Each year, several crane species travel thousands of kilometres between breeding grounds in Siberia and wintering sites across East and South Asia. In Izumi, southern Japan, more than 10,000 red-crowned, white-naped, and hooded cranes gather from November to March, while China’s Poyang Lake wetlands host the world’s largest concentrations of Siberian cranes. In India, vast flocks of demoiselle cranes arrive in Rajasthan each winter, particularly at Khichan village, where local feeding traditions have made the migration a celebrated event. Common cranes also winter in Gujarat and northern India. All these sites have become birdwatching destinations, with hides, sanctuaries, and festivals that draw visitors and photographers hoping to see the birds in their seasonal gatherings.
Pacific Ocean: Humpback Whales
Stuart Westmorland
Humpback whales undertake migrations of up to 8,000 kilometres, moving from feeding grounds in cold, nutrient-rich waters to tropical breeding areas. In the Northern Hemisphere, they leave Alaska for Hawaii and Mexico each winter; in the Southern Hemisphere, they travel from Antarctica to the coasts of Colombia, Ecuador, and Tonga. Whale-watching tours are a major draw in all these regions, with boats and guided excursions timed to coincide with the whales’ arrival, breaches, and songs.
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