Andhra Pradesh, located on the southeastern coast of India, sees a number of migratory birds visiting its diverse habitats each year. The state’s long coastline, marshes, lakes, and forests provide excellent stopover sites for birds flying from as far as Siberia, China, and Europe to escape the harsh winters in their breeding grounds.
What are some key migratory bird sites in Andhra Pradesh?
Some of the top migratory bird sites in Andhra Pradesh include:
- Kolleru Lake – One of the largest freshwater lakes in India and an important site for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway. Over 100 species have been recorded here.
- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary – Mangrove wetlands along the Godavari delta that attracts flocks of migratory waders, terns, and more.
- Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary – Hosts migratory waterbirds like pintails, storks, sandpipers, and more along its freshwater reservoirs, lakes and swamps.
- Telugu Ganga Project Canal – Networks of reservoirs and canals providing critical stopover habitat for waterbirds.
- Pulicat Lake – A brackish water lagoon on the border with Tamil Nadu that sees large congregations of greater flamingos, pelicans, and ducks.
Which are the most common migratory birds that visit Andhra Pradesh?
Here are some of the most abundant and commonly seen migratory birds in Andhra Pradesh:
- Waders – Many types of sandpipers, plovers, stints, curlews, godwits, and other shorebirds stop along the state’s coasts and wetlands during migration. Some key species are the ruddy turnstone, whimbrel, greenshank, and wood sandpiper.
- Ducks & Geese – Various species of ducks and geese from northern Asia spend their winters in Andhra Pradesh. Some top species are the northern pintail, common teal, spot-billed duck, bar-headed goose, and greylag goose.
- Terns – Terns migrate through Andhra Pradesh in huge numbers, frequently seen along large lakes and the coast. The Caspian tern, whiskered tern, gull-billed tern, and lesser crested tern are abundant visitors.
- Raptors – Birds of prey like the eastern imperial eagle, steppe eagle, greater spotted eagle, and osprey migrate through the state mostly during autumn.
- Cranes – The endangered Siberian crane is a rare but regular visitor. More common migrants are the demoiselle crane and common crane on their way to wetlands across peninsular India.
When do migratory birds arrive and leave Andhra Pradesh?
The timing of migratory bird arrivals and departures in Andhra Pradesh follows this general pattern:
- Arrivals begin in August as the earliest migrants like waders, terns, and swallows reach the region.
- September to November sees peak arrivals of most migratory species ahead of winter.
- The winter months of December to February host the highest populations of migratory birds.
- Departures start in March as birds begin their return migration.
- By April most migratory birds have left Andhra Pradesh on their way back north.
- A few late departing species like some shorebirds remain into May.
However, timing and durations of stays can vary by species, weather patterns each year, and precise stopover sites. For example, wetland and coastal birds generally arrive earlier and leave later than forest migrants.
Which birds migrate the farthest to reach Andhra Pradesh?
Some migratory species travel astonishingly long distances to reach Andhra Pradesh each year. The birds that migrate the farthest include:
- Amur Falcon – Nests in southeastern Siberia and northern China. Migrates over 20,000 km to reach southern Africa and India.
- Bar-tailed Godwit – Breeds in Alaska and the rest of the Arctic. May fly nonstop over 10,000 km to Australia and India.
- Northern Pintail – Breeds across Siberia and the Russian Far East. Flies down to wintering grounds in South Asia.
- Common Crane – Nests across northern Eurasia. Travels over 5,000 km to reach India and surrounding regions.
- Osprey – Nests across Siberia. Migrates between 5,000-7,000 km down through South Asia.
These marathon migratory journeys are incredible feats of endurance. The birds rely on stopover sites like Andhra Pradesh to rest and refuel before continuing their travels across continents.
Which global flyways include Andhra Pradesh?
Andhra Pradesh lies along two major global migratory flyways:
- Central Asian Flyway – Covers migratory routes between Siberia and southern Asia, Africa, and Australia. Many waders, waterfowl, raptors, and others use this flyway.
- East Asian-Australasian Flyway – Stretches from Arctic breeding grounds through Southeast Asia and Australia. Used by shorebirds, terns, raptors, and more.
