Thousands of species of waterfowls living in cold waters of Lake Baikal, Siberia fly towards the east as soon as the winter shows its signs. These migratory birds fly far in search of comfy wetlands, where they can stay and breed in a mild winter. Pakistan with soothing wetlands and semi-arid deserts is mostly the last destination of many migratory waterfowls and semi-deserted migratory birds that wing from the west. Have you ever wondered that your pond duck can fly high up to 10,000 km above sea level and can cover a distance of almost 5000 km to reach its seasonal destination? Yes, it happens with several species of ducks and other waterfowls that turn and twist their habitats every season for their survival. These delicate birds can neither bear frosty winter nor the scorching sun so they continue their exercise of shifting around the globe.
Let’s have a look on a list of birds that migrate from Russian states to spend their winter in Pakistan:
Many flocks of migratory birds while leaving from Siberia turn to China towards famous Lake Poyang in northern China. Many white Siberian cranes can be seen like daffodils in the Lake Poyang in winter. Few birds rest in Kazakhstan and don't fly too far. Few like flamingos, black-crowned Herons and Cranes stop at landlocked beaches of the Caspian Sea in Iran but some adventurous fowls continue their journey and cross the Himalayas to make their rest points in Pakistan. The Indus flyway route is popular and the most used of birds to reach Pakistan.
These birds usually travel at night and use stars for navigation. Nowadays scientists put a digital ring around a few migratory birds' legs to know about their routes and dangers of the way. These digital bird rings with coded numbers also inform about the condition of bird whether is it sick or dead.
Several cozy wetlands dotted in all over Pakistan accommodate these guests in their laps. The government has made many bird watching points and parks to amuse the folks with gulping and chirping of migratory birds. These birds cover their long distance from Siberia to Pakistan in almost 5-10 days with little stopovers. Some of the most hospitable wetlands of Pakistan are known as a heaven for migratory birds. Some of the wetlands are:
Thanedar wala game reserve, Bannu, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa barrage, Keenjhar lake, and Haleji lake and several private wetlands along Indus Delta accommodate these migratory guests from far.
These migratory birds stay in Pakistan till February and fly back to their homes by early March.
Asides of waterfowls, a semi-deserted bird Houbara Bustard also migrate to Pakistan for winter and stays in semi-arid areas of Balochistan province. Some Houbara Bustard flies forward to south Punjab and very few enter India. Houbara Bustard lay eggs in warmer gushes of winter in Pakistan and extends their family if they are lucky to survive from the hunting of Arab Prince.
Yes, Houbara Bustard is a poor migratory bird that pulls many Arab princes towards Pakistan like a magnet. There is a myth that Houbara Bustard’s meat boosts the pleasurable energies of men, so the Arab Prince flies from Oman, Qatar, and UAE to hunt on these birds brutally under the permit license from the Pakistani government.
As winter shows its sign by early September in Russian states and especially at Lake Baikal, the birds gear up to fly far to avoid frosting gushes of upcoming harsh winter. Scarcity of food in cold areas, predators and a need mild winter to nourish their young are the other reasons which force the birds to leave their homes. These Migratory birds fly up to 4500 km long to reach the wetlands of Pakistan and use Green route to reach here. Most of their route is the snowy peaks of the Himalayas where many birds fell to death due to exertion every year while migrating. Many migratory birds hit sky rise glass buildings, mobile towers or electric poles while flying amid populated areas and got injured. These birds leave and fly in flocks to avoid air resistance and predators (Hawks and humans) in the way. Migratory birds fly at a very high altitude approximately 10,000 to 15,000 km above the ground and fly down to stopover or to feed in the way.
These birds cover long distances and bear hardships and dangers of way to have safe winter in warmer areas so we should provide them a protected atmosphere to stay.
DON'T MISS TO READ: An adventurous migration journey of two birds from Siberia crossing Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China meeting hurdles and cultural diversities. A story of friendship and bonding that take you to flying experience over Himalayas.
