In autumn they fly away to warmer climes. What will autumn be like? Video: geese gather in flocks to fly south

Wonderful pictures with migratory and wintering birds. Which birds remain to spend the winter in their homeland, and which ones fly away?

Walking through a park or forest, we listen to birds singing and often simply don’t think about which bird trills so nicely. There are birds that live in our area all year round, but there are also those that fly to “ warmer climes».

The fact is that in winter it is very difficult for birds to find food for themselves, because insects, berries and grains become scarce, and when snow falls, it is almost impossible to find them at all. AND different types birds solve this problem in different ways: migratory birds fly hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to warmer countries, and sedentary ones adapt to our harsh winters.

A tit in the snow, which apparently wants to eat some seeds

Settled, wintering birds: list, photos with names

To help the birds that remain over the winter find food, feeders are hung. And it is quite possible that they will be of interest to the following visitors:

• Sparrow. Noisy sparrows that fly in flocks may well become the first visitors to the feeder.

• Tit. Tits are in many ways not inferior to sparrows; they quickly rush to feed in feeders. But compared to sparrows, tits are endowed with a more gentle disposition. Interestingly, in summer the tit eats almost as much food as it weighs. You can often see mixed flocks of both sparrows and tits at feeders.

• Gaichka. A close relative of the tit. However, the chickadee's breast is not yellow, but light brown. The chickadee also differs from other tits in that it makes a hollow in a tree to make a nest in it.

The chickadee is a special type of tit

• Crow. Ravens are often confused with rooks. It is known that in the western part of Russia crows are very rare. Therefore, if you live in the European part of Russia and see a black bird emitting a piercing croak, then most likely it is a rook.

• Pigeon. The distribution and lifestyle of pigeons was largely influenced by people who simply brought them with them to different parts of the Earth. Now pigeons are found on all continents except Antarctica. Pigeons easily exchange rocks, which are their natural habitat, for man-made structures.

The nodding gait of pigeons is due to the fact that this makes it easier for them to examine the object of interest to them.

• Woodpecker. IN warm time During the year, woodpeckers feed mainly on insects, which they get from under the bark of trees, and in the winter cold, they can also feed on plant foods: seeds and nuts.

• Magpie. The magpie is considered a bird of high intelligence; it is capable of expressing a lot of emotions, including sadness, and can recognize its reflection in the mirror. It is interesting that not only its fellow birds react to the alarming cry of a magpie, but also other birds, as well as wild animals, in particular bears and wolves.

Magpie - wintering bird

• Owl. Owls come in different varieties, large and small, and there are more than 200 species in total. These birds are endowed sharp vision and excellent hearing, which allows them to lead a nocturnal lifestyle. It’s interesting that the tufts on an owl’s head are not ears; owls’ real ears are hidden in the feathers, and one of them is directed upward, and the other downward, in order to better hear what is happening above the head and on the ground.

Owl is a night bird

• This bird is also considered an owl and is a close relative of other owls.

• A rare owl that lives mainly in mountainous areas in northern latitudes. The name of the bird, according to different versions, means “inedible” or “insatiable.”

• Jackdaw. Externally, jackdaws are similar to rooks and crows; moreover, there are mixed flocks in which all three species of birds can be seen. However, the jackdaw is smaller in size than the crow. And if you are lucky enough to observe a jackdaw up close, you can easily recognize it by the gray color of some of its feathers.

• Nuthatch. This little bird climbs tree trunks very deftly. In summer, nuthatches hide seeds and nuts in the bark, and in winter they feed on these supplies.

• Crossbill. Like the nuthatch, this bird is excellent at climbing trees and can hang upside down on branches. Crossbill's favorite food is seeds from spruce and pine cones. This bird is remarkable in that it can hatch chicks even in winter, but only if there is enough food.

• Bullfinch. Only males have bright red plumage on the chest; females look much more modest. Bullfinches are more often seen in winter, because due to lack of food, they are drawn to people. In summer, bullfinches prefer wooded areas and behave inconspicuously, so they are not easy to see.

