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Apparently, the subtleties of autumn bird migration should be of interest only to ornithologists, but when the Western Express spoke to V. Jusis, who has been flapping his wings for nearly 40 years in Ventė, alarming trends became apparent.
“Throughout my career, I can’t remember the year the great bird migration ended so early. I have worked at the ornithological station since 1981. Last October, we banded about 60,000. migratory birds, and this year – only 11 thousand. There are several reasons for this trend, but it is essential and the most important: in Lithuania, as in our entire region, the number of wings is decreasing. Intensive and ever-expanding agriculture is having an impact. Contamination. This autumn it has shown very clearly that not everything is going well with our environment ”, commented the ornithologist.
Remains of “crumbs”
Two years ago in autumn, Cape Ventė bird banders were able to enjoy a historic event: during this migration season, a record number of wings were banded since 1929, when the station was established.
“We have never caught so many birds in one migratory season: in the second decade of October we had 116 thousand. ringed wings. And that number has increased. We only dismantled the traps in November. It is a very interesting year, because some species have decreased and others have increased significantly, ”said V. Jusys.
In 2018, the previous 105 thousand were exceeded. a record of ringed birds recorded in 2003. 100,000 ringed in 2002. This year, completely different trends.
“First of all, the migration of birds started very early this year: the crows began to migrate already in June. Another thing is that in the second half of October last year we banded a thousand birds a day, and now there are” crumbs “: only a few hundred are caught in the nets. Even in November, we had ringed over a thousand wings before. Now it can be said that the great bird migration is over. Last year we donated 130 thousand. Birds: in September alone – 30 thousand, and in October – 60 thousand. This year in September – 15 thousand, in October – 11 thousand. These tendencies evoke different thoughts “, assured V. Jusys.
Photo by V.Jusis / Traps
According to him, specialists put forward the version that the number of wings has simply started to drastically decrease not only in Lithuania, but also in the entire region.
“You pay attention to one detail: in the past, the windshield of a car that I had been driving in the summer was worn down by mosquitoes and you couldn’t connect the windshield wipers, and now there is nothing like it. The reason is the intensification of agriculture and the use of various chemicals. So, as the insect population declines, so does the shortage of food for the birds. The less food, the less birds hatch on our land. Another thing is the disappearance of the natural habitats of wing brood. Forests are cut down, hundreds of hectares of rapeseed fields are planted, compact bushes are cut down and roadsides are cut. The modernization of agriculture, the construction of new buildings, the demolition of barns also destroy the old feather crosses, ”said the ornithologist.
He also mentioned a possible natural reason why fewer migrants got into the nets and traps set up in Ventė this year.
“Perhaps the wind was unfavorable. The southwest-south wind favors us because then the birds fly towards the nets. And if the wind direction is different, they fly to the Venta lighthouse and go to Rusne”, considered the naturalist.
Climate change
When asked if he noticed any changes in the behavior of the wings, trends due to global warming, the ornithologist did not express the words in watts.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Ventė ragas
“Of course. We no longer have cold winters. Tens or decades ago, seeing crows in winter was a real sensation, and now it is normal. Another thing is that Lithuania is increasingly chosen by immigrants from the north as a wintering place. Also it talks about climate change, ”he said.
Ligita Pdzienienė, who blows the wings in Juodkrante, said she supported her colleague from Ventė’s ideas for the Western Express.
“We have the following specificity in Juodkrante: here very often owlets get caught in the nets and the ring. These are migrants from the north: Finland, Latvia. Last fall we killed more than 100 of these owls, and this year only about 40. Reasons? I think it has to do with global warming. Potential anecdotes no longer need to migrate south because they are fine in their homeland in the winter. And I can certainly say that this downward trend in migratory wings is real, not just assumptions. We also see these events in Juodkrante ”, said the interviewer.
Neringa phenomenon
Bird migration, still considered a mysterious phenomenon, is not only an area of interest for scientists, but also an emotional charge for visitors to the Curonian Spit. Because on the mainland, especially in the cities, there is already silence, no more hymns are heard in the trees, only the crows that still migrate for a moment next to the glass enliven the atmosphere with their song.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Ventė ragas
On the Curonian Spit, in a different way. Once on this peninsula, it is possible to cross the bridge of time and return to summer for at least a moment. Migratory wings fly over the spit, so that, especially on sunny and less windy days, you enter a bird market: migrants land on tree branches, travel to the seashore, rest, feed , and these sounds and images become a stark contrast to the autumnal silence.
Ornithologists point out that for migratory birds, the Lithuanian coast is like a highway to heaven. Driving from north to south, they are distributed near Klaipėda: a third fly through Cape Ventė, and even two-thirds – through the Curonian Spit. These flows often merge in the Königsberg area, near the world’s first bird banding station in the village of Rybačiai (Rasytė).
Thus, residents of large cities, tired of routine, noise and work, have the opportunity not only to listen to summer songs, but also to see promising images. In the sky above the sea, a dense river of birds continually flows into the dunes: it is estimated that around 3 million people can fly over the Curonian Spit per day. wings. In order to see this image, it is also necessary to know that birds fly more actively from 8 to 13 hours. By the way, there must be clear and strong winds from the south, southwest.
It is hoped that this natural phenomenon will not lose its charm in the future for various reasons related to human activities.
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