Universum - Bird Migration – Life On The Wing

Bird migration is one of the greatest natural wonders of our planet. A phenomenon that has existed for many thousands of years and must constantly adapt to the climate.
Billions of birds do not only migrate across national borders at certain times of the year: bird populations are on the move every day of the year. They follow their food, search for safe places to sleep and flee from threatening weather. Some cross continents just to change their feathers in special places and others perform physiological miracles when they travel thousands of kilometers without a break and find their way back to their destination after a year of travel. This film presents bird migration from a completely new perspective and makes it clear that there is much more to the largest migration on earth than "just" traveling between north and south.

"Life on the Wing" shows the countless varieties of this phenomenon through spectacular protagonists whose stories are told in an intimate way. The connecting element is a hub of their journeys: The bird paradise of Seewinkel in Austria. In this diverse region, the paths of hundreds of bird species cross on their incredible journeys between Europe, Africa and Asia. High-flying birds such as the ruff meet flightless sparrows on their route, which hardly ever leave their beloved hedges. We get to know drakes that gather here from all over Europe to spend the winter and will only find out in spring where their new love will take them. Just like the European record holder in non-stop flight - a snipe - which covers 5500 kilometers without a break and the nightingale, which halves its body weight on its migration to Africa.