Have you ever wondered what a bird feels when the autumn wind gets colder and the sky calls it on a long journey? It’s not just a flight – it’s a fight for life, an old ritual repeated year after year. Some go thousands of kilometers, and some stay, enduring the cold. Surprising truth: where birds disappear in winter – let’s figure out how birds decide their fate.
Where do birds disappear in winter – who flies away?
Swifts and swallows are among the first to fly away. They depend on insects, and with the cold weather they are simply not to be found. Interestingly, swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air, even sleeping on the fly! It is unthinkable for them to remain without food.
In September-October, buntings, warblers, flycatchers and starlings join them. Before flying away, starlings gather in huge flocks, as if rehearsing a complex dance before a long journey. Then ducks, geese and swans set off. Their path lies in warmer regions – southern Europe , North Africa , India.
Cranes and storks fly further – the former prefer the Middle East and southern Asia, and the latter – Africa . They form a wedge to save energy. Looking at them, you want to ask: how do they know where to fly? It turns out that birds navigate by the Sun , the stars and even the Earth’s magnetic field . They have a real built-in navigator!
Do you know who is the absolute champion in terms of flight distance? The Arctic tern! It covers up to 70,000 kilometers a year, traveling between the Arctic and Antarctica. Imagine: when it’s winter here, it enjoys summer on the other side of the Earth .
The Unexpected Truth: Who Stays Over the Winter?
But not everyone is afraid of winter. Pigeons and sparrows have long since learned to live next to people, finding food even among snowdrifts. Tits, woodpeckers, crossbills, snowy owls also remain.
Crossbills are amazing birds! They can nest even in severe frosts, because their beak is ideal for extracting seeds from cones. And snow grouse are real symbols of winter: their bright chests enliven snow-covered parks. Is it possible to imagine winter without them?
Owls become fearless hunters in the cold season. Their hearing is so sharp that they can hear a mouse moving under the snow! And their powerful claws allow them to easily get their dinner.
When do the birds return?
As soon as winter weakens, the first harbingers of spring begin to return. Rooks appear at the end of February, then larks, buntings, starlings arrive. They are not afraid of slight frosts and arrive early, occupying the best places for nests.
Storks, cranes and ducks return in April, when the snow has already melted. The last to arrive are swallows and swifts – it is important for them to wait for warm weather to hunt insects again.
By the way, did you know that geese can fly up to 8,000 meters during their flight? That’s higher than most passenger planes fly! And petrels find their way home by smelling the ocean a hundred kilometers away.
The Unexpected Truth: Why Do Birds Fly Away?
Why do some stay while others take the risky journey? It’s all about food. Insectivorous birds simply won’t be able to feed themselves in the winter. And those that feed on seeds or prey can wait out the frosts.
But the flight is a serious test. Thousands of kilometers, lack of strength, predators… And yet, year after year, the birds set out on this journey, risking their survival.
Some species have an incredible sense of orientation. Pigeons can find their way home from thousands of miles away! And pelicans use air currents to fly hundreds of miles with almost no flapping of their wings. Nature really has thought of everything!
How do people help birds?
If you decide to help your feathered friends in winter, hang a feeder with seeds and unsalted lard. This can be a real salvation for them in severe frosts.
Cities are creating special protection zones to protect wintering birds, while scientists are monitoring migration through banding, satellite sensors and radio tags to better understand how nature is changing.
Bird migration is an incredible phenomenon, full of mysteries and wonders. The next time you see a wedge of birds in the sky, think: what secrets do they carry with them? And will they return in the spring, as usual?
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