Odyssey on the wing

The tracking of these two radio-tagged black storks, which migrate individually to India from Palaearctic regions around Siberia, has found that the foreign migrants cover up to 700 km, at altitudes ranging between 3,000-5,000 feet every day. Interestingly, they seem to prefer small freshwater ponds and reservoirs that dot the country, as opposed to visiting protected birding sites or even major rivers, thus illustrating the importance of even minor waterbodies in global ecology. Following satellite telemetry signals, it was eventually found that while the juvenile was shot over Kabul on April 13, the adult is safe in Tikenlik in Tarim basin in China.

This study has its roots in a Czech experiment, which first aimed at tracking migratory birds visiting the Czech Republic. 8220;We followed black storks from the Czech Republic first. Our country lies on a divide; some of the storks fly west, others towards the east, both ending up in Africa. Knowing the situation in Europe, we moved towards studying the separate eastern stork populations, which begin migrating from Siberia. These birds flew to India in the winters. We had problems with tagging in Siberia so we decided to 8220;invert8221; our method and begin in India,8221; ornithologist Lubomir Peske told The Indian Express.

The relatively unknown Macchi Talao itself tells a story. 8220;In our study we found that storks, which migrate individually over long distances and not in flocks, prefer small local waterbodies. These are areas that no one would usually look in. But when we had to start the project, we did so in Akola and that is where the storks actually landed,8221; Jathar says.

The scientists also found that the storks would fly as high as 5,000 feet in order to map the area and find better feeding sources. 8220;The storks would soar in the afternoon to find new spots. It would explore and effectively 8216;map8217; the area mentally and then move towards a new feeding ground,8221; he adds.

And the journey to find that perfect place to settle is nothing short of heroic. The adult stork moved 3,100 km in 4.5 months between December 20 to April 16, crossing two mountain ranges in central and northern India 8212; the Satpura and Karakoram ranges respectively.

As the scientist traced its circuitous journey, they found it travelled from Akola to Latur area, in south-east Maharashtra and from there on to adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, parallel to the Satpuras. Upon crossing the Satpura mountains, it returned to Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Then it crossed Malegaon and the Satpura mountains again. Further north, it flew near Indore and followed a route from Agra- Haryana- Jammu, crossing the Karakoram mountain range. In April, it reached northwest China8217;s Tarim basin, and settled on a lake at Tikenlik.

Interestingly, the juvenile, which travelled 1,985 km, took a similar path, but refrained from crossing the Karakoram ranges, opting instead to fly over Pakistan and Afghanistan. From Akola, it went to Amravati before crossing the Satpura mountains. From near Gwalior, it moved towards Agra, Delhi and then Jalandhar, continuing its journey towards Peshawar and Islamabad in Pakistan. Unfortunately, as it was passing through Afghanistan, it was shot dead at Charikar near Kabul.

However, the extensive migration routes and their zigzag pattern hold a warning, the scientists say. For while India has many stopping places for these birds, over-fishing by humans and shrinking waterbodies may be a reason why the storks moved around so much. 8220;My first impression is that black storks travel during winter much more than other birds studied. This movement could be related to poorer food supply and the fast rate at which water bodies are drying up. The storks do not feed along rivers but mostly use small water bodies for fishing. These are also areas where people fish,8221; Peske says.

Fact File

8226; Among storks, the black stork has the largest breeding range. A large, striking bird, almost one metre in height, it is distinguished by a black body, red bill and legs and a white underbelly. They are monogamous and migrate individually.

8226; The western population, originating from Europe, crosses the Mediterranean Sea to migrate in the winters to Africa. They are known to land in both the eastern and western sides of the continent below the Sahara desert. The eastern population, originating from Siberia, migrates to India.

8226; Owing to the large breeding range, black storks are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds AEWA, which gives the birds protection through their migratory routes. However the black stork is often hunted down.

8226; Black storks need a lot of water and eat fish, as well as crustaceans, shrimps and insects