I lived for a long time in Novorossiysk, and every winter swans came to our bay. I really liked to go to the sea and feed these graceful birds. But at the beginning of spring they disappeared.
Swans - migratory birds
In our country, swans can be found from the Kola Peninsula to the Crimea. They also live in Central Asia. In this area, these breeds of swans are found:
- mute swan;
- tundra;
- whooper
They are migratory. Wintering is carried out on the coast of warm seas. According to my observations, I will say that most swans are very distrustful and do not make contact with people. That is, you will not succeed in luring this bird with a piece of bread and stroking it. A swan can go ashore, but quickly grab bread - and run into the water. They develop very high speeds afloat. These birds are used to defending their territory and not letting strangers go there. A wing strike can break a person’s arm. They peck very painfully. In general, language will not turn out to be cute. The most arrogant of white swans is a mute swan. The basis of their nutrition is plant food. They can also eat frogs and worms.
A gray crane flies into the warm edges
In the cold winter season, these birds migrate to countries with a mild climate. They winter in Africa, Iran, India. Well, the main halo of gray cranes is Mongolia, northern and western Europe. They can also be seen in some regions of Turkey.
The gray crane is a day bird. On the top of the head, these birds lack feathers. Their neck is very long, but the head is not different in size. The beak of these cranes is grayish-green, in length it can reach thirty centimeters.
As a rule, gray cranes nest in marshy areas. Sometimes they can be found next to sown fields. These birds have a very loud voice. They emit trumpeting pipe sounds and can call each other within a radius of two kilometers. The main diet of gray cranes is worms, rodents, snakes and frogs. They also eat small fish. They also absorb berries, stems, leaves of various plants.
Autumn is the time when flocks of migratory birds departing to warm countries can be observed. Where do birds fly for the winter, and which birds are considered migratory? Birds that prefer to stay in their region for the winter are called sedentary. Among them - pigeons, sparrows, tits, and crossbills are able to breed offspring in the most severe frosts.
Roaming birds
There are nomadic birds - they fly away only in very strong colds, and with a relatively warm winter they can remain in their region. it carduelis, pike, siskins, waxwings, bullfinches. Gray crows and rooks roam in the northern regions, and remain sedentary in the southern regions. Some birds migrate only in the years unfavorable for their food, for example, if the seeds of conifers are not sufficiently degraded - among such species:
- waxwings
- crossbills
- nuts
- tits
- tap dance and others.
Migratory birds
Migratory birds migrating for the winter include:
The reason for their migration is the lack of food, winter disappearance of caterpillars and larvae and other insects that make up the basis of the bird diet. About half of the forest birds will fly away for wintering, but almost all species of birds will leave for warm wintering from the tundra or taiga, from the wetlands.
Choosing where to fly for the winter, most species will prefer the usual conditions. Forest inhabitants will choose forest lands for wintering, meadow ones - meadows or fields, steppe inhabitants will find a new place of residence in the steppes. Here they will find the usual food and decor, similar to those that were at home.
Choosing where to fly, the birds will be guided by both the final destination - the place of the future wintering, and the opportunity to feed on a long journey. Therefore, the route of migratory birds does not lie in a straight line to the place of wintering, but contains various bends, turns and parking, where they rest and eat. In the route of their flight, they will also adhere to the usual terrain - forests, fields, steppes. If the path runs through deserts - Karakum, Sahara, Libyan Desert - migratory species tend to fly through these places as quickly as possible.
The birds are guided by an unmistakable instinct - sometimes young animals, not knowing the way, fly away earlier than more experienced individuals. During the flight, birds exchange echo-like signals. Some species fly in the daytime, others prefer to travel at night, and relax during the day. Typically, females and males travel at the same time, with the exception of finches (their females fly away earlier in the winter) and storks (their males fly to their habitats earlier than females).
It is those species of birds that feed on insects that hatched nests leave first until spring. Swallows and Swifts set off immediately as autumn approaches, in August, at the first night's cooling. Swans, ducks and geese are the last to fly to their wintering sites: this happens when the temperature drops below zero, the rivers are covered with a crust of ice and forage production becomes impossible.
