Migratory birds spotted: Are the first cranes coming back now?

Created: 01/28/2022, 11:15 am

By: Joana Lück

Migratory birds like the crane spend the winter in the south.

(Iconic image) © stock&people/Imago

Normally, migratory birds like the crane do not return to Germany until February or March.

But if you see them now, you should report them.

Berlin – France, Spain or North Africa: Migratory birds are known to look for warm places to spend the winter.

However, the animals do not fly south because of the low temperatures, but because they can no longer find enough food here.

Because snow and cold combined with less light make it difficult to search for insects and other food.

However, you may still see bird species such as the crane in January.

24garten.de explains why this is and what you should do.

Migratory birds spotted: Are the first cranes coming back now?

Cranes usually move to their southern winter quarters from October.

But according to the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU), not all animals are moving: 4,400 cranes have been counted, especially from Lower Saxony to Thuringia and Brandenburg.

It is difficult to tell whether a crane is wintering in this country or whether it is an early returnee.

NABU therefore strongly advises reporting the animals, including their flight direction and whereabouts.

There are following flight routes of cranes:

• The Western European flyway from Norway via Finland, France, the Pyrenees to Andalusia

• The Baltic-Hungarian migration route, which rarely goes through Germany and ends in North Africa

• The Eastern European migration route via Russia, the Ukraine to Israel

The cranes breeding in Europe use different migration routes to their winter quarters, depending on the location of their breeding area.

Only birds on the Western European migration route fly over Germany.

Migratory Birds Spotted: Wintering to Survive

In flight, cranes form a V-shaped formation with powerful, experienced animals at the top, according to NABU.

This is followed by families with an average of two young animals.

Impressive: With constant flight conditions, the animals could fly as far as southern Europe without stopping.

But they take breaks and sometimes stay on the ground for days due to the weather and fog, according to NABU.

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