Long-distance flyways

It was a warm and hazy winter afternoon as we sat on a muddy embankment along Sambhar Lake, India’s largest inland salt lake in Rajasthan, watching hundreds of Pink Flamingos and a variety of migrant birds foraging through the shallow waters. Zooming in on them through our cameras and binoculars, we couldn’t help but marvel at the astounding abilities that hid beneath their humble exterior, flying thousands of kilometres back and forth across continents every year.

Bird migration, a phenomenon that has captivated human imagination for centuries, involves the annual movement of birds across large distances. Majority of these species tend to breed and rear their young in regions with relatively fewer predators. These regions usually have colder climates. When harsh weather limits the availability of food, they instinctively migrate to warmer climes, returning again during the breeding season. It is estimated that around 1,800 of the world’s 10,000 bird species are long-distance migrants.

While physical strength and resilience is one aspect of these incredible journeys, what is also remarkable is how migratory birds tend to follow the same route year after year with an uncanny accuracy, relying on genetic memory or cues from nature for navigation. These routes, known as flyways, provide birds with essential stopover sites where they can rest, refuel and find shelter. The health of these flyways directly impacts the survival of migratory species.

Flyways also play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. Migratory birds disperse seeds, pollinate plants, and control insect populations. For instance, the Bar-Headed Goose, a remarkable migrant that is believed to undertake one of the hardest migration routes on the planet, crossing the Himalayas and flying over Mount Everest, plays a vital role in dispersing alpine plants in high-altitude regions. From an evolutionary perspective, flyways connect individuals across different regions, facilitating genetic exchange that is important for the long-term survival of the species as a whole.

They also have immense cultural and economic significance. In traditional societies, bird migrations are an indicator of seasonal changes, affecting livelihood activities like agriculture and pastoralism. Many cultures have deep-rooted connections with the birds, and their movements have inspired art, literature and folklore.

Indian stopover

There are nine flyways globally, most of them running from north to south and vice-versa, termed latitudinal migration, although some flyways in Europe and North America also show longitudinal patterns, running east to west and vice-versa. India is an integral part of three major flyways — the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), East-Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF), and Asian East African Flyway (AEF). These flyways support a wide range of migratory bird species, including storks, cranes, geese, ducks and raptors.

The CAF, stretching from Europe to East Asia, is a crucial flyway for numerous bird species. India serves as a critical stopover point for many of these birds. The EAAF, extending from East Asia to Australia, is another important flyway, passing through the biodiversity-rich northeastern part of the country, while the western and southern regions of India constitute a part of the AEF, connecting Asia and Africa.

Threat to survival

Unfortunately, many flyways are facing significant threats today due to human activities and climate change. Habitat loss, pollution and unsustainable land use practices are disrupting migration patterns and reducing the availability of suitable breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change is also altering migration timing and affecting food availability along flyways. These threats pose a serious risk to the survival of many migratory bird species. For example, the Siberian Crane, once a well-known winter visitor to North India, has not been sighted since 2001. Similarly, the migrating populations of Amur Falcon were decimated by illegal hunting in Nagaland.

A report by ‘The State of India’s Birds’, an initiative between the country’s leading conservation organisations and citizen scientists, notes that the population of long-distance migrants from Eurasia and the Arctic has experienced a decline by more than 50 per cent. Migratory birds like waders and ducks depend on wetlands, while raptors like eagles prefer open grassland habitats, both of which are seeing a high level of human encroachment, a key reason for the decline. A census conducted at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, lying at the border of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, saw the total number of birds decrease from 9,143 in 2022 to 6,083 in 2023 and 3,380 in 2024. The survey was a part of Asian Waterbird Census, a voluntary bird census exercise that takes place across Asian countries in January each year.

To effectively conserve flyways, a multi-tiered approach is necessary. The very nature of bird migration makes cross-border cooperation critical. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals is an environmental treaty within the United Nations framework working specifically for the conservation of migratory animals and their habitats. At the 14th meeting earlier this year, India led the adoption of the Initiative for the Central Asian Flyway, aimed at promoting cooperation among countries along the CAF to address the challenges facing migratory birds and their habitats.

Protecting and restoring critical habitats along flyways is essential, which includes establishing protected areas, ensuring sustainable land-use and infrastructure development, and reducing pollution. Participatory conservation programmes can foster community stewardship. In the case of Amur Falcons in Nagaland, concerted efforts by conservation organisations and the government in convincing local communities played a pivotal role in protecting these migratory birds. Establishment of community-managed protected areas and promotion of sustainable livelihoods like nature-based tourism incentivised the conservation of the birds and their habitats.

Birdwatchers’ paradise

• India is a crucial stopover for migratory birds travelling along major flyways,

  offering diverse ecosystems.

• Wetlands in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra attract Greater Flamingos and Bar-Headed Geese, key species of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF).
• Grasslands and open fields in the Northeast, such as Nagaland and Manipur, witness the annual arrival of Amur Falcons from the East-Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF).
• Raptors, including Steppe Eagles from the Asian East African Flyway (AEF), favour the arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and Himalayan foothills.
• Wetlands across the country attract waterfowl, waders and shorebirds, while grasslands and forests host a variety of raptors, songbirds, and other avian wonders.
• The best time to observe migratory birds is typically from October to February.