The Bird Migration Phenomenon

Migrating flocks and individuals from Scandinavia, Western Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Uraine and Turkey concentrate and pass over Cyprus to winter in the Middle East or in Africa . 150 million birds of passage fly across the island in autumn, with a smaller number returning in spring (Flint & Stewart 1992). This estimate is believed to still give a fair indication of the magnitude and importance of the migration through the island (Peter Flint pers comm.) Important radar and visual observations show that the direction of migration from Cyprus in autumn is mainly south to south-east with some movement west of south in late autumn. In spring migrants fly tracks between northnorth- east, though about 10% fly north-west (Adams in Flint & Stewart 1992).

Radar observations also show that there is a broad front migration in autumn in direction south-east non-stop across the island. But many birds when they see the south coast will land and rest for a few days. The resting birds are found all along the south coast where wetlands or scrub provide cover and food. The shape of the south-east coast seen from the air channels many of these migrants into a relatively small area where they occur in unusually high concentrations. Many birds which have come down further inland during the night will move to the south-east coast during the day and these also arrive in the corridor of the south-east peninsula.

This funnel is the proposed bird protection area of the south-east peninsula with Kavo Greko as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for the Natura 2000 network. Cyprus has continuously lost its natural habitats over the last decades; in particular many wetlands have disappeared for ever. We should wait no longer to preserve what remains of this natural jewel for migrants and other wiId Iife, before it-is lost to tourist construction, intensive agriculture and the steadily growing pressure from hunting. The peninsula is an outstandingly important migration flyway and bottleneck for a high number of raptors, cranes and many millions of passerines. The scrub, bare limestone cIiffs and extensive rocky heath are attractive to many species, while the conventional farming with uncultivated oat and wheat fields, stubble fields, wild olive trees, juniper and pine trees with an abundant variety of insects, offer food and refuge for many breeding and migrating species. [Autumn migration routes based on the text of the chapter «Migration and Movements» in The Birds of Cyprus (Flint & Stewart).]

List of Birds of Cyprus

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