As winter peters out, birds set to fly home

Gurgaon: Over the next month, birds from across central Europe and the Gulf countries will prepare to fly back as the season changes. And NCR will get a glimpse.
“The change in temperature is their cue to fly out. As the days get longer and temperatures rise, they know it’s time to fly to their breeding grounds,” said Surajit Ghosal, a bird enthusiast.
The migratory season usually lasts between October and March. By mid-winter, migratory birds start arriving in sanctuaries and wetlands of NCR. These birds have travelled across Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyztan, Turkmenistan and Iran, on to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, China, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan. The path is what ornithologists refer to as the Central Asian-South Asian Flyway. Most migratory birds that will start their reverse migration come from central Europe, where they would find it difficult to get food.
To undertake this journey, birds undergo massive physical changes to prepare for their stint in cold regions — their body fat increases and the colour of their feathers changes. “The birds change colours and body weight. They have to work out the time for flying out since they do not want to arrive at their destination if it is snowing. They will be unable to get food and can’t afford to be too late because they need to secure a place,” said Pankaj Gupta, a birder from the Delhi Bird Society.
What should NCR look out for? “People here should look for the Rosy Starling’s murmuration (gathering) as it flies over the Delhi-NCR skies around mid-March,” Ghosal said.