• Waxwing. A bird with beautiful plumage and a singing voice. In summer it feeds mainly on insects and likes to settle in coniferous forests. In winter, the waxwing moves to more southern regions of the country and is often found in cities. In the cold season, rowan and other fruits become the main food for birds.

• Jay. A large bird, which, however, can fly to feast on a feeder hung by people. In the summer it is rarely seen in the city, but closer to winter the bird begins to reach out to human habitation.

• Kinglet. One of the smallest birds, the weight of an adult male is only 5-7 grams. Kinglets are relatives of sparrows.

Kinglet - forest dweller

• . A large bird that is a favorite trophy for many hunters. Pheasants can fly, but most often move on foot.

• Grouse. It is also an object of hunting, despite the fact that this bird is quite small. The weight of an adult hazel grouse rarely reaches 500 g. Interestingly, the largest population of these birds lives in Russia.

The hazel grouse is a bird that is related to the black grouse

• Another bird that is related to hunting. Black grouse are found at the edge of the forest and in the forest-steppe.

• Falcon. It is considered one of the smartest birds on the planet and one of the best hunters. The falcon is capable of working in tandem with a person, but it is very difficult to tame it.

• . Like the falcon, it is a bird of prey. A hawk's vision is 8 times sharper than a human's. And rushing after prey, the hawk can reach speeds of up to 240 km/h.

Migratory and nomadic birds: list, photos with names

• Rooks differ from crows in having a gray-yellow beak. In Kuban and Ukraine, you can see how in the fall rooks gather in huge flocks, so large that the sky seems black from the birds soaring in it - these are rooks that fly south. However, rooks are classified as migratory birds only conditionally, some of them remain to winter in central Russia, some winter in Ukraine, and only some birds fly to the warm shores of Turkey for the winter.

• They really like to fly to freshly dug ground, sometimes they fly right behind a plowing tractor in order to have time to get as many worms and larvae as possible from the dug up ground.

• This inconspicuous bird with a singing voice loves warmth, and therefore flies south in the fall. And for wintering, our native nightingales chose hot Africa. These birds fly to the eastern part of the continent - Kenya and Ethiopia - for the winter. However, local residents cannot enjoy their singing, because nightingales sing only during the mating season, which takes place in their homeland.

• Martin. Swallows love rocky terrain; they often settle on the steep walls of quarries that people have dug. However, our winters are too harsh for swallows and therefore in the fall they fly to the southern part of Africa, far from us, or to Tropical Asia.

• Chizh. Like the rook, it is a migratory bird that arrives early and winters nearby: in the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and southern Europe. Externally, siskins are inconspicuous, their gray-green feathers are absolutely not noticeable against the background of the branches. The bird's temperament matches its appearance: quiet and meek.

• Goldfinch. In Europe it is a wintering bird, however, in Russia goldfinches can only be seen in summer. By winter, goldfinches gather in flocks and move to lands with a warmer climate. Goldfinches are close relatives of siskins.

The goldfinch is one of the most colorful birds

• A slender bird that runs quickly along the ground and shakes its tail with every step. Wagtails spend the winter in eastern Africa, southern Asia, and sometimes southern Europe.

• Quail. The only bird from the Galliformes order that is migratory. The weight of an adult quail is not so large and amounts to 80-150 g. In summer, quails can be found in fields sown with wheat and rye. Quails winter far beyond the borders of our homeland: in southern Africa and southern Asia, on the Hindustan Peninsula.

• Thrush. The song thrush, with its sweet trills, creates worthy competition for the nightingale. A appearance his, like that of the nightingale, is inconspicuous. In winter, blackbirds become Europeans: Italy, France and Spain are their second homeland.

• Lark. Larks return from warm countries very early; sometimes already in March you can hear their sonorous song, which becomes a harbinger of spring warmth. And larks spend the winter in Southern Europe.

• Gull. With the onset of cold weather, seagulls living on the coasts of the northern seas migrate to the Black and Caspian Seas. But over the years, seagulls are increasingly drawn to people, and increasingly remain to spend the winter in cities.

