Birds are warm-blooded creatures. Their average body temperature is 41 ° C. This means that they are able to remain active during the cold season, but need more food. That is why many birds leave their snow-covered native places and fly away to winter in warm countries.
Seasonal migrations (flights) - the movement of flocks of birds from nesting sites to the southern areas for wintering with subsequent return back. The directions of bird migration are very diverse. With the onset of autumn, when the length of daylight hours decreases and the air temperature drops, birds fly away to warmer regions, where it is easier for them to find food and raise offspring. The decisive factor is not a cold snap, but a lack of food, because many birds feed on caterpillars, frogs, insects and larvae.
Where do the birds fly
Even in the southern regions, birds migrate. This is due to the fact that the seasons of the year change near the equator. And birds fly away from arid places where there is water.
From the territory of northern Europe, many birds fly to the UK, the Mediterranean, southwestern Europe, as well as Africa. They fly away to areas where they find familiar living conditions for themselves. That is, forest birds during wintering also live in forests, steppe and meadow birds - in fields and steppes. Thus, they migrate to those regions where they find their usual food and living conditions.
The directions of migration are determined not only by the food supply in the wintering place, but also by the ability to feed on the way. Therefore, not all birds fly clearly in the direction from north to south, their route passes in such a way that during a long flight there was an opportunity to stop for rest and feeding.
Insectivorous birds are the first to leave their nesting sites: swifts, wagtails, cuckoos, swallows and starlings. As soon as autumn comes and the nights become cool, swallows, swifts and cuckoos gather in flocks and go to the African continent. Starlings migrate to the Mediterranean region. Wagtails go to winter in Africa, Asia, or India.
How long does the flight take
The duration of the flight is influenced by the speed and distance to the wintering place. The flight speed of birds is different. For example, swallows develop speeds up to 55-60 km / h, finches and siskins - 55 km / h, waders up to 90 km / h on average. Birds fly intermittently, as they stop to rest and feed, stops can last from one to ten days. Therefore, the flight for some birds takes up to four months. For example, passerines spend two to three months migrating from northern Europe to Central Africa. The duration of the flight is significantly influenced by weather conditions.
