'Wings Across the World: Protecting Migratory Birds Together'

Migratory Birds

- NEHA JAMWAL AND ARTI SHARMA

Migratory birds are exceptional species that undertake remarkable journeys in order to nest, forage or flee hostile environmental conditions from one area or habitat to another during the year.

Thousands of kilometres may be covered by these migrations, which frequently follow well-travelled flyways that birds have been using for millennia.About 20% of bird species are thought to be migratory, and their yearly travels result in a redistribution of bird diversity that drastically alters the composition of avian communities around the planet. From nectivorous hummingbirds, which weigh only a few grams, to carnivorous raptors, which may weigh up to three orders of magnitude more, these birds can fly short distances or make incredibly long expeditions around the world.

After the winter season begins in most parts of the northern hemisphere each year, many bird species fly southward to overwinter, returning to their home regions in the spring.The itineraries of migratory birds are generally unpredictable. The northern and southern hemispheres are connected by certain international routes, which typically run north-south.In addition to other considerations like the destination's physical features and weather patterns, the energy cost of migration drives these birds to choose the quickest and shortest route. They primarily prefer rivers, waterways, mountain ranges and coasts. Specifically, these routes are referred to as the "FLYWAYS OF BIRD MIGRATION." Around the world, migrating birds use nine different flyways, with the Indian subcontinent encountering the "Central Asian Flyway" Between the Indian Ocean and the Arctic, it covers the majority of Eurasia.

India, which is home to a wide variety of organisms and rich biodiversity, is also a preferred location for migrating birds. According to a WWF analysis, India harbours over 1349 of the 2274 migratory bird species worldwide, accounting for roughly 59.32% of the total migratory bird population.