Migratory Birds, Turtle Doves and Changing Chinar Leaves Signal Autumn’s Arrival in Kashmir

Turtle doves feeding on fallen grains in harvested paddy fields, cicadas chirping from willow trees and the calls of migratory birds in the night sky are among the signs announcing the arrival of autumn in Kashmir.

The Valley is gradually turning golden as farmers gather their paddy harvest and orchardists pick apples. Markets are also filling with grapes, lotus stems (nadru), sweet chestnuts and seasonal vegetables, while clear blue skies signal a change in the weather.

Although daytime temperatures remain high, mornings and evenings have begun to turn chilly. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, its second-highest October temperature on record. The reading surpassed the previous October high of 31.1 degrees Celsius, recorded on October 2, 2008.

Turtle doves have descended from the mountains to feed on grains left behind after the paddy harvest, building up reserves before moving towards the plains for winter. Meanwhile, the first calls of migratory birds are being heard as thousands of them begin arriving in the Valley.

Species such as bar-headed geese, mallards, pochards, shovelers, pintails, wigeons, sheldrake ducks and teals spend the winter in Kashmir’s wetlands after migrating from colder regions of Russia, Siberia, China, Japan, the Philippines and Eastern Europe.

Autumn also marks the seasonal return of the Bakarwal pastoral communities from the high-altitude meadows. Accompanied by their families and flocks of sheep and goats, they begin their journey towards the warmer districts of Jammu division, including Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua and Reasi.

The seasonal movement also sees migrant workers from Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other states returning home as the Valley prepares for the harsh winter. Labourers employed in construction, orchards and paddy fields gradually leave as temperatures begin to fall.

In the markets, locally grown vegetables such as turnips, spinach, tomatoes, brinjals and potatoes are widely available. However, their prices are reportedly higher than those of vegetables brought in from outside the Valley.

One of autumn’s most striking sights is the changing colour of the Chinar trees. Their leaves gradually shift from deep green to yellow, amber, gold, orange and deep red before falling as winter approaches.

With clear waters in rivers and mountain streams and fresh snowfall beginning to whiten distant peaks, autumn offers visitors and residents an opportunity to experience Kashmir’s natural beauty in a distinctive seasonal setting.