Re: Discussion about migration

[marika.solo]

Birds Warn: Migration Routes Over Bulgaria Are Changing
09.11.2025

(Translated excerpts shared here for educational discussion)
It seems even the storks have noticed — the skies above Bulgaria aren’t what they used to be. Ornithologists are reporting that some of our familiar migration routes are shifting. The ancient "Via Pontica" path along the Black Sea, used by millions of birds on their way between Europe and Africa, is slowly moving inland.

Flocks of white storks and birds of prey are now crossing over the Balkan Mountains and the Rhodopes instead of following the coast. The reason? Changing winds, warmer air, and new pressure patterns over the Black Sea.

“When the winds turn, the sky redraws its borders,” says Dr. Pavel Lazarov, one of the researchers following the migration.

Scientists have also noticed that over 30 species — including swallows and shrikes — are arriving earlier each spring, sometimes by two or three weeks. They’re guided by warmth that comes too soon… only to face sudden cold waves and hunger when the weather shifts back.

Even their rest stops are changing. Instead of gathering around the Burgas Lakes, some flocks now pause inland near Plovdiv and Thrace, where there’s more food and moisture — but also more danger from pesticides and power lines.

And this isn’t just happening here. Across Europe, more than a quarter of migratory species have already changed their routes or timing. Some storks no longer fly all the way to Africa, choosing to winter in Greece or even southern Bulgaria instead.

It’s both fascinating and a little worrying — nature is adapting before our eyes. The winds above the Balkans simply aren’t the same any-more.

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You can read the full very interesting Bulgarian article here: https://www.meteobalkans.com/novini/sam ... -izmestvat