• . Swifts winter in Africa, and fly to its equatorial part or even go to the southern part of the continent.

• Starlings really need birdhouses, since most often they breed their offspring in them. And our starlings go to Southern Europe and East Africa for the winter.

This bizarre black cloud is a flock of starlings returning home

• Finch. Finches from the western part of the country winter mainly in Central Europe and the Mediterranean, and finches that live near the Urals in the summer go to winter in Southern Kazakhstan and the southern regions of Asia.

Chaffinch - a noisy inhabitant of the forest

• Heron. It is quite difficult to determine where herons winter; some of them travel huge distances to South Africa, some winter in the Crimea or Kuban, and in Stavropol region herons sometimes even stay for the winter.

• Crane. These birds are monogamous, and once having chosen a partner, they remain faithful to him throughout their lives. Cranes settle in swampy areas. And their wintering places are as diverse as those of herons: Southern Europe, Africa and even China - in all these parts of the world you can find cranes that have flown from Russia to spend the winter.

• Stork. In Russia there are black and white storks. White storks build huge nests, up to one and a half meters wide, and make very long flights to the south. Sometimes they cross half the planet and reach South Africa, a country located in the very south of Africa.

• Swan. The swan is a bird that represents devotion and romance. Swans are waterfowl, so for wintering they choose places near water, often the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea.

• Duck. Wild ducks, as a rule, do not fly far in winter and remain in the vast expanses of post-Soviet states. It is noteworthy that their domestic relatives also begin to worry in the fall and sometimes try to fly away, sometimes they even fly over fences and fly short distances.

• . Cuckoos live in forests, forest-steppe, and steppe. The vast majority of cuckoos fly to tropical and South Africa for the winter; less commonly, cuckoos winter in South Asia: India and China.

• . A small bird with a singing voice and bright plumage that flies to the tropics for the winter.

• . They wake up at dawn and are among the first to start the morning song. This little songbird used to be called a robin. Robins fly to Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to spend the winter and are among the first to return home.

What is the difference between migratory birds and wintering birds: presentation for preschoolers

Slide 2

Slide 3: presentation of migratory birds

Why do migratory birds fly to warmer regions where they spend the winter, and why do they come back?

Winter is a harsh test for birds. And only those who can get food for themselves in harsh conditions remain to spend the winter.

What could be the ways for birds to survive in the cold season?

• Some birds store food for the winter in the summer. They hide plant seeds, nuts, acorns, caterpillars and larvae in grass and cracks in tree bark. Such birds include the nuthatch.
• Some birds are not afraid of people and live near residential buildings. In winter, they find food in feeders and garbage heaps.
• Some birds are predators and feed on rodents. Eat predator birds, which can feed on hares, hunt fish, small birds and bats.

If a bird can find food for itself in winter, it means it does not need to go on a tedious and difficult flight to warmer climes in the fall.

It would seem that everything is simple, and the only reason for the seasonal migration of birds is the lack of food. But in reality there are more questions here than answers. For example, imagine that a wild duck, which is a migratory bird, is provided with an artificially heated pond and a sufficient amount of food. Will she stay for the winter? Of course not. He will call her on a long journey, strong feeling, which is difficult to explain, called natural instinct.

It turns out that birds fly away to warmer regions, as if out of habit, because their ancestors did this for hundreds and thousands of years.

Another question that requires an answer: why do birds return from warm countries every spring? Ornithological scientists have concluded that the beginning of the return flight is associated with the activation of sex hormones and the beginning of the breeding season. But why do birds fly thousands of kilometers and hatch their chicks exactly where they were born? Poets and romantic people say that birds, like people, are simply drawn to their homeland.

How do migratory birds know where to fly? A question to which to this day there is no clear answer. It has been experimentally proven that birds can navigate in completely unfamiliar terrain and in conditions of limited visibility, when neither the sun nor the stars are visible. They have an organ that allows them to navigate magnetic field Earth.

But the mystery remains how young individuals, who have never flown to warm regions before, find their own wintering place, and how do they know the route to fly? It turns out that in birds, at the genetic level, information about the point on the map where you need to fly is recorded and, moreover, a route to it is drawn.

