Some birds also suffer from jet lag due to the desynchronization of their biological clocks

A study conducted by Oxford University, and recently published in the journal Science, demonstrated that birds suffer from a phenomenon analogous to the jet lag experienced by humans.

According to the research, when these birds travel large expanses of the Atlantic Ocean at high speed, their biological clock becomes misaligned with the local solar time. To be able to orient themselves using the sun as a reference, birds require an accurate internal clock, which must be adjusted daily to sunrise to correctly interpret the star's position throughout the day.

When traveling east or west, crossing lines of longitude—which correspond to time zones—the animal's internal time becomes out of sync with the solar time of its arrival point, potentially suffering a delay of up to one hour.

This discovery was made through the analysis of twenty years of GPS tracking data collected from 1,045 individuals of the Little Pied Bat (Puffinus puffinus), a species that nests on islands in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The team of biologists monitored 3,688 foraging journeys, during which the birds frequently travel up to a thousand kilometers west before returning to their nesting sites.

The researchers observed that upon returning eastward, where the sun rises earlier, the birds exhibited a systematic clockwise deviation compared to the predicted route. This dependence on the sun-based navigation system was so prominent that the animals maintained these deviations even when flying parallel to the coastline, where there would be visible geographical landmarks to guide them.

In the examined adults, the practical impact of this deviation was relatively small; an average deviation of seven degrees resulted in an increase of approximately five kilometers over a thousand-kilometer journey. However, scientists warn that this effect can be extremely serious for young birds during their first migration, as uncorrected navigational errors can cause them to deviate from their final destination by hundreds of kilometers.

Patrick Lewin, the study's principal investigator, stated in a release that the findings indicate that the animals experience the same internal clock mismatch that occurs during human jet lag. He added that the next focus of investigation will be to understand how this affects them, questioning whether they exhibit critical behaviors at inappropriate times, if they have physiological side effects similar to humans, and if this misalignment is as detrimental to health as jet lag is for us.

Tim Guilford, co-author of the article, emphasized that the ability to accurately measure the natural movements of animals allows for the revelation of deep cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that were previously considered difficult to study in the natural environment. Scientists believe that understanding how these birds manage long-distance travel may assist medicine in developing treatments to mitigate the negative effects of jet lag on human health.

On this day, women across the country observe the Karwa Chauth fast. They spend the entire day performing religious rituals and are permitted to break the fast only after seeing the moon at night.

However, in several major cities across the country, the moon is expected to make married women wait longer. The weather in the Delhi-NCR region has changed. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Delhi.

In the morning of October 29, heavy rain was observed in some areas, and the sky remains covered with black clouds. If this weather persists, there is a possibility that the Karwa Chauth moon will remain hidden among the clouds for a long time. Below is the time when the moon can be expected to appear.

According to the Meteorological Department data, due to Cyclone Arnab, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, rains with thunderstorms and black clouds are expected in areas adjacent to Delhi. If the evening weather remains the same, the moon may appear late in cities such as Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Meerut. Therefore, residents of these areas should monitor both the predicted moonrise time and the local weather.

The moon on October 29, the day of Karwa Chauth, may rise above the capital Delhi around 8:17 AM. Nevertheless, due to geographical differences, the moonrise time varies across different states and major cities in the country. Sometimes the moon appears on time, but it might not be visible due to cloud cover.

The best time for performing the Karwa Chauth ritual is scheduled between 5:38 PM and 6:56 PM. During this interval, women can worship the gods Shiva, Parvati, and Karwa Mata. There is also a tradition of listening to or reading stories about Karwa Chauth during the worship. Before determining the ritual time, it is recommended to check the astronomical calendar for your city.

Fasting Duration: This fast is observed from sunrise until moonrise. According to tradition, women observe the fast without water, although some choose the option of consuming only water.

Clothing Color: There is a belief that on the day of the fast, black and white colors should be avoided; red is considered auspicious, and yellow clothing is also permissible.

Jewelry and Food: Traditionally, sixteen types of adornments are performed on Karwa Chauth, and nutritious food is consumed during the sargi.

Precautions in Case of Illness: If a woman is ill or finds it difficult to observe the fast without water, she should prioritize her health. In some families, the decision is made for the husband to fast instead, but this is not a mandatory rule of all traditions.

On Karwa Chauth, it is necessary to take a morning shower and wear clean clothes. Then, according to one's faith and ability, one must take an oath to observe the fast without water. A platform is set up on the east or north side of the house, upon which approximately a quarter-meter of red cloth is laid. After this, worship is performed to Lord Ganesha and Mother Houri according to the ritual, using turmeric, mangal, rice, and incense with a lamp. Items for adornment are offered to Mother Houri, and blessings are received by touching her feet.

In the ritual, wheat is poured into the karva bowl, and sugar powder or sweets are placed on top. A vessel filled with water is also placed on the altar. After this, prayers are offered for the longevity of the husband and peace in marriage. When the moon appears at night, an offering (arghya) is made to it. Then, according to tradition, the woman touches her husband's feet, and she breaks the fast by drinking water from his hands.

The selection of the cuckoo as the representative bird for clocks has several reasons. An important factor is the presence of this species in the area where clocks originated. The term 'cuckoo' generally refers to birds of the Cuculidae family, which includes over 140 different types. Among them, the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) stands out, known for emitting the characteristic 'cuckoo' sound and inspiring cuckoo clocks.

The common cuckoo is a migratory bird that can be found in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It is particularly frequent in the Black Forest, a region of Germany where cuckoo clocks were developed. This bird migrates away during the German winter and returns in the warmer months, establishing a link between its song and the arrival of spring.

Another relevant aspect is the simple nature of the cuckoo's song. Its sound consists of only two notes: a higher one followed by a lower one. This simplicity facilitates the mechanical replication of this sound, as occurs in clocks. Traditional models use a bellows mechanism that directs air through wooden whistles, generating these two distinctive notes.

Although the precise origin of cuckoo clocks remains uncertain, it is known that their production and commercialization became popular in the mid-18th century, serving as an additional source of income for artisan peasants in the Black Forest. Clockmaker Franz Anton Ketterer is cited as one of the possible inventors of the cuckoo clock, although this hypothesis has not been confirmed.

In summary, the song of the cuckoo bird combines desirable elements in a sound that marks time: it is easy to mechanically replicate, is linked to the passage of time, and has a short and simple duration, avoiding auditory boredom.