Yesterday, the 9th of May, was World Migratory Bird Day. Today, when I was reminded of it on social media, I felt slightly low in self-esteem.

I wondered, migratory birds travelling thousands of kilometres across continents, looking down at airports, must be judging us humans standing in immigration lines. Aur khelo border-border. Not just across countries, they would be judging people stuck in Delhi traffic, fighting with another Delhiwallah after losing a side mirror.

Migratory birds happily cross countries without a passport, visa interview, or baggage fee. Not just that, they also return to the exact same place every year. How impressive, considering most of us, who believe that we are the most intelligent species on earth, can’t travel from one place to the other without the help of Google Maps. Migratory birds might be judgmental, but they are extraordinary.

Some migratory birds in Delhi-

Black Necked Stork

Indian Spot-Billed Duck(Anas poecilorhyncha)

Flamingo

Pelicans

Pelicans

This Painted Stork couldn’t fly back because of an injured feather.

Text and photos by Prerna Jain.