Its strategic location where these flyways converge makes Andhra Pradesh a vitally important migration hotspot. Birds from breeding populations across northern Asia funnel through the state twice yearly during their epic journeys.
How do migratory birds use different Andhra Pradesh habitats?
Andhra Pradesh’s diverse habitats support different migratory species:
- Lakes and Wetlands – Key for waterbirds like ducks, geese, waders, gulls, terns, and flamingos. Examples are Kolleru Lake and Coringa mangroves.
- Coastline – Shorebirds and seabirds like plovers, sandpipers, gulls, and terns stop along beaches and intertidal zones.
- Forests – Woodland migrants like thrushes, flycatchers, cuckoos, raptors, and others inhabit forests and woodlands during stay.
- Grasslands – Open country species such as lapwings, larks, pipits, and raptors utilize grasslands and agricultural fields.
- Urban wetlands – City lakes and gardens provide habitat for some waterbirds and smaller migrants.
Protecting habitats across these ecosystems helps support Andhra Pradesh’s diverse migratory visitors throughout their annual cycles.
How do migratory birds navigate and find stopover sites?
Migratory birds rely on several amazing abilities to navigate long distances and locate stopover habitats like those in Andhra Pradesh:
- Innate sense of direction – Ability to orient using cues like the sun, stars, and Earth’s magnetic field.
- Fat stores – Build fat reserves to power long flights of hundreds or thousands of miles.
- Stopover site memory – Remember prime stopover spots along migration routes year after year.
- Weather awareness – Detect and avoid storms, winds, and other hazards en route using senses.
Finding the same wetlands, forests, grasslands and other habitats along their migration path allows birds to rest, feed, and safely complete these incredible migrations.
What threats do migratory birds face in Andhra Pradesh?
Some key threats to migratory birds in Andhra Pradesh include:
- Habitat loss from wetland drainage, coast development, agriculture, etc.
- Pollution from industries, pesticides, and urban growth.
- Overfishing and human disturbance at coastal and inland stopover sites.
- Climate change impacts on habitats and timing of migrations.
- Hunting and trapping for food, pet trade, and sport.
Habitat conservation, pollution controls, fishing regulations, hunting laws, and public awareness campaigns can help protect migrants and preserve Andhra Pradesh’s critical role in global migration systems.
Are there any interesting patterns or unusual sightings of migratory birds?
Some fascinating patterns and unusual migratory bird records in Andhra Pradesh include:
- Huge flocks of over 1 million ducks and other waterbirds congregating during peak migration at Kolleru Lake.
- Rare vagrants like the Great Knot from East Asia being sighted at coastal wetlands.
- Different migratory species timing arrivals and departures from Andhra Pradesh with precision from year to year.
- Small forest migrants like flycatchers, warblers, and cuckoos being recovered in Andhra Pradesh after being banded thousands of miles away in Siberia, China, or Southeast Asia.
- Birds with injured wings or other injuries being cared for and rehabilitated during their migratory stopovers.
There is still much to learn about the amazing migration marvels and mysteries that Andhra Pradesh’s habitats host each year.
What can people do to help protect migratory birds?
Some ways people can help protect migratory birds visiting Andhra Pradesh include:
- Getting involved in habitat restoration efforts at wetlands, coasts, and other key sites.
- Joining migratory bird counts and surveys to help scientists track populations.
- Supporting nature education campaigns to raise awareness.
- Helping prevent pollution and advocating for sustainability initiatives.
- Volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation programs to aid injured birds.
- Speaking out in support of conservation policies and protections.
- Limiting use of pesticides, chemicals, and plastics that pose dangers to birds.
Even small individual actions can make a meaningful difference to help migratory birds on their incredible journeys.
Conclusion
Andhra Pradesh provides a vital link in the migration routes and flyways traversing Asia, Africa, and Australia. Each year its wetlands, coasts, forests, and grasslands host millions of migratory waterbirds, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds and other species escaping harsh winters or monsoons on their breeding grounds across the northern hemisphere and East Asia. Protecting habitats, minimizing threats, and raising awareness are key to ensuring the state continues serving as a essential stopover location enabling some of the world’s most impressive migratory journeys to continue.