Harike, one of the largest wetlands of northern India, is witnessing the arrival of a large number of migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia as the winter intensifies.

Birds belonging to about 30 varieties have descended on the wetland so far and are enjoying a habitat best suited to them in winters. So far, about one lakh migratory birds have reached here and the number is expected to cross 1.5 lakh by the end of January 2010, say officials of the Wild Life Department deployed for the protection and maintenance of the bird sanctuary. Effective checking on poaching and illegal fishing in the wetland and clearing of hyacinth from a larger area have started attracting migratory birds in large numbers this season after many years, said Harbans Singh Dhillon, District Wild Life Officer, Ferozepur. The wetland had also started attracting a large number of bird watchers, he added.

“Now we have increased the number of checkposts in and around the wetland. New observation towers have been erected to keep an effective watch on the movement of strangers in the wetland,” said Dhillon, adding that the police chiefs of Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala had been requested to provide policemen in adequate number to ensure effective round-the-clock patrolling of the area.