Migration is the incredible journey many birds make each year, travelling long distances from one part of the world to another. But why do they do it? The simple answer is survival. Birds move to places where food is plentiful and conditions are better for raising their young.

In spring and summer, many birds head to the Northern Hemisphere. This is a great time for nesting because insects, larvae, and fresh plant growth are abundant—perfect for feeding hungry chicks. As autumn approaches and food becomes scarce, these birds begin their journey south to warmer regions.

Interestingly, migration works both ways. Some birds leave the UK in summer, like the European Robin, to avoid hotter conditions and limited food. Meanwhile, others arrive here for the winter. Birds such as the Redwing and Fieldfare come to the UK because our winters are milder than those in colder parts of Europe.

Migration is very common—around 4,000 bird species (about 40% of the world’s birds) take part in it. Many birds travel at night, when the air is cooler and calmer. This helps them conserve energy, avoid dehydration and less turbulence helps them stay on course more easily. Some species fly long distances without stopping, while others take breaks along the way to rest and refuel.

Birdwatchers often group migrating birds into three categories:

• Summer visitors – birds that come to breed, such as the Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Common Swift, and Common Whitethroat.
• Winter visitors – birds that come to escape harsher climates, including the Redwing, Fieldfare, as well as some Common Blackbird and European Robin populations.
• Passage visitors – birds that stop off during their journeys, such as the Black Tern, Sandpiper, European Serin, and Bluethroat.

Sometimes, unusual movements happen too. During what’s called an irruption, birds suddenly appear in large numbers outside their normal range. A good example is the Bohemian Waxwing, which may arrive in Britain in big flocks when food runs short in Scandinavia.

Migration is one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena—a remarkable mix of instinct, endurance, and adaptation that keeps bird populations thriving across the globe. Unfortunately they also have many problems on their migrations. Global warming is have a negative impact on when food is available and the birds’ timing hasn’t caught up with this yet. There are also places where our songbirds are killed for sport or to put on someone’s plate such as in Malta and Cyprus. So they have many problems to face before they get to our relatively calm shores.