The Migrant Waders Are Flying Northwards. Poem by Francis Duggan

The migrant waders are flying northwards up to the far northern Spring
They follow the urgings of Nature and Nature's a marvellous thing
To breed in the dunes by the Artic Ocean the Land of snowy owl and white bear
And the Artic fox and musk oxen and the hardy and fleet Artic hare.

When Autumn comes to the far Southlands the migrant waders take to the sky
And high over coastal Australia up through coastal Asia they fly
The turnstones, sandpipers and others are flying further north every day
Up to the Artic and Siberia the shore birds are winging their way.

They made their way south with the guidance of Nature and Nature she will guide them back home
To the Lands by the cold Artic Ocean where the grey wolves in hunting packs roam
For years scientists and ornithologists have studied the migratory waders but as of yet they have not found out
How they can reach their far northern destination and make it back to the far south.

The migrant waders are flying northwards up to the far northern shore
They will reach their birthplace travel weary after flying ten thousand shore miles or more
Their journeys a wonder of Nature yet Nature her secrets with humans doesn't share
How such small birds make it home safely to their breeding grounds for to pair.