Do migratory birds build nests in the south?

Birds wintering in warm regions do not lay eggs or hatch chicks, which means they do not need a nest. Only chicks that migratory birds will hatch in their homeland need a nest.

Which birds are the first and last to arrive in spring?

They arrive first in the spring rooks. These birds are returning to their homeland in early spring when the first thawed patches appear in the snow. With their strong beaks, rooks dig out larvae in such thawed areas, which form the basis of their diet.

The last to arrive are the birds, which feed on flying insects. These are swallows, swifts, and orioles. The diet of these birds consists of:

• Komarov
• Moshek
• Horseflies
• Zhukov
• Cicadas
• Butterflies

Because for the appearance large quantities adult flying insects from larvae need warm weather and about two weeks of time, then the birds that feed on them fly to their homeland after the mass appearance of these insects.

Which birds are the first and last to fly away in the fall?

With the onset of autumn cold weather, insects complete their active life cycle and go into hibernation. Therefore, the birds that feed on insects are the first to fly to warmer climes. Then the birds fly away and feed on the plants. Last to fly away waterfowl. There is enough food in the water for them even in autumn. And they fly away before the water in reservoirs begins to freeze.

VIDEO: Birds fly south

What flock of migratory birds promises snow?

By folk signs, if a flock of wild ones flew south geese— you need to wait for the first snow to fall. This sign may not coincide with real weather phenomena. So in the north of Russia, geese fly to warmer climes in mid-September, and snow can fall much earlier. Let's say the first snow in Norilsk this year fell on August 25th. In the south, geese fly to warmer climes at the end of October, and sometimes even at the beginning of November. The first snow in these areas may occur around this time. But it all depends on the weather conditions in autumn. Indian summer here can last throughout October.

VIDEO: Geese gather in flocks to fly south

Which bird from the order Galliformes is migratory?

A migratory bird from the order Galliformes is quail. The quail's habitat extends beyond Russia in the west and south. In the east, these birds live up to the western coast of Lake Baikal. They are widespread in Europe, Western Asia and Africa.

For the winter they fly south. And they winter in Hindustan, Northern Africa and South-West Asia.

VIDEO: How do migratory birds fly?

In the large bird world there are migratory and non-migratory birds. For migratory birds, the change of seasons is preparation for a big journey, and for non-migratory birds, the onset of the cold season becomes a long and difficult time to survive this difficult time.

Birds in spring

With the arrival of the first warm days, migratory birds return to their native lands. At home they have a lot of work waiting for them: building nests and hatching chicks.

Wagtails are the first to return to their habitats. They are especially punctual, so they never miss the beginning of ice drift.

At a time when the earth was almost freed from the heavy snow cover, the rooks had already arrived. They are the very first to hatch their chicks, which is why their nests are already built in March.

Also early migratory birds are starlings and larks. The first song of the lark is evidence that the cold will not come again. As a rule, males return first, followed by females. And the last of the starlings and larks to return are those who were delayed or lost on the way.

Birds return home from warm regions not because there is nothing to eat there. It's all about the instincts of birds. They are drawn to their homeland by the desire to reproduce.

The flight of birds to their native lands is much faster than their departure. And the whole point is that they are in a hurry to hatch their cubs, which does not tolerate delay.

It is possible to roughly determine the periods of arrival of birds to their native lands. In mid-March, rooks return to their homeland, and by the end of this month starlings arrive.

In early April, larks, swans, thrushes, finches and kites can be observed. In the middle of this month, geese, ducks, gulls, cranes and waders arrive. And at the end - warblers, redstarts, woodcocks and tree pipits.

But May is characterized by the arrival of swallows, flycatchers, nightingales, swifts and willows.

Bird life in summer

The main task of each species of birds for the summer is feeding and adapting the chicks to life. If the summer turns out to be rainy and cool, then the life of birds becomes somewhat more difficult. Chicks die from colds and hunger. And the parents themselves are in great danger while it rains.

