Novel: An unwanted flight
a story of two migratory fowls
Ch # 3
What will be the route & speed towards China?
Siberian Crane also followed Houbara hurriedly. The day
was bright and chilly with the usual hustle bustle in Siberian market. The
world’s deepest freshwater Lake Baikal was flowing calm and almost empty with
its crystal clear blue water. They were late.
‘The flocks of Siberian crane and houbara have left by dusk. You know birds mostly start at night to avoid predators and human activities,’ uncle goose informed them.
‘You can wait for day or two to join the next flocks,’ he
was as calm as that shrill water in lake.
‘I thought they would wait for me,’ Siberian crane seemed
anxious for his mother and sister crane.
WHY DO BIRDS FLY IN FLOCKS?
‘Birds need to fly in groups at long distances to avoid
air resistance, predators and hunters in the way, they waited for you but a big
group of Siberian cranes was leaving so they left for it,’ uncle goose told
them.
‘My family also
flew away without me just because of you,’ Houbara joined back after taking a
visit of near forest. How I’m going to meet them now? I don’t even know which
side Houbara Bustard have been migrated this year; towards Iran, Pakistan or towards Gobi desert China?
What if I never see them again? I’ll not forgive you for this. At least you know which side of world your mother was migrating. I was fool to
have you as friend. Look how that scientist ambushed you, ringed our legs and
you missed the time just to swallow that creepy pizza,’ Houbara bustard fuse blown
upon Crane.
‘Hey, wait a second. I didn’t call you to look and chase
for me if I was missing. You came by your choice. I’m too worried for my little
sister,’ Crane yelled back nervous and felt irritated of his bird ring circled
at his one leg.
BIRDS USE 4 TRADITIONAL FLYWAYS TO MIGRATE FROM WEST TO EAST
‘Whoa,whoa…whoa…hold on guys. You can catch your flocks
if you start at once. Many flocks had flown to east. May different
species of birds will change their routes at certain distance but there is
nothing to worry for it too. There are almost 4 fixed flyways which birds have
been using for centuries to migrate towards east.
WEST PACIFIC FLYWAY
INDUS FLYWAY 4 OR GREEN ROUTE
EAST-ASIAN AUSTRALSIAN
WEST ASIAN FLYWAY
WEST PACIFIC FLYWAY
INDUS FLYWAY 4 OR GREEN ROUTE
EAST-ASIAN AUSTRALSIAN
WEST ASIAN FLYWAY
WHY DO MIGRATORY BIRDS FLY SLOW AT START ?
In start migratory birds fly slowly and low until their stored fat is used up and their weight is reduced. You both are young fowls. I believe you can make it. Once when I was young….,’
‘I think we should fly at once. First we'll look to catch your family and I'll look my parents at Gobi desert first as they were planning about it too but what if they flew to Pakistan like last year?’ Houbara got confused. He cut uncle
goose’s expected stretched anecdote and gave the impression of not being at
Crane.
ABOVE HIMALAYAS
‘Let’s start to east crossing mighty mountains, hidden beautiful waterfalls, noisy coastlines and deep river deltas,’ crane tossed in high in the air.
They were almost out of breath at 5000 feet above the
ground.
‘Oh my…I’m nervous…or…excited but I think I can make it
too towards Lake Poyang, China to see my family,’ Siberian crane tried to hold
his breath.
‘Russian Lakes, rivers, farms, buildings all were looking
nature’s miniature masterpieces at such height.
‘Bye, Siberia. We’ll miss your less populated and
relatively quiet and clean wetlands at other side of this world,’ Houbara waved
towards down.
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| migratory birds are singing rhyme, distance,travel time n altitude |
Houbara started to rhyme his mother’s bed time poem.
http://fusionstor-ies.blogspot.com
MIGRATORY BIRD'S SPEED, ALTITUDE AND TIME TAKEN TO COMPLETE ONE SIDE MIGRATION JOURNEY
‘Crane and other migratory birds almost cover 5000km to
reach their destinations every year. Lake Poyang is almost 3000 km from lake
Baikal but our total travel distance may exceed up to 5000 km because of
diversify reasons. Birds usually cover this distance in almost 15 to 20 days
with an average speed of 70km/h at average height of 25,000 feet with small
stopovers. Speed and altitude keep on varying according to surroundings.
MIGRATORY BIRD'S SPEED OVER HIMALAYAS
At Himalaya’s peaks cranes fly at speed of 100km/h at almost 35000 feet above the ground,’ Crane recalled the information that he listened at Zain’s flat when Zain was discussing his zoology project with his class fellow Yong.
‘Didn’t your scientist friend provide you with his GPRS
system to meet your long journey,’ Houbara got angry at Zain’s reference.
‘Why would birds
need GPRS system? We can navigate through sun, wind pattern and stars. I think
we’re going to waste our entire time chatting over here. Sun is about to set in
evening, so we’re making it opposite towards east,’ Crane turned its beak.
‘As soon as I’ll find my family believes me…I would not
turn to say you goodbye. I'm just worried for your little sister and mother,’ Houbara yelled on him but followed. Te bird rings on
their bodies changed its color for a while.
‘Who cares of you?’ crane responded
‘keep on flying’
To enjoy vying,’
Both birds maintain their pace and kept on flying for
almost night.
‘Let’s have some rest,’ Siberian crane dived down after
looking at a veiled but roaring waterfall under group of dense trees. He had
some water and fell asleep under a rock.
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‘Lake Poyang is still too far. I don’t know whether we’ve
crossed Russian border or not?’ soon we both have to apart to our destinies,' Houbara got up a big rock and looked at the organist
horizon in hope to see any flock of birds.
‘What if cranes don’t make it to Lake Poyang this time and Houbaras don't leave to Gobi desert in China. Pollution, dams building and drying wetlands have turned migratory birds from
their traditional habitats in east. What if they make it to Iran or towards wetlands
of Pakistan?’ Houbara was busy thinking and gazing ahead that he couldn’t have an
idea that a big hawk was grinding its paws staying at peak to clutch its
inattentive tasty prey.
PREDATORS ALONG MIGRATORY ROUTES
‘Oh leave me…help…help….,’ Houbara was not ready for this
attack. Hawk grabbed him from his neck. Houbara clutched weeds on the rock to
save himself but all went in vein. Hawk gulped high in the air.
‘Hey stops...leave
him,’ Crane got up and rushed behind hawk instantly after listening at Houbara’s
painful whooping. Hawk flown away steady towards west having its prey. Houbara
chased it for long and at last hit hard....https://www.amazon.com/BORN-EXPATS-Jouney-migratory-buddies-ebook/dp/B07QLZTYVW
TO BE CONTINUED
Really want to travel with these fowl guys from start then just click:
EP1: An unwanted flight: JOURNEY OF TWO MIGRATORY BIRDS
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2. ACROSS NILE
3. FUTURE EYE