There's an invisible highway above our heads. It's older than human civilisation

In a busy world, oblivious to the wonders of nature around us, this highway to India serves to remind us about what nature is capable of.

In Short

• Central Asian Flyway is a major bird migration route from Siberia to India
• India’s wetlands like Nemmeli Salt Pans vital for migratory birds’ survival
• Threats include habitat loss, pollution; India has action plan for conservation

Long before humans built roads, borders, or navigation systems, an invisible highway had already formed high above Earth, a vast aerial route followed by millions. These weren't humans.

The travellers on this super highway are some of the most resilient migratory birds that travel across continents every year.

Known as the Central Asian Flyway, this ancient sky corridor guides birds across thousands of kilometres without maps, passports, or GPS. Stretching from the Arctic regions of Siberia and Central Asia, across the Himalayas and into the Indian subcontinent, it is one of the world’s eight major migratory bird flyways.

Much like an invisible highway in the sky, the route connects breeding grounds in the north to warmer wintering habitats in the south. Every year, millions of birds depend on this pathway to survive seasonal changes, making India a critical winter refuge and resting stop for these long-distance travellers.

WHO TRAVELS ON THIS HIGHWAY?

Many birds use this flyway, crossing borders effortlessly.

The Bar-headed Goose is one of the most impressive ones, flying from Central Asia over the towering Himalayas at heights above 7,000 metres, sometimes even higher, through air so thin that most animals could not survive.

These strong geese reach wintering grounds in northern and southern India, including Tamil Nadu.

Then there's the graceful Demoiselle Crane, often called the Ballerina of the Skies, that journeys from the Eurasian regions.

These rarely seen cranes were spotted at Tamil Nadu’s Nemmeli Salt Pans near Chennai, creating widespread excitement among birdwatchers. These elegant cranes are more commonly seen in Rajasthan’s Khichan but occasionally venture further south.

Raptors, or birds of prey, also use the route.

Ospreys return from Europe and coastal Asia, while Montagu’s Harriers travel from Russia and Kazakhstan to South India.

The three popular satellite-tagged Amur Falcons, named Apapang, Alang, and Ahu, also used the flyway. The trio amazed scientists with their non-stop transcontinental flights, showing how precisely these birds return to the same wetlands, grasslands, and coasts season after season.

WHY THIS MATTERS

India is a vital winter home and resting stop for hundreds of species along the Central Asian Flyway. The country supports dozens of important wetlands, salt pans, lakes, and coastal areas that give birds food and safety after long journeys.

Places like Nemmeli Salt Pans in Tamil Nadu, the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, and wetlands in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh play a key role, hosting numerous guests from distant skies.

However, they now face threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and unsafe infrastructure.

India has a National Action Plan for conserving migratory birds along this flyway, focusing on protecting habitats and raising awareness.

For the millions of birds flying annually, migration is not about borders but about survival. And to survive they make round-trips of astonishing distances with remarkable accuracy.

For India, protecting these sky travellers means keeping our wetlands clean, reducing dangers like power lines and pollution, and ensuring safe places for them to rest and feed.

In a busy world, oblivious to the wonders of nature around us, this highway to India serves to remind us about what nature is capable of.

- Ends