Drought is also not a favorable state of nature for birds. For birds living in swamps, drought is a disaster. During such periods, wading birds are forced to go out in search of a new habitat. And if the hot days drag on, the vegetation begins to dry out. This situation is dangerous for all types of birds.

The main task of birds for the summer is to teach their chicks to fly, so that in the fall they can fly south with their parents.

As a rule, summer days are accompanied by early dawn and late sunset, so the days of many birds become longer. So, for example, chickadees, they wake up with the first rays of the sun and fall asleep at sunset.

And the songs of the redstart can be heard at any time of the day, because they wake up before sunrise and fall asleep at dusk.

In the summer, birds are especially active and lead their usual lifestyle. Day and night predators hunt in forests and steppes. The familiar inhabitants of crowded places fly along the streets of cities and villages.

Which birds fly away in the fall and which ones stay?

Why do birds fly south? Because in winter they do not have enough food, and there is a possibility that their body will not survive severe frosts. Most of the inhabitants of the tundra are migratory birds, and some species in the taiga are migratory birds. The number of migratory species depends on how suitable the habitat is in terms of food - whether there are enough food supplies. Thus, it turns out that half of the forest feathered inhabitants fly south. And fields, swamps and ponds are left to spend the winter without their winged inhabitants.

Migratory birds include finches, wagtails, song thrushes, chiffchaffs and swallows. Lapwings, tree pipits, larks, orioles, robins and redstarts also prefer migrating to warmer lands.

But there are birds that are able to withstand cold days; they are called sedentary. These birds include: woodpeckers, tits, pikas, nuthatches and jays. Cold days are not scary for wood grouse, black grouse and hazel grouse. And the crossbill bird can generally build nests in winter and breed offspring.

It is worth highlighting the nomadic bird species. They do not fly away to warmer climes, but constantly move from place to place. For example, waxwings, titmice, walnuts, redpolls, bullfinches and many others.

How birds winter

Winter is not an unexpected period in the life of birds. Those who stay for the winter are truly prepared for harsh conditions. Birds stock up on food and seeds. And sometimes they go out in search of fallen earrings, cones and nuts.

So, for example, jays. They can often be seen searching for acorns, even potatoes and grain.

And the hazel grouse grows a special fringe on its legs, so it can hold on to icy tree branches.

Birds that feed on buds, seeds and catkins are more provided with food in winter. These are - white partridges, hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse.

But birds that prefer to eat seeds and leaves are always in a difficult search for food. For example, goldfinches, linnets, siskins, redpolls. These birds are saved only by the seeds of spruce and pine trees.

Our children already know that with the arrival of autumn, many birds fly to warmer climes. But it wouldn’t hurt to remember this again.

What birds winter in our area? Look at the illustrations.

Talk to your child about those birds that stayed for the winter. Better yet, try to see them and watch them.

Why do some birds fly away?

and others stay with us for the winter?

Don’t rush to answer for your child, give him the opportunity to think a little, help him with leading questions.

Where do ducks and geese live? That's right, near rivers and ponds. The river is both home and dining room for them. What happens to rivers in winter? That's right, they freeze. This means that waterfowl need to look for another home.

What do swallows eat in the summer and what do they feed their chicks? Flying insects. Do insects fly in winter? No, they hide from the cold until spring. It turns out that in winter many birds have nothing to eat, so they look for a home in other places, warm and nourishing.

Why then do not sparrows and titmice, crows and jackdaws, jays and woodpeckers fly away? It’s just that they can all find food for themselves in winter: seeds and fruits of plants and even insects with their larvae under the bark of trees. And if you move closer to people, you can profit from leftover food, which will certainly be found near your home.

Flocks of sparrows can almost always be seen on leafless bushes and trees.

Learn the rhyme:
Why do I love the sparrow?
Because he is like me:
When the cold comes,
Doesn't fly anywhere.
(V. Levin)

Lively tits- also frequent guests. They feed mainly on insects, which they pull out of crevices in tree bark. Watch the tits scurry up and down the tree trunks in search of insects.

Watch crows and magpies with your child. These birds are omnivores: they eat insects, grain, and all kinds of food waste.

