Iristu in India, but yet not at the end (Monday, 27th October 2003)
It's almost a reason for celebrating: Iristu has flown to India. The reason for celebrating is not the fact that our expectation that the storks avoid the high mountains by a great curve was proved. But that Iristu escaped all the snares. Afghanistan and Pakistan are very dangerous for migratory birds...
It seems that the starting point for the final phase of the journey to winter grounds is Amudaria on the edge of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Petr flew to Hindukus from here, now Altynai is here and Iristu left here for India on 23th October.
This is how Irustu's journey was: After wondering near Amidaria approached up its stream on Wendnesday, 22th October; we cannot even exclude the fact that he flew southward. On Thursday 23 early afternoon of local time, the satellites recorded him over Hindukus, and he flew to Kabul across the main edge of the mountains. In fact, he flew along the route between Mazare Sharif and Kabul. He went on nearly the same direction on Friday 24. He stopped in Pakistan in the evening in a quite suitable area westward from Ind. On Saturday 25, he flew on over Pakistan and "entered" India on Saturday 26th October. He reached about 1150 kilometres in these 5 days (even if on the first day, Wednesday 22th October, Irustu was taking kind of rest.
The last Iristu's coordinates point at the western Radzhastan, at the edge of the Thar desert. He is obviously going to fly on. In a map included in today's photo gallery you'll find marked places of his eventual targets. But it may happen otherwise in the end :-)