The Great Flight series

If the first wave of migration consisted of small and nimble birds, the second wave is the arrival of the true aristocracy of the Korgalzhyn skies. September passes the equator, and our lakes begin preparations for the most spectacular spectacle of the year—the farewell ball of pink flamingos and pelicans. Thousands of giant birds gather in huge flocks on the mirror-like surface of the lakes. Flamingos on salt lakes and sors, and pelicans on freshwater bodies rich in fish. They make noise, exercise their wings, and await the perfect moment (Fig. 1). Graduation Ball for "Ugly Ducklings" For flamingos, autumn is the time of their strictest test in life. Remember how we told you their chicks are born as white, fluffy balls? Well, during the short Korgalzhyn summer, these little ones should have grown into strong birds capable of covering enormous distances. Right now, you can see adult pink birds literally "lifting" their young onto the wing on the lakes. Young flamingos (they're gray and will be gray next year when they return) clumsily scamper across the water, flapping their wings and learning to catch the air currents. They're currently honing their skills over short distances, flying from lake to lake. But they'll need a lot of strength: ahead lies the flight across mountains and deserts to their wintering grounds in Iran and Iraq. By the end of summer, many sors in the region have dried up, causing the flamingo population on large saltwater bodies to increase tenfold. Pelicans: Masters of the Perfect Glider Alongside the flamingos, our "pterodactyl" pelicans are preparing for departure (Fig. 2). A pelican is a massive bird, weighing up to 10 kilograms. Lifting such a large body into the air and flapping its wings for thousands of kilometers is physically impossible. The bird would need more time to rest or simply die of exhaustion. That's why pelicans are brilliant aviation engineers. Nature has done a great job of this. These birds use thermals—rising currents of warm air—to fly long distances. Wow fact: Pelicans take off, find a warm air current, and begin circling in it, rising higher and higher, almost disappearing from view. Once they reach the desired altitude, they simply spread their enormous three-meter wings and glide for hours without a single flap, like professional gliders. How do they determine the "day X"? Why don't they fly away now if the young are already grown? The birds wait for the perfect weather conditions. To take off, they need a strong tailwind or crosswind, which will literally push the huge flocks, thereby helping them fly in the desired direction. This farewell ritual usually takes place under cover of darkness or in the dead of dawn. One day, at a "signal" invisible and inexplicable to humans, thousands of pink and white birds take off almost simultaneously. Deafening the darkness with their cries, they rise into the icy heights. Some flocks form a perfect, orderly wedge, disappearing into the unknown. Others circle for long periods above the surface of the water—as if bidding farewell to their home, perhaps forever. For them, this great migration is not just a journey, but a desperate, grueling struggle for survival, from which few will return. They slowly dissolve into the darkening skies, forcing us to watch them go with a poignant sadness and vague unease. The lakes instantly become orphaned, plunging into a dead, ringing silence. And only a few fallen pink feathers remain on the cooling water—a silent, fragile reminder of those who flew away to meet danger. The show goes on: the icy landing is near! It seems that after the flamingos' departure, the dead season begins at the Korgalzhyn reservoirs. But wildlife abhors a vacuum. While our southern guests are heading for the Caspian Sea, far, far to the north—on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and in the endless tundra of Taimyr—the water is already freezing. Millions of flocks of these stern northern birds have already taken to the air and are heading straight for us. For them, our cool autumn is a true all-inclusive resort. In the next episode: Who are they—the new masters of the Korgalzhyn waters? Why is the rare red-breasted goose flying to us, and why are our lakes its main lifeline on the planet? Keep an eye on the horizon on our website, the "autumn ball" continues!