Belarusian cranes delayed with migration: whether to sound the alarm

The network is actively discussing photos and videos with cranes in different parts of the country. Belarusians are worried about birds. They say that last year the birds flew to warm latitudes much earlier. In the laboratory of ornithology SPC of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on bioresources, where the correspondent of “SG” turned, advise to calm the alarm. It is too early to worry about the Belarusian cranes.

- In a broad sense, we can classify migratory birds into three categories: near, medium and far, explains Ivan Bogdanovich, senior researcher at the laboratory of ornithology of the NAS. Cranes, in particular the gray crane, belong to the first group - upon the onset of frost, they move to a distance of only one or two climatic zones. Nearby migrants, in principle, tend to winter “on the border of snow”, and in Belarus the weather conditions this autumn really turned out to be quite warm and, therefore, comfortable for cranes.

The expert stressed that in 2026, the migration of cranes can indeed take place with a delay compared to last year, but there is no cause for concern: the period from late September to early November is considered the normal period for the flight of cranes - and with them, by the way, and swans. So the phenomenon of “stuck cranes” does not indicate any danger to birds.

The scientist also added that Belarus occupies one of the leading places in terms of stopping migratory cranes in the world. Only on the Yelnya swamp annually stops about 10 thousand individuals.

dulevich@sb.by