<p>A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the study</strong></h2>

<p>According to researchers from University of East Anglia (UEA), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, GPS data found that the eagles skirted around artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as troops amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and took large detours to do it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study also suggests that in addition to the detours, the greater spotted eagles also reduced the number of breaks they took along their journeys or avoided them altogether.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia ramps up attack on Ukraine's power grids</strong></p>

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<p>Every year during spring, the greater spotted eagles make their way all the way from Greece and Sudd in South Sudan to their breeding grounds in Belarus. The females travel from Greece while the males travel from sites in east Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study published on Monday (May 20) was based on the data collected and analysed from 19 tagged birds as they flew through Ukraine to breeding grounds in southern Belarus in March and April 2022, weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people and the environment. Our findings provide a rare window into how conflicts affect wildlife, improving our understanding of the potential impacts of exposure to such events or other extreme human activities that are difficult to predict or monitor,” said lead author Charlie Russell, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-begins-tactical-nuclear-drills-near-ukraine-in-response-to-western-threats-724056">Russia begins tactical nuclear drills near Ukraine in response to Western ‘threats’</a></strong></p>

<p>Russell also noted how these disturbances also significantly impact the behaviour, and also potentially affect the fitness of the eagles. “For individuals breeding in these areas, or other species that are less able to respond to disturbance, the impacts are likely to be much greater,” the lead author added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did the researchers find?</strong></h2>

<p>The data collected during the war was compared with that recorded from 20 birds between 2018 and 2021.</p>

<p>The researchers found that the birds flew further and less directly to breeding grounds travelling as much as 85 kilometres extra on an average. The journey also took 55 hours longer, on average after the war started.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the study, fewer birds were stopped in Ukraine before returning to their breeding grounds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of 19 birds, only six took breaks, according to the latest data when compared to 18 out of 20 in 2018-21 while some important stopover sites in Ukrainian Polesia were not used at all in 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war.

A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war. About the study According to researchers from University of East Anglia (UEA), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, GPS data found that the eagles skirted around artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as troops amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and took large detours to do it. The study also suggests that in addition to the detours, the greater spotted eagles also reduced the number of breaks they took along their journeys or avoided them altogether. WATCH | Russia ramps up attack on Ukraine's power grids Every year during spring, the greater spotted eagles make their way all the way from Greece and Sudd in South Sudan to their breeding grounds in Belarus. The females travel from Greece while the males travel from sites in east Africa. The study published on Monday (May 20) was based on the data collected and analysed from 19 tagged birds as they flew through Ukraine to breeding grounds in southern Belarus in March and April 2022, weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. “The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people and the environment. Our findings provide a rare window into how conflicts affect wildlife, improving our understanding of the potential impacts of exposure to such events or other extreme human activities that are difficult to predict or monitor,” said lead author Charlie Russell, in a statement. Also Read | Russia begins tactical nuclear drills near Ukraine in response to Western ‘threats’ Russell also noted how these disturbances also significantly impact the behaviour, and also potentially affect the fitness of the eagles. “For individuals breeding in these areas, or other species that are less able to respond to disturbance, the impacts are likely to be much greater,” the lead author added. What did the researchers find? The data collected during the war was compared with that recorded from 20 birds between 2018 and 2021. The researchers found that the birds flew further and less directly to breeding grounds travelling as much as 85 kilometres extra on an average. The journey also took 55 hours longer, on average after the war started. According to the study, fewer birds were stopped in Ukraine before returning to their breeding grounds. Out of 19 birds, only six took breaks, according to the latest data when compared to 18 out of 20 in 2018-21 while some important stopover sites in Ukrainian Polesia were not used at all in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Eagles forced to shift migration route amid war in Ukraine, say scientists

<p>Light pollution is increasingly turning out to be threatening for migrating birds and is causing mass fatalities around the world, a new study has revealed.</p>

<p>According to media reports, around 1,000 migrating birds died in Chicago on Oct 4 and 5 after colliding with illuminated buildings. This incident raised concerns about how ‘stopover’ cities are increasingly becoming less hospitable for migrating birds.</p>