Migratory bird migration routes
Ducks go to the Balkans, swans fly to Greece and the UK. Starlings leave for the Mediterranean coast. Wagtails fly to Africa or Asia; they also often choose India for wintering. Blackbirds love to winter in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. Cranes go further - to Egypt, to the Nile River. Dubrovnik oatmeal flies from the Moscow River and the Oka through Siberia to southern China.
To establish where the birds fly away for the winter, ornithologists use the banding method. It is known that some waterfowl winter in Russia. White Owl from the Tundra flies to the Central Russian forest-steppe, seagulls will go to the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov or to the south of the Caspian Sea. Many migratory birds choose Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan for wintering - there are large accumulations of finches, ducks, geese during the wintering season, and nature reserves are specially created in these regions.
There is a unique case - polar quacks fly away for wintering to Antarctica, due to the presence of food, which is typical for cold Antarctic water.
Flight speed
The flight speed of birds during migration is relatively low. One of the slowest is quail - it flies at a speed of about 40 km / h, among the fastest include a black swift (160 km / h). But, a lot of time during the flight, birds can spend on parking, and in general their long journeys - for example, to Africa - can stretch for 2 to 4 months. The speed of spring migration when migrating species returns is higher - in spring birds return home faster than in winter they fly to winter.
What birds fly to warmer climes first, and which last? In this article, you are sure to find the information you need.
Birds are warm-blooded creatures. Their body temperature averages 45 ° C. That is why they can lead an active lifestyle in winter, but only with a higher norm of the amount of food. Due to the lack of proper food, the birds leave the snowy, frosty and cold native places, and fly to the southern territories, to the warm regions.
Why do birds fly to warmer climes?
The main reasons why birds fly south in winter is the lack of food and frost.
Migrations are more characteristic of species of high and moderate latitudes: in the tundra, almost all species of birds are migratory, in the taiga - ¾ species. The number of migratory species in certain places of residence also depends on how sharply the feeding conditions in them vary in summer and winter. So, among the inhabitants of forests and settlements, about half of the species are migratory, and among the inhabitants of fields, marshes, ponds - almost all species. There are more migratory birds among carnivores and carnivores, less among granivores. This is understandable: if winter grain can still be found, then there are no insects at all.
What birds fly to warmer climes?
List of migratory birds:
- Rooks. In the north they are migratory birds, in the southern countries they are sedentary. Rooks nest in large colonies. In large settlements, rooks are usually wintering birds.
- Stork. One of the most famous migratory birds. They prefer to avoid people, live in the forest zone of Eurasia.
- Nightingales. Very small migratory birds live in river valleys, in shrubby thickets, and fly to winter in Africa.
- Swallows are migratory birds living in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
- Swifts - black swifts arrive from wintering in May, in small flocks.
- Cuckoo lives in forests, steppes, forest-steppes, in the mountains up to 3000 m above sea level. Migratory bird. Winters in South Africa, southern China, the islands of the Sunda archipelago.
- Ducks
- Geese
- Swans - migratory and partially wintering birds
Which birds fly to warmer climes first? First, birds that feed on insects fly away - nightingales, swallows, swifts, cuckoos.
All children know that with the onset of cold weather, many birds leave their native northern latitudes and go on long journeys in a southerly direction. Why is this happening? Yes, because under the thickness of snow it is more difficult to look for food, insects and ants, which can be enjoyed in the summer, and the air temperature becomes too low. However, not all inhabitants of the heavenly heights leave our latitudes. Which birds fly south and which remain in their homeland - we will now examine in detail.
Reasons Birds Change Their Home
Each bird is a representative of the fauna, and at the same time a separate kingdom among all animals. These creatures are warm-blooded, their body temperature averages 40 degrees. With the onset of severe frosts, birds begin to feel a lack of heat, feathers and fluff are not enough to cope with frosts. However, this situation is not inherent in every species of this kingdom. Sparrows, magpies, crows, and tits remain in their places in temperate latitudes, since the structure of their body, the number of feathers, and also subcutaneous fat are much higher than that of nomadic celestial inhabitants. As a result, answering the question: “Which birds fly south?” - we can say that, first of all, those that for physiological reasons can not cope with severe frosts. By the way, if the bird lives in the more southern region (Rostov-on-Don, Belgorod), then it does not leave its lands due to the cold. But if her homeland is Norilsk, then flying to a more southern region is an integral part of her life cycle.