The small birds that stayed to spend the winter with us are having a hard time. Still, getting to the food is not easy - it is often hidden under ice and snow. And in winter it is very cold, and the bird needs more food than in summer.

Our children already know about the great benefits that birds bring. If they have “forgotten,” tell them how titmice and other small birds save trees from harmful insects. The more birds in the forest or garden, the healthier the trees.

Explain to your child that in winter birds die not from cold, but from hunger. After all, a well-fed bird will not freeze even in the most severe frost. And if you and your child make and hang a feeder in the park, on the edge of the forest or near the house, then you will not only be able to watch the birds, but will also do a good and necessary deed.

If dad agrees to help, we can build feeder according to all the rules. To do this, you will need a small board or plywood, to which you need to attach low sides. You can hang it on a branch by its four corners, or even better, attach it to a wooden “leg” driven into the ground. Then the feeder will not sway from the wind. A wooden roof wouldn't hurt either.

If the feeder hangs in the park, and you and your child cannot visit it often, it is convenient to make "automatic" feeder. To do this, fill the bottle with food, turn it upside down and secure it above the table at a distance of a few millimeters. As the birds eat the food, more food will spill out of the bottle. To prevent the bottle from scaring the birds, first coat it with PVA glue, roll it in sand and dry it. Now she looks more “natural” and natural.

If you can’t make a wooden feeder, the design can be significantly simplified. For example, cutting a large window in a plastic bottle or cardboard milk carton.

What to treat the birds with?

The best delicacy is sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

You can sprinkle some white bread crumbs. Any birds will love this treat.

All kinds of cereals (millet, oats, millet, etc.) will most likely attract only sparrows.

Bullfinches love rowan and elderberry berries.

Tits can be pampered with pieces of unsalted lard or meat. Just don’t put the lard directly on the table - the crows will carry it away. Hang it on strings or wires from tree branches. This makes it difficult for a crow to grab the lard, but a titmouse will bite, clinging to a piece with its paws.

Who can you meet at the feeder? If it hangs in the yard near the house, then your main guests will be sparrows And tits. Not only all kinds of tits, but also woodpecker, And nuthatch.

Birds very quickly get used to the feeder and visit it constantly. If you walk with your child at approximately the same time every day, try this experiment. Every day at certain times, pour food into the feeder. And very soon you will notice that the birds know the time of lunch and gather at the feeder “on time”, waiting for a treat. Sometimes the whole flock arrives at once, and sometimes several scout sparrows arrive. The child will certainly enjoy the opportunity to watch the birds and their habits during lunch. Having gotten used to people, the birds will let you get close enough. You just need to be very, very quiet.

In the fall, watching flocks of migratory birds with their baby, loving parents tell their child what kind of journey awaits the birds to warmer climes. And hearing the question why ducks and storks don’t want to spend the winter with us, many mothers and fathers think. The most obvious answer seems to be that simply not all birds can withstand the upcoming cold weather. But this is not entirely true. So how do you answer your little why’s question?

Birds fly to warmer regions not because they are very afraid of the cold. Feathers and warm down between them protect the bird just as well as your jacket and pants protect you from the frost.

But there is something that not only our little flying friends, but all animals and people cannot live without. That's right, no food. What do birds eat? Insects, grains, some even frogs and rodents. Have you seen flies and butterflies in winter? Because insects hide in the cold season and fall asleep until spring.

The birds stay with us until they can easily find food for themselves, and then they begin to prepare to fly away.

Note to moms!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me too, and I’ll also write about it))) But there’s nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too...

• The first to leave us are insectivorous birds: rooks, swallows, wagtails, etc.
• Then, when it becomes difficult to find grain and tree fruits for food, finches, siskins, and buntings prepare for a long journey. After all, if snow covers the ground, it will be very difficult for our feathered friends to find food.
• The last to fly away are waterfowl: ducks, geese, swans. Because in winter all reservoirs freeze, and it is almost impossible for the feathered lake inhabitants to find suitable food. At the same time, cranes and storks, whose usual diet includes frogs and rodents, leave us.

