Ruff by name …

… tough by nature!

When in Botswana during the southern summer, the Ruff is an unimpressive but common wader frequenting the major wetlands throughout the country. It comes here from the northern Palaearctic region after an extravagant breeding season during which the male develops a huge collar of feathers to attract females to traditional mating grounds. At the end of the breeding season, and in the face of the harsh oncoming winter, the birds spend a month moulting and regrowing their dull but functional non-breeding feathers, and fattening up before setting off for warmer climes (they may double their weight with fat reserves during this period, fat being an exceptionally efficient fuel because it contains up to five times more energy than protein, and has the added advantage of being relatively lighter).

The Ruff is now ready to undertake one of the most spectacular migratory flights of all birds - from Siberia to Botswana in little over a week! These birds fly non-stop, day and night, at an average speed of 80-90 kilometres per hour, eating up the vast distances on their marathon migration – they are the longest distance terrestrial migrants in the world, covering more than 16,000 kilometres between their breeding and non-breeding grounds! Like other migrants, this species depends on its internal magnetic compass, supplemented by the sun during the day and celestial cues at night, to enable it to find its way over these vast distances.

Now that’s another dimension to migration!

Pete Hancock

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global initiative devoted to celebrating migratory birds, and for promoting their conservation worldwide. The initiation of WMBD a few years ago was influenced by migratory birds receiving negative media coverage as a result of the false belief that they were the main cause of the spread of avian influenza around the world – something that time has conclusively disproved.

This year WMBD will take place on the weekend of 8-9 May and the theme will be ‘Save migratory birds in crisis – every species counts’. People and dedicated organisations around the world will be using the day to raise public awareness about the marvels of bird migration.

In Botswana, WMBD activities are organized annually by BirdLife Botswana (www.birdlifebotswana.org.bw). These activities primarily target schoolchildren, and include bird walks, drama and poetry competitions, public discussions, and other public events.

For more information, visit the WMBD website: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org