We recently spotted our first migrant birds of the year at the Sanctuary at Roche Caiman wetland. A group of curlew sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) known as Bekaso Korbizo in Creole, and common greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Lapat Ver in Creole, was seen resting on the banks of one of the pools. Occasionally the resident grey herons would swoop in to feed on tilapia fish and startle them. Standing up, they would preen their feathers, and then return to resting.
The birds belong to the migrant wader species that frequent the Seychelles during the northern winter.
In response to various environmental cues, such as changing seasons, they migrate from their breeding grounds in the north, cross vast distances to winter in the south in countries like Seychelles.
Migrant birds cross vast distances to winter in the south
Here, they can replenish their energy, moult their feathers, and prepare for the arduous journey back to their breeding grounds.
In Seychelles, they can be seen in wetlands, marshes, mangroves, rocky shores, shallow seas, estuaries, and grassy open places, which are rich in invertebrate life. Many of the birds feed on insects, crabs, and shellfish in these habitats. Often, they have long bills for probing and catching prey, and long featherless legs to wade through the water.
First migrant birds of the year spotted at the Sanctuary at Roche Caiman
The curlew sandpiper is a small wader that breeds on the Arctic tundra in Siberia. Strongly migratory, it winters mostly in Africa, but also in south and southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. While its breeding plumage is a deep rusty colour on the head and body, when outside of breeding season, this bird appears pale grey above and white below. A tall, slim pale grey bird with greenish legs and a long straight, slightly upturned beak, the common greenshank can be seen wading in shallow water, occasionally dashing to chase small fish. Its green legs and bill help to differentiate it from other waders.
Other regular migrants in Seychelles include whimbrels, crab and grey plovers, common, terek, and curlew sandpipers, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones. It is not uncommon for migrants to remain in the Seychelles year-round, especially those who are unable to make the difficult journey back home.
Besides migrant birds, Seychelles also receives vagrant birds. They are sometimes referred to as lost birds or accidental birds. They are birds that are found outside their normal geographic range, breeding grounds, or migratory routes. They may stay for hours, days, or even months. Bad weather, for instance, can blow birds out to sea as they migrate. Recorded vagrants include migrant waders, seabirds, and land birds.
Migrant birds travel thousands of miles to reach their wintering grounds. They face many challenges including global warming and climate change, habitat loss, collisions with manmade objects, hunting, pesticide use, and urbanization, all which affect breeding, stop-over, and wintering sites.