Food is an important criterion in choosing a place of residence
Speaking about which birds fly south, one cannot miss the nutrition factor. Most of them are insectivorous, therefore, in winter their diet is reduced to zero. Birds that feed only on bugs and insects get to those lands where there is no snow at all, so that their food remains complete. Among them, finches, thrushes, daws, rooks can be distinguished. Oatmeal, insects, zoryanka also actively eat insects. Also, discussing which birds fly south due to lack of food familiar to them, one should not miss the swallow here. In summer, they are capable of eating such large insects as dragonflies, May beetles and the like directly on the fly. In winter, therefore, it is unrealistic to meet them in our latitudes.
What birds fly south in the fall?
With the first cold weather, the most thermophilic inhabitants of the sky leave our country. Among them we distinguish swallows, rooks, starlings, siskins, buntings, cranes, blackbirds, larks. Of course, such large birds as herons, cranes, storks, ducks, swans, hoopoes, orioles and cuckoos set sail to warm countries. The reason for the flight of these birds is considered a lack of food, in particular, hibernate or die out all the insects that lived in the summer. They are the first of all to fly to the southern regions and the last to return to their homeland. That is why swallows can be seen on the street only starting in April. And they return to their lakes no earlier than May.
Consider which birds fly to distant lands in winter
When the cold has already prevailed, birds can leave our region only if the frosts are too strong, or food, such as crumbs, grains, seeds, will not be on the streets at all. Tits, thrushes, woodpeckers often go to warmer countries, sometimes bullfinches leave our lands. Such inhabitants of the sky can easily tolerate frosts, so the only thing that can make them fly away is a lack of food.
Hello dear guys! The “Projects” section continues its work for children and parents, helping in finding the information necessary for lessons. Today's topic is migratory and wintering birds. We will say why, where and which birds are flying away from us, and also why some of them are in no hurry to leave the house.
Lesson plan:
Bird species
All birds are divided into three species:
- sedentary - such birds live in the same territory permanently, without changing their place of stay, usually these are representatives of the tropics and subtropics; in the northern regions and the central part of Russia, these are city birds who are used to living nearby with humans,
- nomadic - they constantly migrate somewhere, and regardless of the weather and time of the year, fly from one place to another, but within their habitat, they do this to find more food,
- migratory - these, when changing seasons, regularly make long flights from north to south and back, most of them living in the northern and temperate zones belong to them.
You will not see migratory birds in winter, they fly away and come back to us when the onset of heat. But settled and wandering - wintering, they will be nearby with us throughout the cold season.
Who and why is flying away from their homeland?
Among the migratory birds are swallows, wild geese, starlings, rooks and many others. When the cold weather sets in, they fly away to where it is warm, returning back to their native places, which they left in the fall.
Why do birds leave their native land?
Among the main reasons are cold and lack of food. Winter time is not so bad for them as lack of food. Birds are warm-blooded creatures, their average body temperature is about 41 degrees. In addition, fluff under the plumage helps prevent overcooling. Therefore, they are able to maintain their livelihoods in the harsh winter, which can not be said about their activity without a sufficient amount of food.
What do birds eat in summer?
Mostly insects. All their living prey - bugs and worms - with cold weather either die or go to bed, hiding deep in the ground. Therefore, those who do not have grain or plant roots on the menu are forced to fly to warm countries where there are a lot of insects.
Among the inhabitants of forests and settlements, half of the birds are migratory. Almost everything that lives in swamps and ponds flies to where it is warmer. So, storks and herons gather on a long journey when ponds and rivers freeze. It is difficult to get frogs and fish out from under the ice, and small rodents have long hid in their minks.