<p>According to a new study published in Nature Communications, finding a hospitable stopover is essential for mass bird migration to happen. It’s just like you embark on a long road journey, thus requiring stopovers to refuel and rest on the way.</p>

<h2><strong>Weather radar data used to map bird stopover density</strong></h2>

<p>Scientists used weather radar data to map bird stopover density and found that birds were landing more in the area which was illuminated with artificial lights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study pairs more than 10 million radar observations with landscape and other place-based information to try to explain why birds choose to rest where they do. Out of 49 predictors, light pollution was the No. 2 predictor of stopover density.</p>

<h2>City lights—an ecological trap</h2>

<p>City lights lure birds into what can be an ecological trap, said lead author Kyle Horton, an assistant professor in Colorado State University's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: This bird takes 10,000 naps a day</strong></p>

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<p>Buildings that lead to collisions, less habitat, scarcer food, and more people and cats can make cities less-than-ideal rest stops for migrating birds, the study found.</p>

<h2><strong>Possible solutions</strong></h2>

<p>Scientists are divided regarding what should be the best way to tackle this menace—implement massive changes in urban centres to make them more hospitable or simply take steps to not let birds enter cities in the first place by running targeted light-out campaigns?</p>

<p>Some say a fine balance should be struck.</p>

<p>"We don't often think about light as a pollutant, but it checks all the boxes of what pollution is," Horton said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/kiwi-chicks-born-in-new-zealand-capital-for-first-time-in-over-a-century-664595"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Kiwi chicks born in New Zealand capital for first time in over a century</strong></a></p>

<p>Light pollution doesn’t negatively impact birds only but also humans.</p>

<p>It can disrupt humans' circadian rhythms, leading to health problems, including depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and cancer. For now, we have a simple solution to this crisis, observes Horton.</p>

<p>"If we turned off all lights tonight, there would be no birds colliding because of lights tonight," Horton said. "The impact is immediate and positive for birds."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Light pollution is increasingly turning out to be threatening for migrating birds and is causing mass fatalities around the world, a new study has revealed. According to media reports, around 1,000 migrating birds died in Chicago on Oct 4 and 5 after colliding with illuminated buildings.

Light pollution is increasingly turning out to be threatening for migrating birds and is causing mass fatalities around the world, a new study has revealed. According to media reports, around 1,000 migrating birds died in Chicago on Oct 4 and 5 after colliding with illuminated buildings. This incident raised concerns about how ‘stopover’ cities are increasingly becoming less hospitable for migrating birds. According to a new study published in Nature Communications, finding a hospitable stopover is essential for mass bird migration to happen. It’s just like you embark on a long road journey, thus requiring stopovers to refuel and rest on the way. Weather radar data used to map bird stopover density Scientists used weather radar data to map bird stopover density and found that birds were landing more in the area which was illuminated with artificial lights. The study pairs more than 10 million radar observations with landscape and other place-based information to try to explain why birds choose to rest where they do. Out of 49 predictors, light pollution was the No. 2 predictor of stopover density. City lights—an ecological trap City lights lure birds into what can be an ecological trap, said lead author Kyle Horton, an assistant professor in Colorado State University's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Watch: Gravitas: This bird takes 10,000 naps a day × Buildings that lead to collisions, less habitat, scarcer food, and more people and cats can make cities less-than-ideal rest stops for migrating birds, the study found. Possible solutions Scientists are divided regarding what should be the best way to tackle this menace—implement massive changes in urban centres to make them more hospitable or simply take steps to not let birds enter cities in the first place by running targeted light-out campaigns? Some say a fine balance should be struck. "We don't often think about light as a pollutant, but it checks all the boxes of what pollution is," Horton said. Also read: Kiwi chicks born in New Zealand capital for first time in over a century Light pollution doesn’t negatively impact birds only but also humans. It can disrupt humans' circadian rhythms, leading to health problems, including depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and cancer. For now, we have a simple solution to this crisis, observes Horton. "If we turned off all lights tonight, there would be no birds colliding because of lights tonight," Horton said. "The impact is immediate and positive for birds." (With inputs from agencies)

Light pollution entrapping migrating birds in cities, leading to their death en masse: Study

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