Bird Migration

Bird migration and what does it mean for us here in Southern Africa? The summer months are coming to an end here in the Southern Hemisphere as the days are getting shorter, a sure sign that winter is on its way. This started me thinking while out on one of my photo safaris, about many of the birds who migrate to South and Southern Africa for our summer months and are now making preparation to return to their breeding grounds in Europe, Asia, Central and Northern Africa.

Breeding Migrants

However, not all migrants return back home to breed, some like the Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis), Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius) Wahlberg’s Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi), African Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta) and Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas) migrate to and breed here in South Africa and other Southern parts of the continent and are a welcome sight to bird enthusiasts here in South Africa, when they arrive generally between Sept-Nov each year.

Mother Natures Provision

This phenomenon which mother nature provides some birds is unquestionable, the urge and the ability to migrate (to journey between different areas at specific times of the year) from adverse unfavourable conditions (normally scarcity of food or favourable breeding/living conditions).

Bird Migration – When do we go?

Migration, however, is no better demonstrated than in the migration of birds. This migration as far as birds are concerned is generally started in the Autumn months each year in either hemisphere, just before the winter conditions set in, in the bird’s primary areas.