On World Migratory Bird Day, we shine a light on this extraordinary avian that is one of the highest-flying birds in the world.
As published in Nature inFocus on 13 May, 2022.
During the months of November and December, photographers and avian enthusiasts in Karnataka look forward to documenting the arrival of a special bird. Found in large flocks in the backwaters of the KRS (Krishnaraja Sagar) Dam, Kabini Dam and the Hadinaru Lake, among other water bodies in the Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts of the state, the migration pattern of this bird is considered nothing short of a scientific marvel. But like several other natural phenomena, the bird’s migration is also being impacted by the changing temperatures and seasons making it imperative that we pay attention to their populations and their habitats. On World Migratory Bird Day, we shine a light on the Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) and share a few essential facts to encourage conversations about its conservation. But before we get into that, here is a quick rundown about the day itself.
A global outreach initiative to highlight the importance of migratory birds, World Migratory Bird Day aims to build greater awareness about birds and their seasonal journeys. Traversing long distances and adapting to various geographies, migratory birds tell us a lot about the state of the environment and the climate. While their breeding and wintering habitats need to be protected, it is also essential that we gain an understanding of their migratory behaviours and the dangers that they face en route. The World Migratory Bird Day 2022 brings to focus one such threat—light pollution. According to the initiative, artificial light not only impacts the birds when they fly at night, it also affects their internal clocks and interferes with their migratory behaviours.
We have just about begun to understand the enormity of issues that migratory birds face. It is now time to act on these issues and build comprehensive solutions to protect the birds and help them embark on safe journeys. Over to the Bar-headed Goose now!