Avian guests arrive at Harike wetland-cum-sanctuary

The Pioneer , Monday, January 10, 2011
Correspondent : PNS | Chandigarh

It is time and the winged visitors from distant lands have arrived at India's second largest bird sanctuary-Harike wetland-cum-sanctuary. Considered as the bird watchers paradise, Harike wetland is humming with the chirping and tweeting of these avian guests.

With the mercury level going down with each passing day, a good number of migratory birds have flocked the internationally-acclaimed wetland as these wetlands provide them the perfect environment for engendering. As of now, the geese and Siberian cranes have been spotted at the Harike wetland, and they are expected to remain till the month of March.

"This is just the beginning of the season, and the two varieties of migratory birds have already arrived. The geese and Siberian cranes have arrived so far, with many other varieties to follow during this season," said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sanjiv Tiwari.

The Harike wetland is spread in over 100 square miles, and is a home to rare species of avifauna, pelicans, flamingoes and Siberian cranes that arrive from different parts of Europe and northern Asia.

Punjab Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation is reportedly planning to conduct a census of migratory birds this year with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). "The census will be conducted in consonance with the proper methodology they have. We are sure of having good results from the census," said Punjab Chief Wildlife Warden Gurbaz Singh while talking to The Pioneer.

Tiwari said: "As compared to 2009-10, the 2010-11 winters has seen an increase in the population of migratory birds. We are hopeful that the number will rise in the time to come."

The winged visitors from the foreign shores are expected to stay till the month of March, Tiwari said: "The State and the Central Governments are also planning to launch several schemes to promote the Harike Bird Sanctuary as a tourist destination," said Tiwari.

The member of the Nature Care Society, an NGO, Jaspal Singh, said that Harike Pattan has assumed international importance as a breeding ground and habitat for a large variety of migratory birds. "If government promotes this sanctuary, bird lovers would frequent it more," he added.

Over the years, there has been a dwindling of the migratory bird population due to climate change. Moreover, the rise in the pollution levels, dying natural habitats and threat of poaching have also led to a decrease in the number of migratory birds at the Harike wetland.

Although there has been no scientific head count, the bird watchers have observed a decline in the number and variety of birds visiting the wetland in past few years. A crawler water plant hyacinth has spread in the lake, covering 40 per cent of the water body, leaving less space for the birds to nest and feed. What's more, little efforts have been made to remove this.

The migratory birds, usually found at Harike include bar-headed geese, gray-back geese, melard duck, spintale duck, torchid, varieties of avifauna, pelicans, flamingoes, teals and variety of cranes from different parts of Europe and northern parts of Russia including the Siberian region.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/309492/Avian-guests-arrive-at-Harike-wetland-cum-sanctuary.html
 


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