Did you know?! The last of all the rook flies away. But he is among the first to return from wintering to his native land, somewhere in the interval between March 4 and 23. Therefore, there is an expression: "The Rooks opened the spring." After them, starlings and larks fly home.
How do birds know when and where to fly?
At the onset of autumn, migratory birds gather in packs, organizing trainings, so that they can fly for several hours overcoming enormous distances without losing their course. How do they do it?
Migratory birds can determine the road without a compass. Scientists have proven that they absolutely accurately determine their geographical location, flying over long distances every year, perfectly guided in time and space.
- Ornithologists believe that the sun at noon above the horizon can serve as a guideline for them.
- Some experts are sure that for their journey the birds use magnetic lines surrounding the Earth, which are located in the direction from the north to the south pole.
- There is also a version that birds know how to use stars, determining their location by constellations.
Be that as it may, many experiments have already been carried out, when the birds were taken over long distances, and they returned to their native nests over and over again.
Many prepare for the flight in advance, when it is still warm. Instinct instilled by nature like a bell gives them an order to fly south to survive the winter and come back to bring out the chicks. Scientists call it the migration impulse, which serves as a start for the flight. Also, the trigger for calling for a flight is the changed longitude of the day. By early fall, daylight is getting shorter.
When flying, some species reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, rising to a height of 3 thousand meters. Bird travel is associated with difficulties and dangers. The smaller the size of the bird, the shorter its path for one flight. Birds can not stop for 80 hours or more! They interrupt the flight in order to gain strength and feed, so long-distance flights can last up to three months.
Did you know?! A migratory cuckoo bird flies to Africa. But unlike other birds, no one has ever observed these flocks of birds. They strangely disappear in the fall, with older older than younger generations. And they usually fly at night and, probably, alone.
Which countries do migratory birds fly to?
Many of them love Africa. Feathered even from the Arctic and Siberia fly there. Most waterfowl, such as ducks and swans, winter in Western Europe. From Russia, blackbirds and starlings move to the French or Spanish south, but cranes are lovers of the banks of the river called the Nile. Among long-distance marathon runners are anemones from Eastern Siberia. They chose to winter the coast of New Zealand.
However, among migratory birds there are patriots who move within our country closer to the warm domestic south. Among them are a crow and a black rook.
Did you know?! Some species of ducks called “mallard” cross more than one country on their way to the wintering place. They fly over Belarus, Ukraine, through Germany and Holland, through the territory of Denmark and Great Britain, as well as through northern Italy and, ultimately, stop in western Europe.
Who is staying with us?
Many birds do not fly anywhere and stay with us for the winter. These include those that, in addition to insects, can peck seeds, grain, berries and breadcrumbs. Among such wintering birds are the well-known sparrows and magpies, pigeons and crows, bullfinches and tits.
In the winter in the forest you can hear the woodpecker persistently banging on the trunk. He is not afraid of cold weather, and gets food in the form of larvae and insects harmful to the tree from under the bark. In addition to being a forest nurse, he also does a good deed for other birds and small animals, hollowing hollows - houses in which new residents later settle.
The capercaillie does not leave its land either, because he has plenty of food in the winter forest - he eats pine needles.
Grouse and hazel grouse will not stay hungry, for which berries and buds of juniper, as well as alder catkins serve as food.
Did you know?! Klest not only feels good in the winter, eating spruce nuts from cones. He manages to make nests in the cold and start offspring.
As if the wintering birds were not adapted to winter, our task is to help them survive in the cold. You can arrange dining rooms for birds using feeders. If you pour grain and breadcrumbs there every day, the birds will get used to the feeding place and will delight you with their appearance, arriving for lunch.
There is even a special day of the year when you need to hang a feeder or birdhouse. Indeed, on this day, all birds celebrate their holiday. When exactly is it celebrated? Find out about it.
So here you can briefly and interestingly talk about feathered friends. I propose to finish the project with a poem on the topic:
Feed the birds in winter.
Let from all over
They’ll fly to you like home
Flocks on the porch.
Teach birds in the cold
To my window
So without songs
We meet the spring.
On this, I say goodbye to the wishes of new discoveries.
Good luck in your studies!
Evgenia Klimkovich.
