Tiny Bird's Epic 7,472km Journey to Remote Island

A small shorebird, weighing approximately 40-100 grams, has completed a remarkable migration of over 7,472 kilometers from its non-breeding grounds in South Australia to Narcondam Island. This individual, identified by a red tag coded 'DYM', was photographed on the remote volcanic island in the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, marking the first documented re-sighting of a tagged bird there. The bird's journey, undertaken between April and June 2025, underscores the significance of the East Asia-Australasian Flyway (EAAF).

Narcondam Island serves as a crucial refuelling stopover for over 50 million migratory waterbirds annually, utilizing the EAAF which spans 37 countries. The island's pristine littoral zones offer a vital, predator-free resting place for species like the Sanderling. Birds undertaking such long migrations, like the Sanderling, often undergo significant physiological changes, including rapid feeding to nearly double their body weight through lipid storage, and potentially shrinking internal organs to reduce weight for extended flights.

The confirmation of the tagged Sanderling highlights the island's role in a fragile ecosystem. As migratory bird habitats face degradation, 'refuelling' stations like Narcondam Island become increasingly vital. This sighting reinforces the island's status as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area and its function as a stepping stone for birds migrating from the Southern Hemisphere to their Arctic breeding grounds, proving these remote outcroppings are part of an interconnected ecological network.