds and their needs.
Start a bird watching club and share your data so you can continue to monitor them every year and aid scientists in their conservation efforts.
Keep a watch
To capture the grace, beauty and lives of these migrant visitors, here are some simple tools and techniques that all birders use.
Make a small checklist of the winter migrants you are looking for.
Identify the wetland that they normally visit.
Remember to wear dull inconspicuous clothes.
Keep silent and move cautiously.
Use binoculars or a spotting scope.
Last but most important, be patient.
With inputs from Byju H
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