Only those birds that can obtain food for themselves without any difficulties remain to spend the winter. For example, crossbills living in the forest feed on seeds from the cones of coniferous trees: spruce and pine. Sparrows, crows, pigeons, and tits have long adapted to life in cities, where it is easy to find something edible.

People help birds survive the cold and hungry times: they make feeders where they put seeds and grains. Do you remember when we gave crumbs to the pigeons in the park? Many people do this, so the city birds are not afraid to stay with us for the winter.

This is how you might have a conversation with an inquisitive child. Do not forget that sometimes it is very useful for a child to first think about his own problem in search of an answer. Your leading questions can help him get to the root of the problem. This will have a good effect on children’s self-esteem, create an experience of success, and encourage them to independently study and analyze the world around them in the future.

Shishkina school. Natural history. Migratory birds

In the video we will find out which birds fly south and why they do it. We will also learn how to monitor migratory birds:

In autumn, numerous wedges of migratory birds are visible in the sky, and their loud cry can be heard. However, with the onset of cold weather, not only ducks, geese, swans and cranes, the flocks of which we notice, fly south. Many smaller birds also strive for warmer climes.

Why do birds fly south?

The reason for this is that there is not enough food for them, and too much low temperature. Small birds cannot survive in winter. After all, at this time there are absolutely no insects that swallows and siskins feast on. The rivers and lakes where geese and swans swim and eat freeze. Small frogs and fish hide, which are eaten by storks and herons. The lush grass disappears and the delicious berries, the cranes’ favorite delicacy, freeze. All this forces birds to leave their cozy nests and fly to warmer climes. Despite the difficulty of such long flights, they hurry on their way, because there are always a lot of tasty insects and other food.

The first to fly south are small songbirds that feed on insects. The swift is the fastest to leave its nest, because it flies and catches insects quite high. There food disappears already at the beginning of September. The swift winters in southern India and Africa (flying almost the entire continent from north to south). Following him, small nimble swallows gather on their way.

Flying over the raging sea and the scorching Sahara Desert, they find shelter for the entire winter in the very south of Africa. The starling winters in northwest Africa or India. All these birds are on their way to warm countries cover from 1 to 2 thousand kilometers. The same distance must be overcome by a nightingale flying to East Africa.
Following the insectivorous birds, herbivorous birds gather south. The most striking representative of this group is the crane. It is his piercing cry that is heard when the wedge of these birds flies over the ground. The cranes have chosen several places for their wintering grounds. One part of these birds flies to the south of Western Europe, another to North Africa, and some to India, China or Western Asia. At the same time, they cover several thousand kilometers. Such a long journey requires preparation.

Birds gather in large flocks in advance, rest and gain strength in safe areas of land where there is plenty of food. Storks do the same. They fly to Africa on two routes, bypassing vast expanses of sea. Storks living in the west fly to central Africa, closer to the rain forests. Their brothers from the east prefer East Africa (South Africa). Moreover, their path can be more than 10 thousand kilometers.
The last to leave their homeland are waterfowl: ducks, geese and swans. Their path is not easy and runs over water and land. They winter on the shores of the Caspian Sea and in the Mediterranean; some prefer to fly to Central and South Asia.
It doesn’t matter how far the birds fly, because in the spring they will definitely return. This is their nest, their home.

What birds do not fly to warmer climes?

Some birds do not leave their native lands even in the bitterest frosts. Such birds are called sedentary. Most of them feed on a variety of plant seeds and grains. These include tits, sparrows, crows, pigeons, jackdaws and some others. Most of them live close to people and depend on them.

But there are birds that try not to catch the eye of humans and also do not fly to warmer climes - these are predators. Eagle owl, tawny owl, owl, owl - they all feed on small animals (rodents), which can be found in winter. Such birds live in warm hollows and are not afraid of frost.
The crossbill, which remains in the forest in winter, deserves special attention. The most amazing thing is that it is during such a cold season that he gives birth to chicks, which he feeds with seeds from spruce and pine cones. Babies hatch from eggs most often in March, when everything around is still covered with snow.