Let’s have a look on a list of birds that migrate from Russian states to spend their winter in Pakistan:
MIGRATORY WATERFOWLS LAND IN PAKISTAN FOR WINTER:
- Ducks
- Geese (local name: Hans ﮬﻧﺲ)
- Siberian cranes (local name: Sarus ﺴ ﺎ ﺮﺲ )
- Common cranes
- Pintails (local name: Murghabi ﻣﺮ ﻏﺎﰉ)
- Herons (Local name: Bagla ﺑﮕﻼ)
- Waders (local name: Lam during ﻟﻢ ﮉﮬﯾﻨﮓ)
- Flamingoes
A SEMI DESERTED MIGRATORY BIRD in Pakistan
- Houbara bustard - (Local name: Tilur ﭟﻟﻮ ﺮ )
ROUTES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS TO REACH PAKISTAN
Many flocks of migratory birds while leaving from Siberia turn to China towards famous Lake Poyang in northern China. Many white Siberian cranes can be seen like daffodils in the Lake Poyang in winter. Few birds rest in Kazakhstan and don't fly too far. Few like flamingos, black-crowned Herons and Cranes stop at landlocked beaches of the Caspian Sea in Iran but some adventurous fowls continue their journey and cross the Himalayas to make their rest points in Pakistan. The Indus flyway route is popular and the most used of birds to reach Pakistan.
These birds usually travel at night and use stars for navigation. Nowadays scientists put a digital ring around a few migratory birds' legs to know about their routes and dangers of the way. These digital bird rings with coded numbers also inform about the condition of bird whether is it sick or dead.
Several cozy wetlands dotted in all over Pakistan accommodate these guests in their laps. The government has made many bird watching points and parks to amuse the folks with gulping and chirping of migratory birds. These birds cover their long distance from Siberia to Pakistan in almost 5-10 days with little stopovers. Some of the most hospitable wetlands of Pakistan are known as a heaven for migratory birds. Some of the wetlands are:
Thanedar wala game reserve, Bannu, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa barrage, Keenjhar lake, and Haleji lake and several private wetlands along Indus Delta accommodate these migratory guests from far.
These migratory birds stay in Pakistan till February and fly back to their homes by early March.
ARAB PRINCE AND POOR HOUBARA BUSTARD
Asides of waterfowls, a semi-deserted bird Houbara Bustard also migrate to Pakistan for winter and stays in semi-arid areas of Balochistan province. Some Houbara Bustard flies forward to south Punjab and very few enter India. Houbara Bustard lay eggs in warmer gushes of winter in Pakistan and extends their family if they are lucky to survive from the hunting of Arab Prince.
Yes, Houbara Bustard is a poor migratory bird that pulls many Arab princes towards Pakistan like a magnet. There is a myth that Houbara Bustard’s meat boosts the pleasurable energies of men, so the Arab Prince flies from Oman, Qatar, and UAE to hunt on these birds brutally under the permit license from the Pakistani government.
THREATS TO MIGRATORY BIRDS WHILE MIGRATION
As winter shows its sign by early September in Russian states and especially at Lake Baikal, the birds gear up to fly far to avoid frosting gushes of upcoming harsh winter. Scarcity of food in cold areas, predators and a need mild winter to nourish their young are the other reasons which force the birds to leave their homes. These Migratory birds fly up to 4500 km long to reach the wetlands of Pakistan and use Green route to reach here. Most of their route is the snowy peaks of the Himalayas where many birds fell to death due to exertion every year while migrating. Many migratory birds hit sky rise glass buildings, mobile towers or electric poles while flying amid populated areas and got injured. These birds leave and fly in flocks to avoid air resistance and predators (Hawks and humans) in the way. Migratory birds fly at a very high altitude approximately 10,000 to 15,000 km above the ground and fly down to stopover or to feed in the way.
These birds cover long distances and bear hardships and dangers of way to have safe winter in warmer areas so we should provide them a protected atmosphere to stay.
DON'T MISS TO READ: An adventurous migration journey of two birds from Siberia crossing Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China meeting hurdles and cultural diversities. A story of friendship and bonding that take you to flying experience over Himalayas.