A viral scene in Harbin's Zhonghua Baroques historical district featured a tree studded with large bread rolls, attracting flocks of resident birds. While charming, this reflects a desperate strategy by non-migratory birds to secure carbohydrates in sub-zero temperatures for thermoregulation. In contrast, migratory birds—facing unreliable winter food sources—depart early with the first strong cold fronts, using southward cold air as an essential "propellant" for their long journeys. Human-processed foods like bread are unsuitable for long-term avian nutrition.
Cold air acts as an invisible force redistributing avian populations. This is not merely flight from cold but a finely tuned evolutionary response to resource availability, wind assistance, and physiological cues. By January, most migrants have completed their epic relay, reaching secure wintering grounds. Wetlands near human settlements now host these travelers, underscoring nature's grand cycle of survival and renewal.
(For more details about specifc strategies of different bird species, please visit "knowledge of bird" section of the website)
