World Migratory Bird Day
Migration
Migration is when a group of animals leave their home to travel to another place for a certain period of time. They often migrate because finding food becomes difficult during cold winters, and it is generally easier to raise their young in warmer areas. Animals usually leave their homes around autumn, preparing by eating more and conserving energy for the long journey.
Did you know that birds can save energy on long journeys by gliding with the wind?
Why Is World Migratory Bird Day Celebrated?
World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated because it’s a great opportunity to highlight just how incredible birds are, while also encouraging people to explore and learn about distant destinations around the world.
Every year, birds travel hundreds of thousands of miles to feed, breed, and survive, moving from one ecosystem to another. Their journeys are incredible examples of natural adaptation, involving navigation that carries them along routes and through weather conditions that would challenge even the most experienced human travelers. By studying migration and celebrating migratory birds, we honor their resilience and are reminded that obstacles can be overcome.
It is also important to note that, as the world changes, many migratory birds need our help. Human impacts on the climate and environment make finding safe places to live and migrate increasingly difficult. World Migratory Bird Day focuses attention on caring for the natural world to preserve these extraordinary creatures and their delicate ecosystems.
Migration of Starlings to the UK
Starlings in the UK include both resident and migratory birds. Thousands from northern Europe arrive between September and October to spend the winter in milder conditions, joining the year-round UK population. They form large, synchronized murmurations before returning to their breeding grounds in February and March.
Why do starlings migrate to the UK?
- Milder Climate: The UK’s winter temperatures provide a more favorable environment for birds from colder northern regions.
- More Food Availability: Winter conditions in the UK generally make it easier to find food than in their breeding areas.
When do they arrive and leave?
- Arrival: Migratory starlings typically arrive in autumn, between September and October.
- Departure: They leave in spring, returning to northern Europe to breed.
Starling Murmuration
A murmuration is a large flock of starlings, sometimes numbering hundreds of thousands, performing coordinated aerial displays. These swoops, dives, and swirls help confuse predators like falcons and hawks and provide warmth and safety for individual birds in communal roosts.
Change
Change can take many forms: sometimes you or your family may choose it, and it can feel exciting; other times it may be unexpected but bring positive opportunities. Change might also arrive unwanted but necessary, or completely out of your control. It can be distressing, unsettling, or even linked to loss. Often, change evokes a mixture of feelings— both sad and happy at once.
In many ways, change is like starling migration: birds may not always choose the winds or routes they follow, but their journey is essential for finding what they need. Even when the flight is uncertain or difficult, it moves them toward growth, survival, and new horizons.
Looking After Yourself Through Change
Everyone responds to change differently, and while change is natural, some transitions are harder to manage than others. Even chosen changes can feel disorienting and bring up feelings of loss. Neurodivergent people, especially autistic individuals, may struggle with change and uncertainty.
When we find ourselves struggling with our feelings, it’s important to remember that we don't have to face things alone. Talking to someone you trust, asking for help, and sharing your feelings can make a real difference. Everyone faces challenges, and it’s unrealistic to expect to feel happy all the time. Seeking help is not a weakness —
it’s a positive step toward finding healthier ways to deal with difficulties and move forward.